In 1950s America all sedans were large and sales figures were huge, justifying annual improvements and restyling. In Europe the economic climate was less favorable, with limited demand in the austerity years after World War II. As a result, updated pre-war cars were produced well...
Conceived as an alternative to the “bubble cars” popular at the time of the 1956 Suez Crisis, the Mini revolutionized small-car design. Its front-wheel drive and transverse engine established the pattern for the modern motor car, putting manufacturer BMC (British Motor Corporation) in the technological...
Produced in many variants over a 55-year lifespan, the Chevy small-block epitomizes the tried and trusted American engine recipe of a 90-degree V8 built of cast iron with pushrod valve actuation. It quickly became popular as a drag-racing engine and powered iconic sports and pony...
Launched in 1953 as a fiberglass two-seater convertible in the style of contemporary European models, the Corvette was America’s first production sports car. Initially fitted with a six-cylinder engine, the Corvette began to fulfill its potential only when it was given a V8 power plant....
Massive demand for sports cars in prosperous post-war America prompted rapid progress in design here and in Europe. This was a golden era for sports cars, as profiles became lower and stylists emphasized this with gorgeous, flowing lines, in the process coming up with some...
The 1950s was the decade of successful front-engined racing cars, especially in sports-car racing. European marques derived from road going sports cars dominated, gradually becoming more and more different from their street origins. Disc brakes proved a huge advantage and would be rapidly adopted, along...
Henry Ford was the first automobile manufacturer to make the most of mass-production techniques, and his Model T sold by the million. Since then, the Ford Motor Company has grown into a global giant, the only big U.S. car maker to survive the recession of...
The 1950s saw prosperity slowly return after World War II, and with it increasing demand for cars of the highest luxury. But now, as roads improved and people’s horizons broadened, ultimate performance was a goal, too. The best post-war cars were expected to cruise all...
Post-war prosperity in the United States brought the most indulgent and flamboyant period ever in car design, as car makers at all levels of the market dressed up cars with ever increasing amounts of chrome plating and styling excesses: fins, bullets, and aircraft-inspired detail. Cars...
Europe specialized in the small, economical family car in the 1950s, producing a wide range of practical and often surprisingly civilized vehicles with much more space, pace, and comfort than their pre-war equivalents. However, some marques, such as Ford, bucked the modernizing trend by continuing...