1952 Plymouth Suburban Blue Suburban Concord

This is a rare and handsome 2-door wagon on which its owner has invested five years in extensive mechanical restoration and added safety modifications, while leaving its appearance nearly original.

The exterior oozes with patina appropriate to a well-maintained and well-used car that attracts vintage car buffs and hipsters alike.  The interior is immaculate, save a steering wheel left in original condition.

This was the 3rd 1952 Suburban manufactured at the nsville, na plant and was completed on Dec 3, 1951.  Its first owner purchased it new from Motors in then moved to New ico and sold to a collector in NM in 1977 showing showing 114,000 mi.  It’s hard to tell without looking at the odometer that this fine car has travelled 133,000 miles.  lf of the nearly 20,000 miles put on by current owner has been on long-distance trips for three car shows in Michigan and two in nsylvania.

The paintwork (done with an as- original color in 1979) looks great from a distance but has many minor scratches.  work is in excellent condition – previous owner had many pieces rebuilt.  There is a slight bubbling behind the doors as shown in the close-up picture but it is surface only (see siderail photos – no rot).  This one spot of bubbling is not surprising given the 40-year-old paint job.

The interior is completely original in style and material and mostly pristine.  The steering wheel has never been repainted.  All gauges and radio work.  The heater and defroster work great, as do the electric windshield wipers (new in ’52!)  New rubber carpets are as original with a period-correct topper in the front.  The floors (including cargo area), doors, and side panels have been covered by modern sound-deadening material, and the car is amazingly quiet when compared to any wagon of the period.  power steering allows for smooth and easy steering over 5 mph.  Doors have been removed, rebuilt, and balanced… see the door-closing videos and turn up the sound for proof.  Modern retracting shoulder belts have been installed professionally at the insistence of the owner’s wife.

All doors, tailgate, gas cap, and even the glove compartment lock come with their original keys and copies.

The headliner is stained – no idea how it happened – maybe a soda bottle exploded.  The current owner left it as-is because this is one of the only ‘52 we’ve ever seen or heard of with its original woven hemp cloth intact.  The front seat has been rebuilt and recovered with vinyl that matches the original rear seat (with its modern lap-belts).  The rear seat folds flat, and under the cargo floor there’s a new and unused tire matching the 4 that are on the car.  Wheel well (generally a problem area in these cars) is clean and rust-free). The hubcaps are from the higher model, and replacements are readily available.  ve stems are modern/metal.

The frame and whole undercarriage are strong and stay clean.  The engine and rear end both drip the tiniest bit (as do all Mopars of this vintage).

the list below shows, nearly every mechanical part has been refurbished, restored, or replaced.  a result, it starts and runs smoothly up to 60-65 mph on the interstate if needed, but current owner drives on 2-lane roads at 50-55 almost exclusively.  She spends winters in an unheated garage, and always starts with a small squirt of starting fluid in the .  Other than cold starts that want plenty of pumping, she starts at the first turn of the key.

·        built power steering ram

·        built power steering pump

·       New tie rod ends

·        tall power steering unit.

·       New battery and fuel pump

·        built engine

·       Modern replaceable oil filter

·       New driveshaft to original specs

·       New motor mounts

·       Entire car rewired using new harness

·       High center LED brake light installed

·       New rubber seals/sweeps: d, cowl, vent windows, windows, rear tailgate.

·       Armrests repaired and reupholstered

·       New distributor

·       Differential:  placed left and right side bearings, races, and axle seals

·       New and rear shocks

·        ar end dismantled and inspected.  New rear main seal

·        talled 3-point seatbelts (professionally installed)

·       Clutch rebuilt

·       Flywheel machined/balance

·       4 new nkook tires (now with 16,000 miles since new).

·       4 new n-made wheels

·       New kingpins and upper trunnion bushings both sides

·        built and reupholstered front seat (matching original rear seat)

·       New Heater Control ve

·        move doors, source and repair interior parts, adjust/balance.

·       Sound deadening material (Noico 80mm) on floors, doors, and side panels

·       New rubber carpets front and back

This is a very special car to say the least.  One that has lived in the salt-free Southwest, and has been treated with love and respect by three owners.  The new owner will enjoy driving it for many years and miles to come.

It’s worth every penny… try finding another in this kind of rust-free original condition and that has been so well improved.

If you want many dozen more photos taken in 2017 by the previous owner, use this link:

1952 Plymouth Suburban