As the 1950's were ushered in, America has started a long road of prosperity. Everything needed for a stable, comfortable life is manufactured within her borders. Radio programs are rapidly giving way to television, and the auto has become a common companion for almost every household. For the first time in history, teenagers were allowed the luxury of either borrowing the family car, or were fortunate enough to own thier own. Because of this, and a new type of music called rock-n-roll, diners and drive-ins sprouted up all over the country. For local kids, this was the hang out for every Friday night. This was also the time when the American auto was experimented with and became a part of who you are. Duece coupes, hot rods, and convertibles were a common sight on a busy weekend night.
As the decade progressed, some of the most famous cars were produced. In 1953 Americas Sportscar was introduced to us. The Almighty Corvette hit the streets, and was almost a flop. The little two seater had to go a few years before it took roots and grew. In fact, most of the first year production cars were given away to top movie and television celebrities. Ford made a big splash with the Thunderbird in 1957, and in that same year we met the classic '57 Chevy. Big, swooping tail fins were all the rage, and autos were extremly large and long. But who cared? With gas at .18 to .25 cents a gallon, one could afford to fill them up. Automatic transmissions were gaining in popularity as the technology was refined.
I Love Lucy, The Lone Ranger, and the King himself, Elvis, were all a part of this wonderful decade. Stay tuned as we branch off into different autos from the 1950's.
