1950s’ Dream Cars

1957 Ford

The 1950s and cars--the two just seem to naturally go together. Fins, gleaming grilles, and hot colors like Tampa Turquoise, Fantasy Yellow, Persian Blue, Tango Red, Chiffon Green, and of course Pink.

The 1950s was the era in which America began its love affair with the automobile. Makers such as Packard, Chevrolet, Ford, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Nash, General Motors, Chrysler, Hudson, and others, vied for customers by offering tantalizing features such as: tailfins, stylish designs, and plenty of engine power.

Much as the highway was often a destination in and of itself, cars in the 50s were more than just a means of transportation. They were a symbol of status, freedom, and personal identity. Also, they had plenty of character--a long, flat Ford could never have been mistaken for a high-roofed Chrysler or a muscular General Motors car. The most distinctive however, were the Chevrolet Corvette and the Ford Thunderbird. The Thunderbird had a simple shape, almost no chrome and huge taillights while the Corvette sported curving European lines.

1950s car

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The Golden Oldies...

The Studebaker

1950 Studebaker Champion Regal DeLuxe Starlight Coupe.

The Studebaker Starlight coupe was offered by Studebaker in its Champion and Commander model series from 1947-1952. According to Wikipedia:

“...The Starlight body style was considered a halo model and was designated 5P (presumably 'five-passenger', to distinguish it from the three-passenger Businessman's coupe).

Unlike other pillared two-door sedans which use two side windows separated from the rear window by roof supports, designer Robert E Bourke^[1]^:p.267 created a rounded (at the rear) roof with a wraparound window system that provided a panoramic effect, similar to a railroad observation car. The curved window was achieved with four fixed panels of glass. The roof was supported by two wide pillars (sometimes referred to as "B" pillars) immediately behind the doors and in front of the wraparound back window. The body style was originally named, simply, "5-passenger coupe" however, for the 1949 model year, it was re-named Starlight Coupe...” Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studebaker_Starlight

The Packard

1950 Packard 8

Packard was an American automobile company that produced Luxury cars from 1899-1958.Packards from the 1950s featured a bit of chrome trim on the rear fenders. (From 1951-1954), which gave the car a tailfin look. This is especially true of the 1953 and 1954 Packard Caribbean (not pictured). In 1957, Packard seemed to be trying to prove just how awkward big fins looked on small cars. They succeeded in convincing most would-be customers. Packard was no more after 1958.

The Desoto

1955 De Soto Firedome.

Desoto was an American automobile manufacturer from 1928-1961. The Firedome, pictured above, was a full-size automobile produced by the Chrysler Corporation for its DeSoto brand vehicles from 1952 to 1959. Introduced as DeSoto's premium line of vehicles in 1953 and 1954, the Firedome also occupied the least expensive position in the model lineup during 1955 and 1956 model years before it was reclassified as a mid-range vehicle offered by DeSoto between 1957 and 1959. The De Soto was discontinued in 1961.

The Rambler

1951 Nash Rambler.

The Nash Rambler was a North American automobile produced by the Nash Motors division of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation from 1950–55.The Rambler is widely acknowledged to be the first successful modern American compact car.

How much for the car?

1951 Nash Rambler $1,732
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air $2,238
1953 Kaiser Manhattan $2,650
1957 Ford Thunderbird $3,408
1956 Cadillac Series 62 $4,711