Classic Cars Of The Fifties

Handsome, ready-to-color images, attractively rendered in precise detail, depict the sleek 1950 Mercury two-door sedan, luxurious 1952 Cadillac four-door sedan, 1953 Buick Skylark convertible with wire wheels, 1957 Lincoln Continental Mark II, and 26 other impressive models. Captions. 30 black-and-white illustrations.

With a wealth information, Sedgwick, a noted automotive historian, paints a vivid picture of what it was like to manufacture and market, as well as own and drive a car during the energetic decades of the 50's and 60's.

Here are the swift and stylish automobiles of any car-lover's dreams. Get behind the wheel of one hundred classic vehicles, including: • Classic 1950s models — including the 1955 Pontiac Starchief convertible, 1955 Mercury Montclair hardtop, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air hardtop, 1957 Lincoln Continental Mark II, 1958 Ford Edsel sedan, and 1959 Buick Electra 225 convertible • Powerful "muscle" cars — the 1962 Ford Thunderbird, 1964 Corvette Stingray, 1968 Chevy Impala SS 427, 1969 Chevy Camaro Z 28, 1969 Shelby Cobra Mustang GT-500, 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, and more • Fabulous luxury cars — the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren two-door Coupe, Maserati Spyder two-door Convertible Roadster, Rolls-Royce Phantom four-door Sedan, Jaguar XJ220 two-door Coupe, Lamborghini Diablo two-door Coupe, Ferrari Enzo two-door Coupe, and others

Enjoy a colorful look back at the cars and the culture that made the '50s memorable. All the popular American makes, from AMC to Willys, pass in review once again in more than 1600 photos.

The 1950s saw the automobile come of age, with some of the most imaginative developments in car design asserting a new confidence in the car as an accessible symbol of freedom. One of the great eras of automobile production, the '50s saw cars such as the Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Thunderbird, and Jaguar XK120 hit the roads, as well as the more glamorous MGA, Mercedes 190SL, and the Triumph TR3. Hot Cars of the '50s celebrates the best cars of the decade, providing a detailed look at more than sixty of the greatest and most stylish automobiles from around the world. All the great names are covered, including Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Fiat, Jaguar, MG, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Rolls-Royce. Illustrated with specially commissioned photography, each car is examined from all angles in close-up detail. Specifications are provided for each machine, including performance statistics, engine type, transmission, special features, running gear, and dimensions. The book also takes a close look under the hood, examining the chassis and suspension as well as the design of the engine. Finally, the book tracks the production milestones of each car and marks refinements and developments in styling and performance. Packed with information and great photos, this volume is a must for all lovers of the classic and stylish machines of the 1950s. Book jacket.