As a car enthusiast, you may be familiar with different cars that were made during the 1950s and you may be a proud owner of some of these classic cars. Here’s a look at how the classic cars were made then and how they differ from many of the vehicles that are driven today.
Cars in the 1950s
The 1950s vehicles are considered classic cars, and they are some of the most unsafe and powerful vehicles ever driven. One of the most popular features of 1950s vehicles is the hardtop for convertibles. Other features, such as air conditioning and power steering were available but limited to a few cars. Power braking systems were created in 1951 but were only available on two model vehicles in 1952. Power steering was available on one automobile during 1951 and only five cars in 1952. Automatic transmissions were features on a single line of delivery trucks then.
During 1957, station wagons were all the rave. These wagon-style vehicles were considered luxury cars before the war, but in 1957, the station wagon became a popular choice for family cars. During this time, station wagons accounted for over 12 percent of new car sales. By 1958, over 75 percent of vehicles featured an automatic transmission.
Cars Today
Unlike the timeless classic cars, the cars that are manufactured today have a variety of standard features that were once considered a luxury, such as air conditioning and power steering. The vehicles today are much more expensive than they were in the 1950s.
The vehicles today are available in a variety of bold and vibrant colors and equipped with a lot more safety features, including anti-lock brakes, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure, and other different safety features. Vehicles that are driven today are much safer and include technology that wasn’t yet thought of during the 50s. Times have changed drastically.