The Evolution of Cars in the 1950s

Volkswagen changed the way Americans drove cars beginning in the 1950s.

Automobiles underwent tremendous technological and styling changes in the 1950s, marking the first time since the introduction of the Ford V-8 engine in 1932 of a significant evolutionary process. Most automakers in the first decade following the end of World War II saddled cars with prewar technology and bulky body styling. Studebaker, with its 1953 coupes, and Chrysler's Flight Sweeps changed the look of automobiles. Meanwhile, Chrysler and Chevy developed powerful, yet efficient V-8 engines.

Body Styling

General Motors' chief designer Harley Earl is the father of the tailfin craze by lifting the look of the tail of the P-38 fighter planes for Cadillac. Tailfins and chrome-laden General Motors cars remain today as the iconic image of 1950s automotive styling. However, Studebaker stylists Raymond Lowey, Chrysler designer Virgil Exner and Chevy Nomad stylist Carl Renner separately developed leaner, more sculpted cars. Loewy designed the 1953 Commander Starliner, which is one of the best examples of 1950s streamlined styling. Exner styled the 1955 Chrysler Flight Sweep and the Imperials with sharp, bold lines and a sweeping belt line. Renner's Nomad station wagon is an exercise in restraint in a sea of General Motors styling excesses.

Power

Styling ruled the automotive roost in the 1950s. Pretty cars sold. Technology hidden under chrome and two-tone turquoise and cream paint jobs did nothing to enhance car sales. Yet Chevrolet developed the small-block V-8. Chevrolets received the 265 cubic inch in 1955, and later the 283 V-8 engines that contained massive power in a compact, efficient unit. The 265 wielded 162 horsepower and the 283 offered nearly 200 horsepower. The in-line six-cylinder engine remained the base power plant for most cars, but the V-8 ultimately became the standard engine of choice for more than 30 years. Chrysler, in fact, raised the stakes by perfecting the Hemi engine with its angled and larger hemispherical-formed chambers. The Hemi created a better fuel-air mixture to increase power, which helped usher in the muscle car era of the 1960s.

The Compact Car

Gasoline in 1957 may have been only 24 cents a gallon, but much to the annoyance of Detroit automakers, Volkswagen was making headway in capturing a segment of the automotive market. With its clever advertising campaign and miniscule 36-horsepower engine, the Beetle was growing in popularity as an alternative to the behemoth Buicks and Cadillacs. Detroit responded with a collective blast. Chevrolet developed the rear-engine Corvair that debuted in 1959, but died an ugly death in 1969 due to safety concerns. South Bend, Indiana-based Studebaker introduced its Lark in 1959. Plymouth came out with its Valiant and Ford its Falcon in 1960. The U.S. offerings didn't keep the Volkswagen juggernaut at bay, but they offered compact cars with reasonable six-cylinder power.

Sports Cars

When GM's Harley Early looked at the sports car market, he saw the North American landscape bustling with MG T-Types, Triumph TR3s and Austin-Healey 100s. Servicemen returning from Europe following World War II brought back these low-slung two-seater sports cars. They were not buying Detroit products. Earl brought in engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov to create the 1953 Corvette to capture the sports car market. A tepid 235 cubic inch in-line six initially powered the Corvette, but in 1955, it received the more robust 265 V-8. The Corvette set the standard for future American-made sports cars.

References

• 1955 Classic Chevy: Body Styles
• Chrysler Design Institute: Vehicle Design
• Travel: Planes, Trains, Automobiles, Coke Bottles: The world Raymond Loewy Created
• Obvious Magazine: Raymond Loewy Cars
• Allpar: The Original Chrysler Hemi Engine
• Chevy High Performance: Chevy Small Block History

Resources

• Histomobile: Volkswagen History
• Concept Carz: 1959 Studebaker Lark VIII
• Concept Carz: 1964 Chevrolet Corvair
• Motor Era: Corvette History