Launched in 1953 as a fiberglass two-seater convertible in the style of contemporary European models, the Corvette was America’s first production sports car. nitially fitted with a six-cylinder engine, the Corvette began to fulfill its potential only when it was given a V8 power plant. A series of redesigns-including the 1963 split-screen Sting Ray Coupe […]

When introduced in 1955 Citroën’s DS was the most advanced car of its time. Under its sleek body was a complex hydropneumatic system, driven off the engine. This powered the self-leveling suspension, the brakes, and the steering, and provided automatic clutch operation and assistance to the gearshift. Nearly 1.5 million of the DS family were

There’s an embarrassment of riches when it comes to extraordinary Cadillacs, but this racy number is a highly significant car. It heralded several key design features that became synonymous with Cadillac’s production cars of the late 1950s. Cadillac El Camino 1954 The El Camino-short for El Camino Real, or Royal Highway, another name for America’s

The Mini provided cheap transport, technical brilliance, motor sport dominance, and classless style. It’s also Britain’s best-ever selling car. It was conceived by one man, Alec Issigonis, a gifted engineer hired by the British Motor Corporation in 1956. BMC Mini 1959  Almost immediately, the Suez crisis emerged, forcing gas rationing on British motorists, and creating

BAT stands for Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica-the codename given to three experimental Alfa Romeo 1900s, each handbuilt in the 1950s. They were the work of young Italian Franco Scaglione, employed by the renowned coachbuilding company Bertone. Bertone, Alfa Romeo BAT 7 1954 The project extended a joint venture between Alfa Romeo and Bertone, in which the

In the ration-book Britain of the early 1950s, the sight of a Bentley Continental must have slackened many a jaw. Here was one of motoring’s ultimates: the fastest genuine four-seater car in the world-it could top 120mph (193kph) effortlessly-and one of the most beautiful. Bentley R Type Continental 1952 Shaped in Rolls-Royce’s Hucknall wind tunnel,

Conceived as an alternative to the “bubble cars” popular at the time of the 1956 Suez Crisis, the Mini revolutionized small-car design. Its front-wheel drive and transverse engine established the pattern for the modern motor car, putting manufacturer BMC (British Motor Corporation) in the technological forefront. SPECIFICATIONSAustin Mini Mk1, 1959–67 It also became an emblem

The Aurora wasn’t quite the first experimental “safety” car. That accolade goes to “Survival Car 1”, revealed in 1957, and bankrolled by the Liberty Mutual insurance company. Aurora was unveiled the same year but, in contrast, was fully-functioning (rather than a static exhibit). More importantly, the Aurora took careful account of pedestrian safety. Aurora 1957 This

Surely the most extraordinary success story in the history of the automobile, the Beetle began life as a pet project of Adolf Hitler, who commissioned engineer Ferdinand Porsche to design a low-cost vehicle for the German people. Production eventually began post–World War II, under the British army then occupying much of Germany. SPECIFICATIONSVolkswagen Beetle, 1945–2003

In 1938, with war clouds gathering over Europe, the US Army decided to replace its motorized motorcycle-sidecar combinations (used for messenger and advance reconnaissance duties) with a small, general-purpose vehicle. Willys MB Jeep 1942 It let American motor manufacturers know its requirements in 1940, and three companies responded with prototype vehicles-Willys Overland’s Quad, the American