![]() ![]() When the Imperial introduced itself in 1955 as a separate brand, it was to create a new line of luxury vehicles. The Bel Air was introduced in 1950 and enjoyed a 25-year production run before being discontinued in 1975.The 1957 version of the Bel Air was filled with many amenities often reserved for much more expensive cars.The 1957 Bel Air was considered to be a “baby Cadillac.”.It is not unusual to see this revolutionary car go for much more, often pushing close to $100k. Considering that the original MSRP was only $2,511, the car's value is nearly $30k, according to Hagerty. Even though Ford outsold Chevy during the year, there is no question that the fin-tailed Bel Air has become an icon of the decade and is sought after by collectors everywhere. The cars offered so many different amenities and color combinations that consumers began to refer to the ‘57 as a baby Cadillac.Ĭhevy made nearly 750k Bel Airs in 1957, although only 47k were 2-door convertibles. The Bel Air had power for everything (power locks, windows, steering, and brakes, although air conditioning was an option. Bucket seats, color-coordinated padded dash, AM/FM radio, and wall-to-wall carpeting were options. The attraction of the Bel Air was that interior upgrades often were a part of this luxury vehicle. Coupled with a choice of two automatic transmissions (Powerglide and Turboglide), the car had a top speed of 128 mph and a 0-60 time of 7.7 seconds. A few ‘57 Bel Airs included a closed-loop fuel injection system, even though most had 4bbl Rochester carb. The 1957’s Super Turbo-Fire produced 283 hp and 290 lb/ft of torque. Having been in production since 1950, the second-generation Bel Air underwent profound changes in 1955, including an optional V8 engine shared with the Corvette. The 1957 Bel Air is considered to be an icon of the age. The Thunderbird would go through eleven generations before finally being retired in 2005.The first generation Thunderbird was produced as a competition against the Chevrolet Corvette.The Ford Thunderbird began the personal luxury vehicle market.While only 10k units were planned, the demand was so great that over 16,155 vehicles were produced and sold. The original MSRP was $2,941 (around $32k in today’s dollars). The Thunderbird would go on to a glorious future, being made for another fifty years (with a five-year hiatus in 1997 - 2002). The strategy worked as the Thunderbird outsold the Corvette by nearly 23 to 1 in its first year. While the wheelbase was shorter than others, Ford spent its time making the comfort and convenience items spectacular rather than emphasizing the power or performance of the car. The Thunderbird shared several components with other existing Ford models as Ford sought to keep production costs low. The powerplant was updated the following year to a 5.1L that produced 215 hp with the manual transmission and 225 hp when mated with an automatic. The original Thunderbird was given a Y-block V8 (4.8L) which was relatively new at the time, having replaced the side-valved flathead V8 Ford had used for over 20 years. Instead, Ford offered the Thunderbird as a “personal luxury vehicle.”. The Thunderbird began as a sporty two-seater designed to compete with the Corvette (even though Ford did not market it as a sports car). No list from the fifties is complete without a mention of the Ford classic. Perhaps we will see how the automotive industry succeeded in making some of the most beautiful cars ever. Let’s take a closer look at some of the very best road cars of the fifties. So, what are the best cars from this great decade? The 1950s brought the likes of the Hudson Hornet, the Thunderbird, and the Chrysler Imperial with stylish designs and high performance. The fifties are often labeled the “Golden Age of Capitalism,” and the car makers took full advantage of it. ![]() Americans became more affluent, lifestyles grew more effortless, and consumer spending on homes, cars, and luxury goods grew exponentially. The fifties brought the likes of modern color televisions, refrigerators/freezers, electric ranges, and dishwashers to many homes (by the fifties, almost every rural home received electricity). As the public put the horrors of World War II behind them, American families thrived in the new, prosperous times. ![]() Modern inventions were popping up everywhere, from science to space flight to supersonic speeds. While American kids enjoyed sock hops and Saturday nights, the 1950s brought technological advances as never before. The best cars of the 1950s are listed below as some of the most iconic cars ever produced. What are the best, most iconic 1950s cars? The 1950s might have been the Golden Age of Capitalism, but it was a good time for the auto industry. ![]()
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