Stylish Roadsters

1950’s America loved two-seat sports cars, or roadsters, and domestic car-makers, as well as rivals from Europe and beyond, rushed to satisfy the endless demand. Seeing the potential of new revenue streams and fresh customers, firms such as Jowett and Triumph, traditionally makers of small vans and comfortable saloons favored by bank managers, began to manufacture sports cars. Outside America a new generation of drivers began to find that they had more money at their disposal, and the idea of spending it on a roadster and cruising along in an open-top car seemed particularly appealing.

Chevrolet Corvette CI, 1953

 

Origin	USA
Engine	4,291 cc, V8
Top speed	142 mph (229 km/h)

First revealed in 1953 as a concept car, the Corvette’s swooping, Harley Earl-styled fiberglass body promised speed that its six-cylinder engine could not deliver. As a result just 700 cars were sold in the first year. A beefy V8 engine, a manual gearbox, and a style makeover transformed sales and an icon was born.

Futuristic feel

The Corvette’s designers were keen to give the car a cutting edge look, and this extended to its interior and exotically shaped instrument cluster, which grouped round dials and gauges directly in front of the driver.

Changing times

Very early Corvettes had single, round headlamps but General Motors was quick to revise the styling. By the time V8 versions were on sale, these quad headlamps were being used.

Back in style

The Corvette started out with fin-like, taillamp mounts, but was revised to give a more rounded look. Period road testers praised the car’s roadholding.

Jowett Jupiter, 1950

 

Origin	UK
Engine	1,486 cc, flat-four
Top speed	84 mph (135 km/h)

Jowett used the Javelin saloon’s brilliant, flat-four engine in the Jupiter two-seater, where its low centre of gravity helped the independently sprung roadster’s handling. The Jupiter scored victories at Le Mans and Monte Carlo Rally, but gearbox warranty claims sank Jowett after 899 were built.

Healey G-type, 1951

 

Origin	UK
Engine	2,993 cc, straight-six
Top speed	100 mph (161 km/h)

Before Donald Healey’s Austin-Healey collaboration, the company worked with American vehicle-maker Nash to produce the Nash-Healey sports car. The G-type was basically this roadster, fitted with an Alvis engine and manual rather than automatic transmission. Only 25 cars were ever made, making it very rare.

Kaiser Darrin, 1954

 

Origin	USA
Engine	2,641 cc, straight-six
Top speed	96 mph (154 km/h)

Shipbuilder Henry Kaiser began making cars after World War II. The Darrin, America’s first fiberglass-bodied sports car, boasted doors that slid into the front wings. Named after its designer, Howard “Dutch” Darrin, the car was only made after Kaiser’s wife persuaded him to build it.

Mercedes-Benz 190SL, 1955

 

Origin	Germany
Engine	1,897 cc, straight-four
Top speed	107 mph (172 km/h)

The 190SL was the exotic, gullwing-doored 300SL’s more restrained, little brother. Its convertible body shared many of the 300SL’s design themes, and the 190 also had independent rear suspension. Launched in New York, the 190SL was more luxury touring two-seater than sports car.

 

It is a quote. The Classic Car Book – The Definitive Visual History 2016