The 1950s Car

The 1950s car became more streamlined than previous box-like designs and many of the technical gadgets we know today were developed and adopted by manufacturers during that decade.

1950s automobiles began to look more spectacular, particularly compared to the box-like vehicles of the 1930s and 40s. Cars began to appear with fins and wings.

By the mid 1950s the Ford motor company put a wrap around windscreen on their Thunderbird.

In 1959 Ford were still experimenting with innovative look as they adopted a design compatible with their Fairlane 500 Skyliner.

The design of the aeroplane was increasingly influencing that of the 1950s car with Studebaker adopting a bullet look at front of their cars, similar to the nose of aircraft of that period.

The jet like look of cars culminated at the end of the 1950s when Cadillac installed after burner tail lights, fake jet engine reverse lights and a wrap around windscreen on their latest model.

Unfortunately for Cadillac, if not fortunately for good taste, this attempt to make the 1950s car look more like a jet fighter failed as the industry reverted to somewhat simpler designs.

Across the Atlantic, the design of the 1950s car was less spectacular as designers went for the more elegant look.

High on the list of European cars with the aesthetically pleasing look was the Gullwing built by German car manufacturers Mercedes Benz. The Gullwing also became popular among discerning American motorists with 80 percent of production being sold in the States.

Mercedes Benz also initiated a technological revolution as its 300SL sports car was the first petrol powered vehicle with fuel injection.

In Italy Ferrari were making a name for themselves with elegant vehicles which could be used for everyday driving as well as on the race track. The culmination of the dual purpose Italian car was the Ferrari 250 GT SWP coupé at the end of the 1950s.

The 1950s also saw the emergence of the Japanese car. By the middle of the decade Toyota were producing 8.5 million cars a year as they started their relentless surge towards eventual Japanese dominance of the world's motor car manufacturing industry.

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