Classic American 1950s Automobiles

Mention classic American cars and the mind is drawnfins and chrome and by 1957 rolled out the Bel Air
back to the 1950s. The Classic Car Club of AmericaConvertible, which was to remain popular into the
labels cars built before 1959 as classics. That tag isnext decade.
certainly deserved for cars built and designed duringThe 1950s saw the rise of car designers with the
that decade as the American automobileability to wave their magic on the drawing boards
manufacturers revolutionised the designs andand design the cars which appealed to the American
technology of cars.public. One such designer was Virgil Exner who led to
Names of the vintage American cars of the 1950sthe likes of Dodge being able to produce what are
resonate to this very day. The Oldsmobile Rocket 88now renowned as classics from that era.
Convertible, the Chevrolet Corvette and Bel AirWith the American motorist demanding regular
Convertibles, the Dodge B500 Hardtop, thechange in style, companies such as Studebaker were
Studebaker Golden Hawk and the Cadillac Convertiblehappy to oblige. In 1957 they produced one of the all
and Seville - hallmarks of luxury - remain greattime great automobiles, the Silver Hawk.
examples of American automobile design of that era.The Silver Hawk had plenty of varieties to tempt the
The design of American cars during the 1950s wasdollars out of the wallets of the automobile loving
spectacular and their engines were powerful, andpublic, coming in the Flight Hawk, Power Hawk, Gold
good example of that was the Oldsmobile Rocket.Hawk as well as in a hard topped range.
Produced initially in 1950 the vehicle was powered byMention of great American Cars of the 1950s often
a V8 engine and at the time was the most powerfulbrings to mind the name Cadillac, a brand associated
automobile on the road.with luxury and opulence. By 1957 the Cadillac
Another name synonymous with classic AmericanEldorado Brougham was retailing at an eye watering
cars of the 1950s is Chevrolet. Chevy's Bel Air range$13000, a huge amount in those days. No wonder
became one of the most popular vehicles forthat the Cadillac range was associated with the stars
American motorists with sales hitting the 100000of the era, and it will always be labelled a classic.
mark during 1951. Chevrolet followed the trend for