The classic American cars of the 40s and 50s will always have a place in the hall of fame of car manufacturing, and a place of honor on model collector's shelves. Lets look at some of the history and beauty of these early models.
After World War II, 1940s and 1950s cars became lower, longer and broader, as well as larger and bulkier. The semi-automatic transmission was introduced by Hudson, allowing the driver to change between manual and automatic at the push of a button.
US-made cars were incredibly wide and long, with most featuring massive trunks. In the 1940s, a new car cost about $800, and a gallon of gas was about 18 cents - not a bad deal.
Chrome trim, bumpers and light surrounds became very popular during the 50s in what was a reflection of the American people's desire for more luxury in the postwar years. American car manufacturing boomed during that decade, making more cars than England, France, Japan, Sweden and many other nations combined. Demand was so high during the 50s that Ford and General Motors both manufactured over 50 million cars - incredible.
