The Fifties—sometimes called the Fabulous Fifties—was the era following World War II and the Great Depression in which people explored and enjoyed their newfound economic comfort. Sociologists have sometimes categorized the Fifties as a filiarchy: an era ruled by the perceived needs and wants of children by their indulging parents.
In his book Panati’s Parade of Fads, Follies, and Manias, Charles Panati writes:
“The nostalgic richness of the Fifties has much to do with the decade being a period of genuine and sustained economic growth. Upward mobility then meant something to every middle-class family.”
This was a time when the United States had a relatively large and still growing middle class.
With regard to automobiles, Nick Georgano, in his book The American Automobile: A Centenary 1893-1993, reports:
“During the 1950s, the V8 became established as the logical power unit for American cars. The straight-6 was relegated to the lowest-priced lines and the straight-8 was consigned to oblivion.”
By the late 1950s, American automobiles were longer, lower, and wider, Lots of chrome, more powerful engines, and fins became typical.
The LeMay Family Collections at Marymount in Tacoma, Washington is the Northwest’s largest automobile collection. There are more than 1,500 vehicles in the collection. The museum is on historic grounds of former Marymount Military Academy and vehicles are displayed and stored in three buildings. Shown below are some of the cars from the 1950s.
1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe Pro Stock
This car has a 355 cubic inch, V8 engine with a blower.
1950 Crosley Hot Shot Roadster
This car sold new for $877. It has an inline 4-cylinder, 44 cubic inch, 26.5 horsepower engine with a 4-speed manual transmission. It has a top speed of 90 mph.
1951 Mercury 4-Door Sport Sedan
This car sold new for $2,000 and a total of 157,648 were produced. It has a V8, 255 cubic inch, 112 horsepower engine with 3-speed Merc-O-Matic transmission.
1953 Singer 4AD Roadster
This car has an inline 4-cylinder, 1,497 cubic inch, 48 horsepower engine. It has a top speed of 73 mph.
1953 Kaiser Dragon
This was the top-of-the-line Kaiser. It sold new for $3,924 and a total of 1,277 were produced. It has an inline 6-cylinder, 228 cubic inch, 118 horsepower engine with Hydra-Matic transmission, power steering, and power brakes.
1954 Kaiser Darrin KF-161 Roadster
This car sold new for $3,668 and a total of 435 were produced. It has an inline 6-cylinder, 161 cubic inch, 90 horsepower engine.
1954 Nash Metropolitan Convertible
This car sold new for $1,469. It has a 1200 cc, 42 horsepower engine.
1957 Pontiac Super Chief Catalina
This car sold new for $2,735. It has a V8, 347 cubic inch, 270 horsepower engine.
1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
This car sold new for $7,286 and 1,800 were produced. It has a V8, 365 cubic inch, 300 horsepower engine.
1958 Chevrolet Apache Ambulance
This vehicle sold new for $2,123. It has a V8, 283 cubic inch, 188 horsepower engine.
1958 Studebaker Commander Provincial
This car sold new for $2,644 and a total of 2,412 were built. It has a V8, 289 cubic inch, 225 horsepower engine.
More cars
Packard Museum: the 1950s (photo diary)
Packard Museum: Concept cars of the 1950s (photo diary)
America's Car Museum: Cars from the 1950s in the LeMay Collection (photo diary)
Museums 101: Porsche automobiles, 1955-1969 (photo diary)
Thunder Dome Car Museum: Some cars from the 1950s (photo diary)
Museums 101: Some Fords from the 1950s (photo diary)
Car Show: Cars from the 1950s (Photo Diary)
WAAAM: Automobiles of the 1950s (Photo Diary)