Some car guys lean heavily toward one year and one brand of car because that’s the only classic that matters in their world.
Then there are other guys who fall into ownership because that’s how life worked out for them.
This 1952 Ford Mainline two-door sedan is a classic example of the second version.
Jerry Sutherland
Gord Jones has a massive collection of cars, but several of them are ’52 Fords. In fact, he has an example of every model of 1952 Ford except for the convertible and station wagon. Gord added he’s close to a wagon with his ’52 panel, so he’s not worried about owning a long roof.
His ’52 Ford Mainline two-door sedan is one of his favorites because it’s such a great example of a driveable old car because Gord is not a trailer queen guy. He’s much happier behind the wheel of this ’52 Ford because that where the rubber literally meets the road.
Gord found the car fifteen years ago in southern British Columbia where the climate is more like a desert. Cars are far less rusty in that area, so Gord located this ’52 Ford that required no serious work to be a daily driver.
His Ford still has its factory flathead V-8 and three-on-the-tree manual transmission and that’s how it’s going to stay. The only real modification is the switch to 12-volts and an alternator because Gord wanted a better charging system.
Gord has done some fancy stuff to his other cars, but this ’52 Ford is going to stay bone stock. He said it “handles great, but in an old car kind of way”. That’s why he’s not afraid to run it at 60-65 miles per hour, but he admits it can go past that point with ease. Gord just chooses not to rough up a 74-year-old car.
There’s another winning feature with this old Ford—it never overheats, so Gord is not afraid to take it out on a hot summer day. He admits luck is on his side because the flathead is notorious for getting hot under the collar when the temperature rises.
This Ford is probably the most solid investment Gord ever made because it never quits whether it’s freezing out or blazing hot, so he can cover the seasons with ease. It’s the best starting car he has in his fleet, so that’s a big asset and Gord said he, “could drive across the country in it”.
Gord evaluates all his cars, and he said this one falls in the “not pristine” category. That means he’s not worried about gravel roads or parking lots, but Gord admits he drives slower on the two-mile run from his home to a paved road.
You could say Gord has the perfect vehicle because this Ford is nice enough to maintain—but not mint enough to worry about in the real world. He believes in looking after cars with routine things like tuneups and oil changes, but a show-quality pint job isn’t on the table.
Gord’s philosophy is simple—he’s not a trailer queen owner. That’s why this ’52 Ford is so much fun.
Jerry Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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