Real Cars, Real Men

The Last Real Lincoln For Real Men

1952 was the last year you could buy a V-8 Lincoln with a stick-shift. That was the last American luxury car built by carnivores for carnivores. You could have the trappings of wealth and still shift for yourself, proving that you were still a Real Man.

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You see, the 1952 Lincoln was built by real men for real men. It was a solid, handsome car with clean, simple lines. It had a brand new body style and a brand new overhead-valve V-8 engine, too. It had a real stick-shift for real men to drive. "Wadda ya drivin', Bud?" "A stick-eight Lincoln, Chief. Want another beer?"


	1952 Lincoln Cosmopolitan Capri coupe at the 2007 LCOC Western National Meet

In the good old days, there were Real Men. Cars were built by these real men who forged iron into crankshafts and bolted heavy-gauge steel panels together with meaty, calloused hands. Men who sweated buckets at work and quenched their thirst after work with buckets of beer. And ate red meat by the handful. And smoked unfiltered Camels. And watched the Saturday night fights on little black and white TVs. And kept their feelings inside until their hearts exploded and they died.

Today, cars are made of wimpy thin steel and flimsy plastic. All of the hard work is done by robots. Nothing is bolted; it's all glued-up with thermally-activated adhesives applied by machines. The 'men' of today sit at computer terminals in air-conditioned cubicles so that they don't sweat. They sip designer water and pick at their salads and an occasional broiled cod. They watch 'The View' and/or Bravo Network on large, flat-screen TVs. Or collect 'friends' on Facebook.

They never shut up about their feelings and whine, "But you should be sensitive to my emotional needs, too." They'll probably die getting hit by a recycling truck while crossing the street to get a tall latte.

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Tom McCahill (a red meat-eater if there ever was one) road tested a '52 Capri for Mechanix Illustrated and reported that this was "undoubtedly one of the finest cars ever built ... a real 100 mile-per hour car." Then he changed into a flannel shirt and took his dogs hunting in the Lincoln.

Nuff said. If you can find a '52 stick Lincoln, go buy it, pal. Be a real man. And have another ribeye steak. (posted 5/23/07)

Remember When: 1952

In 1952, Elizabeth II became the Queen of England and the United Kingdom after the death of her father King George VI in February. In July, King Farouk of Egypt was ousted by a military coup. General Mohammed Naguib assumed power.

The United States tested the first hydrogen bomb during November at the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

56 million watched VP candidate Richard Nixon's 'Checkers speech' on TV. Mother Teresa opened a home for dying and destitute in Calcutta. First jetliner service inaugurated by BOAC between London and Johannesburg, South Africa with its Comet jetliner.

An estimated 4,000 to 12,000 died from respiratory tract infections in just 4 days when thick smog envelops London. The dense smog was caused by widespread use of dirty grades of coal for heating homes and buildings.

Packard introduced power brakes on its line of automobiles. Crosley Motors ceased production. A gallon of regular gas cost 20¢.

New products included Kellogg's Sugar Frosted Flakes and Sugar Smacks, Holiday Inn motels, paint-by-numbers painting sets and chlorophyll (as an ingredient in various products, including mouthwashes, toothpastes and deodorants). Mr. Potato Head toy was introduced and became the first toy to be advertised on television.

New words included hot-rodder and printed circuit. In 1952, the average price of new house was $9,050. Average U.S. wages per year was $3,850.00

Top-selling records included 'Wheel of Fortune' by Kay Starr 'Half as Much' by Rosemary Clooney, Jo Stafford's 'You Belong To Me', Eddie Fisher's 'Wish You Were Here', 'Glow-Worm' by the Mills Brothers and 'I Saw Mommie Kissing Santa Claus' by Jimmie Boyd.

Television's first magazine-format program, the 'Today Show', debuted on NBC with Dave Garroway hosting. Other new TV programs included: 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet', 'Dragnet', 'Our Miss Brooks', 'Mr. Peepers' and 'This Is Your Life'.

The English version of Anne Frank's 'The Diary of a Young Girl' was published. Ernest Hemingway's 'The Old Man and the Sea' was also published in 1952.

Top grossing movies of 1952 included 'The Greatest Show On Earth', 'High Noon', 'The Quiet Man', and 'Singin' In The Rain'. 'An American In Paris' won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Actor Ronald Reagan married actress Nancy Davis.

The New York Yankees won the World Series, defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers, 4-3. Hill Gail won the Kentucky Derby.

More AutoSketch car drawings can be found here.

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Disclaimer

The facts presented on this website are based on my best guesses and my substantially faulty geezer memory. The opinions expressed herein are strictly those of the author and are protected by the U.S. Constitution. Probably.

Spelling, punctuation and syntax errors are cheerfully repaired when I find them; grudgingly fixed when you do.

If I have slandered any brands of automobiles, either expressly or inadvertently, they're most likely crap cars and deserve it. Automobile manufacturers should be aware that they always have the option of trying to change my mind by providing me with vehicles to test drive.

If I have slandered any people or corporations, either expressly or inadvertently, they should buy me strong drinks (and an expensive meal) and try to prove to me that they're not the jerks I've portrayed them to be. If you're buying, I'm willing to listen.

Don't be shy - try a bribe. It might help.

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