Decade of Dazzle: Fifties Stylish American Cars

The book features cars such as the 1953 Hudson Hornet -- 1953 Cadillac Eldorado -- 1953 Studebaker Starliner -- 1953 Buick Skylark -- 1953 Oldsmobile 88 -- 1954 Chevrolet Corvette -- 1955 Packard Caribbean -- 1956 Ford Thunderbird -- 1956 Chrysler 300B -- 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II -- 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air -- 1959 Ford Skyliner. What a lineup of 1950s American car power! We are partial to the Packard Caribbean, but there is so much to learn about these vehicles which competed in an increasingly tough market. Chrome and fins really do dazzle. Is there anything more iconic than a ‘57 Chevy? As noted in the Introduction, the early years of the decade were characterized by new and worthwhile directions from designers and manufacturers. They had experienced the hardship of the Great Depression and World War II and were looking ahead to a new era. Today, we look back at these cars as exceptional objects of nostalgia. It’s difficult to imagine, but the number of cars sold went from nearly zero in 1945 to eight million in 1950. Names such as Harley Earl, Virgil Exner, and Raymond Lowrey designed many of these iconic cars. Happy reading!