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It was how Americans viewed themselves during that decade. Space Age, Atomic Age, Futuristic. All were terms used to describe the kinds of designs that characterized the decade.
One example: a pencil sharpener designed by Raymond Loewy
A lovely 1954 Packard Caribbean ragtop in two tone. Snazzy continental kit, which was an option and obviously at additional expense. Note the subdued fins, rounded, instead of arrow shaped.
Good luck with the book.
1953 was the first year of the Packard Caribbean. Note the increase in the bumper and grill -- all that chromed steel. Since the materials were cheap after the war the car makers competed with each other to produce the most ornate and massive front and rear bumpers.
The 58 Packard was more of the Studebaker line than a true Packard, but still bore the name plate in two models, a 4 door sedan and a station wagon. Auto lines desperately tried to stay viable in the 50s by consolidating, but with the Big 3 making in roads into their dealer networks many old name plates became extinct. Packard Motors was established in 1899
softballdaddy supplied an image of a 1958 Studebaker Golden Hawk. It was both luxurious and powerful. The 4.7L V-8, with supercharger, could produce 275 brake horse power (bph). The large engine necessitated the raised portion in the hood. Car critics considered the car "front heavy." Professional racers, however, didn't experience handling problems. This model was actually a precursor to the Muscle Car era of the early 1970s. It was capable of out running the Corvette in a 0-to-60 race. Top speed was 125mph, not bad for a production model during that period.
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The chief designer was the famous French born American industrial designer Raymond Loewy. He was noted for his streamlining approach to ordinary consumer products, including mechanical pencil sharpeners.
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Loewy was also the designer of the one of a kind Avanti, produced in 1963, the last year of the Studebaker Corporation's existence.
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Studebaker continued the Hawk series until its demise in 1963-64. It culminated in the Loewy inspired Grand Turismo. Even today, in my opinion, the overall silhouette, sleek, yet imposing, with the European style grill, low to the ground look, exudes a quiet elegance that would still make it a head turner.
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Marilyn Monroe in 1958
In 1958, Life Magazine invited Marilyn Monroe and photographer Richard Avedon to recreate images of five celebrated actresses of different eras. Entitled “Fabled Enchantresses,” the piece was part of the magazine’s December 22 “Christmas” issue and included an article by Marilyn’s playwright husband, Arthur Miller, entitled “My Wife, Marilyn.”
Avedon found in Marilyn an easy subject to work with, “She gave more to the still camera than every other actress – every other woman – I had the opportunity to photograph…” He added that she was more patient with him and more demanding of herself than others and that she was more comfortable in front of the camera than when not posing.
https://themindcircle.com/marilyn-monroe-recreate-celebrated-actresses-1958/#:~:text=In 1958, Life Magazine invited,actress – every other
This photo of Marilyn with the Borzoi that served as a prop for shots of her as Jean Harlow is the natural Marilyn.
When I first viewed the color photograph of her with the wavy, sort of curly, brown hair, large lips and overwhelming smile of even, white teeth I thought she could easily be an Indiana farm girl, who, at 18, for no other reason than sheer boredom, leaves family and the homestead to make her way to Gary where she finds work in a machine shop. The year was 1944. A year or so later and the boys would come home. She would marry one, have children, and live her adult days during the prosperous 1950s as mother and wife while hubby worked in a steel mill to pay for the diapers and the mortgage.
It wasn't Gary where she worked. It was in LA, her birthplace. She was a California girl. Had she been a bit younger, born at bit later instead of 1926, maybe she would have hung out with the surfers at Dana Point in the days when the exciting and dangerous sport of surf board riding was just gaining a foothold. She was athletic. She worked out.
The still photos of her fascinate in the way she seems to morph into someone else and then return to that person -- the Hollywood version -- she will always be known for.
Posted by Kayleigh DeMace on Jul 19th 2017
When we think of Marilyn Monroe, we think of a seductive superstar of the 1950-60s. We think of Joe DiMaggio. We think of John F. Kennedy. We think of- airplanes?
Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, this forever famous actress and model's career came to be from her time working in an airplane factory.
The Rise of a Star
In late 1944, Marilyn Monroe was working in a Radioplane factory to help with the war efforts during WWII.
While working, Monroe met a photographer from First Motion Picture Unit, which led to a successful pin-up career. From there, the rest is history. Her early years-pre-movie star days-had a great influence on her life.
In the years leading up to this, Monroe lived in several foster homes and an orphanage. Still, her early years were happy. She was brought up by Albert and Ida Bolender, with her mother living with them for a while until work made that impossible. Still, she visited her mother on weekends and kept a healthy relationship and they soon lived together again.
However, in 1934, Monroe's mother had a mental breakdown and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. She rarely had contact with her daughter for the rest of her life from that point on.
Monroe eventually married her neighbor's son after her foster parents needed to move out of state-CA laws prohibited them from taking her with them. A marriage was the only way for her to avoid going back to an orphanage. She had just turned 16 years old.
Her husband, 21-year-old James Dougherty, enlisted with the Merchant Marines and was shipped out to the Pacific. Monroe moved in with her in-laws and began working at the Radioplane Company, which set off a chain of events in her incredible life.
Monroe at Radioplane Company
Primarily producing drones, Radioplane Company had a great influence during the second World War.
Monroe's main job at the factory was spraying planes with fire retardant. However, in this photo (right), she's shown assembling a drone. In fact, she's photographed here assembling the world's first mass-produced UAV, the Radioplane OQ-2.
Drones are thought of as a recent form of technology, but they have been used since before WWI.
US anti-aircraft gunners used these particular drones as gunnery targets to improve their targeting skills. Radioplane produced over 9,400 of these OQ-3 model UAVs.
This drone was a radio-controlled, small aircraft that was powered by a two-cylinder, two-cycle piston engine. It featured two contra-rotating propellers and was launched by a catapult. If it survived target practice, it was recovered by a parachute.
Perfect California Girl
Marilyn Monroe's 1956 Ford Thunderbird Sold for $490,000
The car was sold as part of an auction of Hollywood memorabilia.
By Joe Lorio
Nov 19, 2018
View Photos
Julien's AuctionsCar and Driver
UPDATE 11/19/18: Marilyn Monroe's Ford Thunderbird sold at auction last week for $490,000, almost reaching the Julien auction firm's top estimate of $500,000. That's not far from the most valuable Thunderbird ever sold: the first 'Bird to roll off the production line in 1954 sold for $660,000 at a Barrett-Jackson auction in 2009.
Of course Marilyn Monroe drove a Ford Thunderbird. It makes perfect sense. Ford's original, first-generation T-Bird roadster, which debuted for 1955 and was produced through 1957, was one of the sexiest cars of its time, and Monroe was the pre-eminent sex symbol. Today, both the T-Bird and the platinum-blonde movie star are among the most enduring pop icons of the '50s.
Specifically, Marilyn Monroe owned a Raven Black '56 T-Bird, and that car is now headed to auction this November as part of Julien's Auctions Icons & Idols: Hollywood. Monroe's ownership is documented, and according to information provided by the auction company, she bought the car in 1955, perhaps as a gift to herself on the release of The Seven Year Itch. Photos show Marilyn waving from the passenger seat with her husband at the time, playwright Arthur Miller, at the wheel, and the auction company reports that the pair drove the car to their wedding ceremony in 1956. In 1962, after owning the car for eight years, Monroe gave the T-Bird as a birthday present to Jason Strasberg, the son of director Lee Strasberg, who was also Monroe's acting coach. Monroe died in August of that year at age 36.
The car appears to be in excellent condition. Its black exterior is complemented by a black-and-white two-seat interior, period-correct wide whitewall tires, a black soft top, and a black hard top with a porthole window (which was new for '56). The pre-auction selling-price estimate is $300,000 to $500,000. That's against a current market value of $76,000 for a 1956 Thunderbird in #1 condition, according to the Hagerty Price Guide. That's a hefty celebrity premium, but for fans of the famous sex symbol and of 1950s pop culture more broadly, it doesn't get much better than this.
June 7--1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Part 6
When I spotted this image of a 58 Biarritz I liked the angle because I knew I could compare it with the 58 Corvette. One can see from the images how the Biarritz looks like an overgrown Vette, provided you remove the rear shark fins. This Biarritz has been lightly customized. The grille has been gold plated, which I think is a nice touch to break up the monotony of all that chrome. Notice how the two bodies are proportioned. Almost the same.
June 7--Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Part 5
Would Hugh Hefner had run this ad in his Playboy magazine? The distinguished men in tux and bowler hat, with the grey temples, has that air of total self confidence, a man who's made in the market and is enjoying the fruits of victory. Beside him, in full gown and armlength white gloves, a lovely and classic looking blonde in blue satin. Trophy wife? Arm candy for a night on the town? Unashamedly rich, in other words, own Cadillacs.
June 7--1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Part 4
During the 1950s, Cadillac held nothing back when it came to letting magazine subscribers know who its target market was. Men in top hats, women in furs, with Caddies parked at the entrances to upscale restaurants, swank resorts, opera houses. Most ads were elaborate illustrations. Commercial artists made a lot of money from Cadillac.
June 7--1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Part 3
I chose this image of the front end for the color. I can't quite determine if it is a metallic brown, or metallic lilac. Note the cleats in the grille, the massive wrap around bumper, and the Dagmar nosecones with the rubber inserts. Was all this intended to connote some kind of Space Age or rocket design? Also notice those little finlets above the quad headlamps which also sport what looks like eyeshades.
June 7--1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Part 2
This is an image of the interior of the 58 Biarritz. Typical GM styling of the period. Everything that could be electric was electric. The Wonder Bar radio only carried AM.
An interesting piece of automobile history is that Cadillac was formed by the breakup of Henry Ford’s company in 1902 due to a dispute between Ford and his investors.
The investors were trying to sell the assets from the closed factory when instead they decided to continue making automobiles by the urging of Henry Leland a Detroit manufacturer who also happened to have built a new engine. Leland convinced the investors that his new engine was stronger than that of Olds and he could produce them cheaper. The Cadillac name chosen for this new venture was the namesake of the explorer and Detroit’s founder, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac.
General Motors would go on to purchase Cadillac in 1909 and eventually Cadillac became the luxury automobile and SUV division of General Motors Corporation.
The Cadillac Eldorado
The Cadillac Eldorado was a top of the line model. The Eldorado was introduced in 1953 and lasted continuously to 2002. The 1953 Eldorado was a limited edition convertible. The 1958 Cadillac Eldorado shown here is of the third generation models which were built from the 1957 through 1960 model years.
The Cadillacs of the 1950’s are remembered by their vast display of chrome.
Harley Earl and the new 1958 Cadillacs
Automobile design historians are well aware of the long tenure at General Motors by design chief Harley Earl. In short, Earl was hired by Alfred Sloan to be in charge of the styling section to design LaSalles. That worked out well and Earl was then put in charge of GM’s new “Art and Styling Studio” where he would head design for GM’s entire line. Essentially Harley Earl joined General Motors as a head designer and remained so for over thirty years.
Harley Earl was the head designer of the team working on the new 1957 Cadillac designs. These designs would mark the 1957 and 1958 Cadillacs. One of the major changes to these third generation models were the double headlights on each front side. The 1959 models would have much larger tail fins and perhaps the largest ever.
The 1958 Cadillacs received a modest facelift. Cadillacs for 1958 were basically carryover models from 1957 with a facelift on all but the Brougham. There was a new grille with multiple round “cleats” at the joining of horizontal and vertical members. The grille was wider and the bumper guards were set lower to the parking lamps. New quad headlights were seen on all Cadillac lines and small chrome fins were placed on the front fenders. Tailfins were somewhat less pronounced in 58 and trim attachments were revised. The Cadillac name was seen, in block letters, on the tailfins of Series 62 base models. On the sides of these models were five longer horizontal windsplits placedahead of the unskirted rear wheel housings.
The 1958 Recession Automobile Market
Sales were relatively poor in 1958. The reason was not the automobile itself but rather a recession that the country was in. Cadillac produced a total of 121,700 vehicles for the 58 model year.
The 1958 recession brought about the worst car sales year since World War Two. Overall American new car sales decreased 31 percent from 1957 levels. Fortunately, the recession ended during the last half of the year and sales picked up for 1959.
1958 Cadillac Eldorado Specifications
The 1958 Cadillac Eldorado had a 365 cubic inch V-8. The engine delivered 312 HP and was used in all Cadillacs that year. Eldorado performance was substantially improved with the adoption of three two-barrel carburetors, which boosted output to 335 HP.
When I was very young and just learning about cars- one of the neighborhood kids' parents had a showplace of a house and the cars to go with. His dad had the Biarritz and his Mom had a powder blue 55 T-Bird. This is the closest I could come to a picture.
June 7--1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible
Cadillac introduced its Eldorado, named for a mythical Central America place of untold riches in 1953. The Biarritz was convertible version of the model. 1958 was a recession year. Only 815 were produced, making somewhat rare model that go at auction for around $150,000. That's no where near an eyebrow raising value compared to Ferrari GT 250 models that sell for $20 million to $70 million.
I chose this image, in black, with red interior, because of the distinct contrast with all that chrome.
50s models from Detroit's big three featured wrap around front and rear bumpers. And those tailfins trimmed in chrome to make them standout. Note the hashmarks on the side. There are ten. The rear fins also sported a Cadillac badge just so folks would know what make of car the guy in the driver's seat was driving. The wide white wall tires were popular during the 50s. Why Caddy didn't include wire spoke rims like those on the Buick Skylark in 53 and 54 could be viewed something of a design oversight.
Another design motif in such a large car is the way Cadillac tried to make it appear sporty in the way one thinks of a European two seater. The slope in the trunk portion contrasts with the massive front portion, which had to be considering underneath the hood was a giant V8 engine.
When I first began reviewing images of the 1958 Lincoln Continental, for some reason I was reminded of the Batmobile from the old ABC TV series that secured Adam West's retirement. Actually the Continental is associated with the Batmobile. George Barris, who was gained famed as a custom car maker and designer during the Campy 60s, obtained a Lincoln Futura, a concept car that was the design inspiration for the Continental.
Notice the angled dual headlamps. Dual was a design feature in all models, except, perhaps, for American Motors models.
The recesses in the front and rear were examples of sculpted design.
1958 Lincoln Continental
New for the Lincoln Continental in 1958 was a 430 cu. in 375 hp V8 engine accompanied with a Turbo-Drive transmission. The main bones of the Continental body features an all steel body with welded double panel doors. Inside features many luxury conveniences all avaialbe at the touch of a button. Including a retractable rear window that slides out of sight with just a flick of the switch to give an open car ventilation. The exterior is polished with baked enamel with 3 primer coats, and 2 finish coats to give it the ultimate sheen
But there is no spare tire underneath. It is decoration. The spare is tucked in a compartment in the trunk.
Here is an example of the difference in styling. The 58 Imperial is impressive if no other reason than the lack of decorative accents. This 58 Buick Limited convertible is the epitome of styling excess.
This example of a 58 Imperial ragtop fascinates me. I don't quite know how to describe the paint job. Notice the chrome strip along the side. Other 50s models, including those by Chrysler and its Dodge, DeSoto and Plymouth divisions, featured decorative accents from front to rear. Also notice the spare tire bulge on the trunk. It's fake. Virgil Exner designed it to make the rear more interesting. The rear bumper is certainly massive enough, but other 50s models were even more massive. Notice the location of the gas cap lid. On the other side the marque's name in cursive. You would never see that now.
This is a 58 Imperial in metallic green. Not popular a color these days. Virgil Exner was Chrysler's head of design. He is known for design style called "The Forward Look." Aside from fins that became even larger in later models, Exner also had a think for tail lights that suggested something associated with rockets.
I think this example of a 59 Invicta coupe has been repainted, although Buick for that year could have produced pink models. The couple appear to be at a car show. Notice the front wings and how they sweep through the side door to the rear quarter panel. Also note the duel headlamps that are angled. This is a design feature the other Big 3 makers incorporated. The 1958 Lincoln Continental also has angled headlamps.
The Invicta for 59 came out in the fall of 58. It was still an example of design excess of the 1950s. It was big. It was heavy. With those two inherent drawbacks one has to ask how do you make a big, heavy car appear sleek and agile?
This is a coupe. I chose the image for the color and the angle of the image, so one can view the exaggerated sweeping tail fins. That is hardly a fitting description. Tail wings would be more fitting.
1958 imperial
What's Behind Me Is Not Important
Ferrari and Corvette at the 12 Hours of Sebring (Part One)
Americans after World War II enjoyed a national prosperity they hadn’t experienced for more than two decades. The decade of the 1950s saw household incomes rise at an unprecedented rate. Businesses dedicated to leisure and entertainment grew exponentially. Although historians usually write of the growing popularity of Hollywood, TV, and professional sports, fads, and consumer appliances, they give little notice to the interest in motorsports.
It was during this decade that stock car racing came into prominence. Its earliest beginnings were in the 1940s when “good ‘ol boys” drove souped up cars with gallon jugs of moonshine in the trunk. They roared along narrow, winding two-lane roads in the Appalachian foothills during the week and raced each other on dirt oval tracks on Sundays, mostly for fun.
It was Big Bill France, one of the emerging sport’s most influential drivers, who organized a meeting with fellow drivers, mechanics, and owners to standardize some racing rules. Out of this meeting, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) was formed. Two months later, the first official race was held on the sands of a Daytona, Florida, beach. Most -- perhaps all -- of the drivers were bootleggers.
Two years later, on Sept. 4, 1950, NASCAR held its first 500-mile race, aptly named the Southern 500. The sport would only continue growing in importance and popularity. By 1989 every NASCAR was televised. Sponsors funded individual drivers and racing teams with millions. Practically all of the American car manufacturers, as well as separate divisions within Detroit’s Big 3, sponsored cars. It was quite a change, considering the predecessors were once considered outlaws. They would now make regular appearances at the White House.
That race, which attracted 25,000 spectators (about the same as a Saturday afternoon Major League Baseball game in 1950), had a total purse of $25,000. The winner, Johnny Mantz, who drove a Plymouth, walked away with $10,000. The rest was split among the 74 other entrants. Average speed for the 1.25 mile slightly egg-shaped oval track built on what was once a cotton field, was 75 miles per hour. That is about ten miles per hour less than the average speed for a Friday evening these days on Interstate 85 between Atlanta and Washington, DC. The race took over six hours to complete the 500 miles in 351 laps.
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