Ford Motor Company's mid-range brand for many years was the Mercury (Wikipedia entry
here). It, Ford and Lincoln -- the company's entire lineup -- were redesigned for the 1952 model year.
Ford and Mercury used the same basic body, and Lincoln's was similar. These cars were Ford's second-generation postwar cars, and stylists had had the time to consider such matters as: dealing with flow-through (not separate) fenders; trends regarding size (especially height); and technology (mostly improvements in shaping automobile glass).
The result for Mercury was a tidy, rather squared-off shape of the kind later termed "three-box." That is, the cars were bustle-back types. Flat trunk lids echoed low, flat hoods up front. One reason hoods appeared low was because fender lines were high -- at the passenger compartment, the fender line and the belt line were the same.
I have always liked 1952 Mercury styling. However, when they first appeared they were criticized for having fake air intakes on the hood and sides. Such criticism is valid from a strict form-follows-function standpoint. But those faux airscoops and related sculpting can be seen a sheetmetal stiffeners and as a form of ornamentation. In those respects, they are valid design features.
Unless otherwise noted, the images below are factory photos or pictures of cars for sale.
Gallery
To set the scene, here is a 1951 Mercury.
A 1952 Mercury four-door sedan. Clean, simple stying that was quite modern at the time. The side "airscoop" helps to break up what otherwise would be a flat, boring full-length fender design.
Rear quarter view of a two-door sedan, Mecum Auctions photo.
Mercury station wagons for 1952 were not "woodies." Bodies were all-steel and the wood and faux-wood sheets are atop the side sheet metal. RM Auctions photo.
A 1952 Mercury convertible.
Walkaround
Mercury's frontal styling was advanced for the time. The bumper is high at a time when bumpers were low with all the grille placed above. Mercury's then-traditional vertical grille bars are retained in a clever manner.
Front quarter view of the Monterey hardtop convertible. I find it pleasing with virtually nothing to criticize.
The angle of the leading edge of the faux-airscoop aligns with the panel on the C-pillar and almost with the tail light chrome work.
The lean-forward theme mentioned in the caption above is evident in this photo.
My only quibble her is that the round medallion-cum-trunk-lock mechanism might be a trifle too large.
Continuing ...
The side chrome forms a Z-shape on the upscale Monterey.
A final view of this pleasing design.
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