Many of the most iconic names in motoring came of age in the 1950s, producing cars that in some cases are still closely associated with their makers’ images today. In Europe, where the hardships of World War II were still a recent memory and many...
The 1950s were exciting times in the USA. Jets and space rockets fired the public imagination, and car manufacturers did their utmost to link their products with these new technologies in order to capitalize on the positive mood. The less-than-subtle placement of a fighter plane...
These bigger saloons were the sort of cars people aspired to, purchasing them as their children grew and their careers progressed. They were cars driven by managers rather than their staff. Rarely the most exciting models in their makers’ line-ups, they were often big enough...
As Swedish as Abba, despite being foreign-owned since 1999, Volvo has a reputation for safety. A century ago the original company made ball bearings and took its name from the Latin for “I roll”. Its first cars were not built until 1926, a series of...
“The fact is, I don’t drive just to get from A to B. I enjoy feeling the car’s reactions, becoming part of it.” ENZO FERRARI, LEGENDARY RACE AND ROAD CAR CONSTRUCTOR In the 1950s the car took centre stage in daily life. Ownership was still by no...
Family cars went through enormous changes in the 1940s. Separate wings, running boards, and stand-up headlamps were out, and modern, full-width styling was in. Inspiration came from the design leaders in the US auto industry, which meant car companies across Europe increasingly used chrome trim...
Now reduced to a subsidiary of Fiat-Chrysler, Lancia’s long history blended engineering innovation with style in a manner that few companies could rival. Since its creation in 1906 the Turin-based company, its cars, and drivers have enjoyed a glittering career in motor sport, particularly in...
With money short and fuel still rationed in many countries, long after war was over, the focus was very much on small, economical cars. Most famous of them all was the Volkswagen, designed in the 1930s and put into full production by the British in...
Porsche is a name ingrained in sports car enthusiasts. Yet its founder, Ferdinand Porsche, was so much more than the creator of one of the world’s most recognizable marques. A man of inventiveness and rare skill, he designed the Volkswagen Beetle, pioneered hybrid vehicles, and...
The two founding fathers of the motor car industry came together when Daimler and Benz merged in 1926—the two companies’ founders had effectively invented the automobile. In addition to being a luxury marque, Mercedes-Benz, the company formed by the merger, has since laid a trail...