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This list of the most popular cars of the 1950s highlights an era of automotive brilliance with chrome galore, thumping V8s, and loads of future classics.
Popular Cars from the 1950s
With World War II in the rearview mirror, 1950s America saw a booming economy and dramatic changes to the automotive landscape. During the war, auto manufacturers were hustling to produce goods for the front lines – not cars. As the economy pivoted back to a consumer focus, the auto industry saw demand ratchet WAY up.
In 1950, there were about 25 million vehicles registered across the country. By 1958, that registration figure was close to 70 million and American car culture was in a whole new era. This list of popular cars from the 1950s is a snapshot of an exciting time for the automotive industry.
Chevy Bel Air
Spanning four generations during the 1950s, the 1955-1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is perhaps the most popular of them all. This second-gen full-size from Chevy arrived in 1955 with fresh styling, a 265 cubic inch V8, and seven body styles including a pillarless 4-door hardtop.
Fancy features like power operation of the brakes, steering, windows, and seats helped the Bel-Air sell like crazy. In 1957, an optional “Corvette V8” was lifted from the new sports car to provide 283 horsepower from 283 cubic inches of displacement. The second-gen Bel Air is such a classic ‘50s car that Consumer Guide noted it “ranks right alongside Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, and Leave It to Beaver.”
Ford Fairlane
Cool as a Bel Air was, crosstown rival Ford had their sweet Fairlane that was so popular it helped the Blue Oval outsell the Bowtie brand in 1957 – something that hadn’t happened in over 20 years. The Fairlane arrived in 1955 with a trademark stainless-steel “Fairlane stripe” running down the body to create a two-tone look.
One of the six available body styles was a Crown Victoria Skyliner that featured a wild transparent plastic roof. The second generation arrived in 1957 and with it came an equally incredible Fairlane 500 Skyliner that boasted a retractable metal hardtop. This series also introduced the Ranchero utility coupe body and a 352 cubic inch big-block V8. Our Fairlane Classic Review covers the entire history of this iconic Ford.
Chrysler Imperial
THE name in luxury favored by executives, royalty, and celebrities, the Chrysler Imperial goes back to the late 1920s. Before it became a standalone brand, the 1949-1954 Imperial competed with the likes of Cadillac and Packard. Relatively conservative styling for the time was highlighted by sleek lines and large front grille chrome bars.
One of the first mass-produced cars to have standard disc brakes, the 1953 model was also the first car to feature air-conditioning in over a decade. This was helped by the fact that Walter P. Chrysler himself created the “Airtemp” air conditioning system for use in his eponymous Manhattan skyscraper. Also notable was that this generation Imperial showed off a new Firepower V8 that boasted a “hemispherical combustion chamber.”
Hudson Hornet
Though the company is long gone, the legacy of Hudson’s Hornet lives on thanks to how it absolutely dominated NASCAR stock car racing in the early 1950s. Hornet driver Marshall Teague finished the 1952 season with a ONE THOUSAND point lead over the next car. Much of this was attributed to the unusual “step down” design of first-gen Hornets made between 1950 and 1954. The floorpan footwells were recessed between the chassis rails versus the traditional approach where they sit atop the frame.
Along with giving the Hornet killer looks, it translated to a relatively low center of gravity for excellent handling – and racing – characteristics. These cool cars sold to the tune of 27,000 units in 1953 and could be had with a 5.0L straight-six, which was the largest six-cylinder motor for sale at the time.
Chevy 3100
Produced from 1947 to 1955, the Chevy 3100 “Advance Design” truck series saw few design changes over its lifetime making it one of the most recognizable classic pickups ever. It helped that these trucks were number one in domestic sales for all eight years of production.
The 3100 popularity was also boosted by the fact that Chevy applied the design to its entire truck-based portfolio ranging from light and medium-duty pickups to panel vans, the period Suburban, and even school buses. That sleek Art Deco styling didn’t hurt either. Always powered by a reliable inline-6 engine, one major change came in 1954 when the two-piece windshield was replaced by a curved one-piece unit. Check out our Chevy 3100 Retro Review for more details.
Ford Thunderbird
Inspired by the all-new Corvette, Ford unleashed the Thunderbird in 1955 but went in a different direction than Chevy. Yes, it was a two-seat droptop that shared an identical wheelbase with the ‘Vette, but Ford positioned it as a “personal luxury car”, not a true sports car. These first-gen models – that we look back on in detail here – prioritized comfort and convenience over pure athleticism.
Of course, the 300-horse supercharged V8 offered toward the end of gen-one production ensured plenty of speed to go along with it. It proved a successful formula as the Thunderbird outsold the Corvette 23 to 1 in the first year of production. Old Blue Eyes himself was also quite the T-Bird fan. The Thunderbird would go on to sell in huge numbers as multiple body styles were added in 1958, but the early roadsters were uniquely cool.
Chevy Corvette
A car that needs no introduction, the Corvette arrived in 1953 with a hand-laid fiberglass body, solid rear axle, and “Blue Flame” straight-six power. Over the course of the next nine years, these first-generation Vettes added the side-cove design element in 1956, a 283-horse V8 for 1957, and the long-running quad taillight style for 1961. What started as a concept car for the famed GM Motorama automotive extravaganza took on a life of its own. Easily one of the most popular cars of the 1950s, the Corvette has remained in production to the present day.
Cadillac Eldorado
General Motors was on a tear in 1953. Along with the aforementioned Corvette, this was the year of the Cadillac Eldorado. An impossibly long convertible with a specially built body that featured door lines dropping front to back, the original Eldorado was a Harley Earl masterpiece. To go with the huge sticker price, this top-line Eldorado had a flush metal tonneau cover, power windows, a cabin heater, signal-seeking radio, and more.
The 5,000-pound behemoth was motivated by an equally big 331 cubic inch V8. The Eldorado would go on to decades of production including three more generations within the 1950s alone, but that first-generation single-year model is hard to beat. We compare the 1959 Eldorado to its Lincoln competition here.
Porsche 550 RS Spyder
A pip squeak compared to an Eldorado, the 1953-1956 Porsche 550 was a purpose-built race car that could also be driven on the street. Privateers at the time were known to drive the 550 to the track, race it, and drive it home. It was in this car that James Dean met his fate doing just that.
These Porsche roadsters featured mid-engine placement of an air-cooled 1.5L flat-four motor. Highlights included dual overhead camshafts, twin 2-barrel Solex carburetors, and a curb weight of around 1,300 pounds. Though fewer than 100 were ever made, they remain an indelible part of 1950s car culture thanks to celebrity owners and of course, a “giant killer” reputation on the racetrack.
Buick Roadmaster
Spanning three generations over the 1950s, it was the fifth-gen Buick Roadmaster that still had the epic wood-bodied Estate station wagon. 1953 was the final year for this “suavely handsome” chrome and wood-laden ride. These gen-five Roadmasters arrived in 1949, introducing VentiPorts on the front fenders, which would become a long-lasting Buick signature design feature.
There were six other body styles to go with the wagon including the dramatic Skylark convertible that arrived in 1953 as a stablemate to the specialty Cadillac Eldorado. These classic Buicks are extra neat because along with the traditional V8 engines, they were offered with straight-8 motors.
