In the 1950s America was on the move. Suburban sprawl, an expanding highway system, and fast food franchises springing up across the nation fed the wanderlust of the burgeoning middle class. Domestic auto makers fought tooth and nail to fill driveways, while at the same time foreign makes sought to gain a foothold in the lucrative American market.
So competitive was the auto market that car makers sought an edge not just on the sales floor but on the car show circuit as well. No other era of the automotive age has seen more, or more wild, show cars than did the nineteen fifties.
This week we’re feting the fifties in our morning question of the day, and today we want your opinion on which concept car from the decade was the most amazing. It might have been the most beautiful, the most prescient, or just the most audacious. Whatever the reason, which car company do you think had the best concept of the fifties, and what was that concept?
Image: Luxuo
Hooniverse Asks: ‘50s Edition- What Car Company Had The Best 1950s Concept Car?
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34 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: ‘50s Edition- What Car Company Had The Best 1950s Concept Car?”
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Ba-na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
LINCOLN! -
http://www.autoconcept-reviews.com/cars_reviews/gm/gm-firebird-3/wallpaper/2.jpg
I think if we want to discuss “None more 50s,” the nadir of jet age was absolutely the trio of Firebird concepts.-
The nadir?
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nadir-
http://cdn.hellogiggles.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/18/Do-not-think-it-means.jpeg
*directed at myself. Story of my life.
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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e8/Ford_Nucleon.jpg
1958 Ford Nucleon. Internal Combustion Engine? No, that’s the old way Jim. We’re using clean, safe and reliable nuclear power! That’s right a steam-powered uranium fission powerplant. Swell.-
Ford’s Advanced Studio must have had some sort of collective overhang fetish.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QyhcS4naXVc/UfTRxRCPKQI/AAAAAAAABJ8/f20zgwO7Sag/s1600/maxima.jpg-
An interview from the time:
PBJ: Your designs have massive overhangs, what is inspiring this look?
Ford Designer: Jets have massive overhangs from their landing gear, everyone likes how they look.
PBJ: Yes but jets don’t have to corner on a track.
FD: And?
Also it wasn’t just overhangs that were greatly exaggerated Lincoln’s Indianapolis Concept went for the “I have a longer hood than you” treatment.
http://assets.blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads//2013/09/RM-Art-of-the-Automobile_1955-Lincoln-Exclusive-Study_Michael-Furman-c-2013-Courtesy-of-RM-Auctions_6.jpg
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While the Gyron isn’t the answer to today’s question, because it was from 1961, I enjoy how totally insane Ford’s concepts could get.
http://www.carstyling.ru/resources/concept/1961_Ford_Gyron_01.jpg
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I really like the Cadillac LaSalle II, especially the convertible. It also had a very high tech engine for ’55, which never actually worked, so they tried to put an electric motor in the back, and that did not work either, so they pushed it. Still, what a looker!
http://carnewscafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/motorama-cars-inline-5-photo-516293-s-original.jpg -
I like them furrin’ cars…
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BATs!
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We can’t stop here! This is goddamn bat country!!
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+1 some of my favorites from any time.
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definitely FORD.
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Except that the X-2000 didn’t exist as functional, full-sized car until Andy Saunders built it 1994.
The concept “car” of 1958 was only a 3/8 scale model that was Alex Tremulis’s spit-ball prediction of what cars would look like in the year 2000.-
The original bubble-top model:
http://www.oldcars.de/images/concept_cars/1958_Ford_X-2000.jpg -
I spy two sets of Renault 25 hatchback glass, repurposed as front and rear screens.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s_YZeMJNJGE/U-pX6qz8MJI/AAAAAAAABtQ/XaJ88t9R3t8/s1600/Renault-25-GTX-0.jpg
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Well, he did get the ‘ridiculously over-styled’ part right!
http://images.thecarconnection.com/hug/lexus-lf-nx-turbo-concept–2013-tokyo-motor-show-live-photos_100446721_h.jpg
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I’ll see your Diablo and raise you an Adventurer. One of my all-time favorites.
http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/DeSoto/54-DeSoto-Adventurer-2_Ghia-DV-10-PBC_dt03.jpg -
I always liked this Buick.
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I’ve got a couple. One, the Alfa Romeo SuperFlow, because transparent fenders are cool I don’t care who you are.
http://www.carstyling.ru/resources/studio/large/1956_Pininfarina_Alfa-Romeo_Superflow_01.jpg
The other is the Cadillac Coupe from Ghia. It’s not over the top like a lot of ’50s concepts, but it’s gorgeous. I’ve loved it ever since I saw a photo of it for the first time back as a little kid.
http://www.carstyling.ru/resources/studios/1953_Ghia_Cadillac_Coupe_17.jpg -
The 1959 Renault Studio 900… No, look again, that’s not the front of the car!
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I learned about this car from you, and ever since it’s been one of my favorite daydreams. Merci, amigo.
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I see your Renault and raise you a Ghia, a Selene to be exact. I plan on recreating the interior in my 1977 Chevy Van. (I actually don’t own one, but if I did, I would).
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Kind of reminds me of the SARB Start Van, with all the Eastern Bloc removed.
http://40.media.tumblr.com/b255a949a70d87f9c8b3ce0f39c74918/tumblr_n330vcbRM21qm1o5to1_500.jpg
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none of you, really? Shame on you for not mentioning the 1956 Buick Centurion: http://www.carstyling.ru/ru/car/1956_buick_centurion/
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Hindustan Motors had a great 1950’s concept.
At the 2011 Indian motorshow.
http://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/attachments/indian-auto-sector/17753d1300543045-hm-launches-new-ambassador-minor-upgrades-2011_hindustan_motors_ambassador-5.jpg -
I’d have to say the 1951 LeSabre. It’s one of the best known GM concepts for good reason. It manages to balance the 50s extravagance and jet styling with clean, purposeful lines. Simply beautiful. And, it was Harley Earl’s personal car for a time, so this is a real, usable car.
http://carinpicture.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Gm-LeSabre-Concept-Car-1951-Photo-05-800×600.jpg-
I have somehow managed to break the idiot proof image embedding. Let’s try again.
http://carinpicture.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Gm-LeSabre-Concept-Car-1951-Photo-05-800×600.jpg-
Correct answer.
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Studebaker….The Car of the Future.
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The British were a little more conservative about appearance, but were technically quite advanced.
The 1950 Rover Turbine car Jet 1. A P4 Speedster with what became the Rolls Royce Welland Jet Engine.
The world’s first gas turbine car
http://www.offroadexperience.com/wcb/jet1.JPG
http://www.myclassicuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Rover-Gas-Turbine-Car-JET-1.jpg
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