Vintage American Cars Of The 1950s

For many of us vintage American cars from the 1950s have held a life long fascination. The adjective “vintage” brings many different things to mind. One of those is something that is “extra special.” And that would most certainly be apt when discussing American cars from the 1950s. These vintage American cars were most certainly extra special.

The United States entered the 1950s enjoying several advantages over the rest of the world. They were already leaders in car manufacture before their entry into World War 2. The Americans also emerged from war economically stronger than when they first went in. And as the rest of the industrialised nations were still battling with post-war reconstruction and shortages the United States entered the 1950s all set for a consumer boom.

The American public were eager to spend their dollars, and that included buying a car. And the American car manufacturers had the capacity and expertise to meet the demand.

So how were the big 1950s car manufacturers in the United States able to entice a fickle American public to purchase their wares? One of the main reasons were the talented car designers available. America has the reputation of being big and brash. Their cars during the 50s were big, brash and beautiful as well.

Think of the typical vintage American car during the 1950s and you picture a tailfin. The name associated with the introduction of the tailfin into American car design is that of Harvey Earl. Earl was indeed multi-talented. As well as being one of the top designers in the car industry he was also a renowned stylist and engineer.

Known as the “Da Vinci of Detroit”, Earl was behind the concept car the Buick Lesabre, held by some to behind the surge in car sales during the decade.  And as well as the tailfin, Earl introduced several other 50s design specialities, including the use of chrome, two-tone paint and the wrap-around windscreen.

Another car-styling icon was Virgil Exner who was to become chief stylist at motor manufacturing giant Chrysler during the 1950s. Exner was responsible for the launch of the K-310 and Hemi VI. By the middle of the decade he had designed the “idea car” the Chrysler Falcon. With the Falcon Exner introduced eye-catching features such as a prominent radiator grille and exposed side grill. Two years later, in 1957, this styling genius initiated the launch of the Imperial, complete with curved glass in the side windows, an industry first.

Frenchman Raymond Loewy became a master of 1950s American car design. Loewy, working in collaboration with Virgil Exner, was behind the creation of the Studebaker Starliner and Starlight coupe range of 1953. Under Loewy’s influence, they later became the Hawk range.

When considering vintage American cars, the effect that men such as Earl, Exner and Loewy had on their development and popularity cannot be overestimated.

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