The job of stepping up defense production while maintaining a profitable level of civilian output was continued in 1952. Many factors hindered production in the motor industry during 1952, the longest stoppage being caused by the nation-wide steel strike in June and July. It was estimated that well over 1.5 million fully automatic units were produced during the year.

There was a spectacular increase in the number of automatic transmissions offered and sold during 1950. The majority of the 1951 changes were cosmetic. In other respects the 1951 designing differed only slightly from that of 1950, since most manufacturers had provided new designing for their 1950 models. About half of the 1951 models offered hardtop styling. This body style was extended to include four-door sedans in 1951 models. Not convertible in the true sense of the word, these cars embodied the racy lines of a convertible while retaining a fixed steel top. In design, the outstanding feature of the 1951 model year was the popularity and extension of the РІР‚Сљhardtop convertibleРІР‚Сњ introduced in 1950 models. Just how strong the demand was in each of these cases had yet to be established. Two manufacturers introduced new РІР‚СљsmallРІР‚Сњ cars during 1950, to meet the demand for (1) an economical second car for middle income families and (2) a car whose initial price placed it within reach of many people who previously had to buy used cars. A mild form of this control, requiring a one-third down payment with the balance to be paid within 21 months (three months longer than the wartime version) was restored in September. The most serious event of the year for car salesmen was the reimposition of Regulation W, the governmentРІР‚в„ўs credit control bill which had limited purchases during and immediately after World War II. Total 1950 production was 7,987,000 vehicles. The automobile industry in the United States established in 1950 a new all-time production record for the second successive year.

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