Color And Chrome: 1950s Cars In Two-Tone Magic
If colorful cars are your thing you have come to the right place today. Bright color technology and usage came to all price ranges of cars in the 1950’s, and combined with chrome to the excess it was a great decade for car style. We have a nice gallery of some of the milder versions this time, but keep your shades handy just in case.
A stylish lady was posing with a sharp 1954 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Catalina on a warm sunny day. This was the first year for the Star Chief line and the last year for the flathead straight eight engine that went back to 1933. Other two tones in the background were from the left a red and white 1954 Oldsmobile Starfire Ninety-Eight with a 1953 Ford nosing in behind it, and a white over blue 1954 Plymouth Savoy 4 door sedan followed by a tan 1951 Chevrolet De Luxe Station Wagon.
A family was out on a ride in their close to new 1953 Chevrolet Two-Ten Sport Coupe when they stopped for a photo. This was a new companion to the Bel Air Sport Coupe which outsold it by over a seven to one margin. It was canceled for 1954 but came back and stayed during the Tri-five era. This one was dressed up with a radio, outside mirror, wheel trim rings, and had a Connecticut license plate
Warm days are a good time for a cruise, and it looked like that was what this couple and a 1954 Ford Crestline Victoria were up to. The windows were down and the driver had a seat pad for extra support. The big news for Ford this year were the choice of two overhead valve engines, the all-new 239 cubic inch Y‑block V8, and the 223 cubic inch I‑block Six cylinder, an enlarged displacement version of the previous 215 cubic inch six that first arrived in 1952. Both were available in all body styles.
The photo notes on this one report the location was Durham, North Carolina, and the year 1960. North Carolina did not require front license plates, but the City of Durham was kind enough to provide one. This Ford Customline Fordor sedan was also a 1954 model, and did have the new Y‑block V8 along with a custom two tone treatment with the white lower body. To the right was a 1957 Dodge, and to the left a V8 powered 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala convertible with what appears to be a Maryland license plate. Across the street on the left an Austin A35 2 door saloon, with a white over blue 1956 Pontiac 870 or 860 4 door station wagon in front of it.
The whole gang was out for a ride in a Willys-Overland Jeepster on a not so warm day. These were built from 1948 through 1950, and the first two years were the same while the 1950 model received a ‘V’ shaped grille and new front fenders. So this one was a 1948 or 1949 model and had a mild custom paint job as the fenders were the same color as the main body from the factory. Search results indicate the lighthouse in the background was the Sankaty Head Light on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts
This was “Gramma’s Crown Victoria” according to some photo notes, and she chose a dressed out model. It was a 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria with a 272 cubic inch V8, dual spotlight/mirror’s, fender skirts, full wheel covers, white wall tires, and a continental kit. Parked on the other side of it was a 1947 or 1948 Ford Super De Luxe Fordor sedan with a visor.
A gentleman was standing with a 1956 Plymouth Belvedere 4 door sedan with a license plate that looks like a 1959 Ohio issue, and his shirt matched the car. The ‘V’ on the grille signifies it was equipped with the 277 cubic inch Hy-Fire V8, along with full wheel covers and whitewall tires. It appears like there was some rust at work on the lower sides of the body on this three year old car
A grandmother, grandson, and a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe were enjoying a Kodak moment in a rural area of rolling hills. It had the optional 265 cubic inch Turbo-Fire V8 along with a 1958 issue New York license plate and a slightly bent grille. Today you could easily think all Chevrolet made was 2 door models, but this Sport Coupe was actually number four in sales for the year. It was beat by three sedans with the Two-Ten 4 door in first place, followed by the Bel Air 4 door, and Two-Ten 2 door was number three
This looks like a hard working man who may have washed his 1956 Plymouth Savoy 4 door sedan recently since the hose was still out. It had the 277 cubic inch Hy-Fire V8, three outside mirrors, and a 1959 Michigan license plate issued in Wayne County, the home of Detroit. The Savoy was the mid range trim line of three and this sedan was actually the best seller for the year
Now we are at the Imperial Motel on the beach. The location is unconfirmed but it sure has a Daytona Beach, Florida vibe. A lady was taking in the ocean view while leaning on a 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Custom 4 door Catalina. The back seat was loaded with stuff, it was missing one its stars, and had a Cypress Gardens bumper sticker on the front
