Cars of the 50s

For much of the world, the 1950s were a drab decade of rebuilding after the devastation of World War II. In stark contrast, the United States economy was booming, and colorful tract housing developments were flourishing across the country. And as cars became a key part of this new lifestyle, they were saturated with color too. The war sparked a technology boom in the U.S., giving automakers as well as a growing band of auto enthusiasts mechanical advancements and an unprecedented range of colors to apply to their cars. U.S. automakers were experiencing an industry-wide rejuvenation, and fins and jet engine intakes would become the styling cues that would define the decade. This compendium of colorful advertisements brings automobiles from the 50s back to life. Featured makes include: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, Lincoln, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Studebaker, and many more. About the editor: Cultural anthropologist and graphic design historian Jim Heimann is Executive Editor for TASCHEN America, and author of numerous books on architecture, pop culture, and the history of the West Coast, Los Angeles, and Hollywood. His unrivaled private collection of ephemera has been featured in museum exhibitions around the world and dozens of books. About the author: After working as the editor of Custom Car magazine, Tony Thacker edited and published more than 50 automotive and motorcycle books for Osprey Publishing. He is currently the vice president of Marketing at the SO-CAL Speed Shop in California and has written more than a dozen books.