Convertibles In The 1950s In Vintage Photos – Basking In The Sunshine Of Their Golden Years

Text by Patrick Bell

It is convertible time again in many parts of the northern hemisphere.  Time to get out and feel the wind and bring that spring fever under control.  We have a good gallery from the Nifty Fifties to take in, so let’s get started.

Our first image is a bit of a hybrid.  It is a Chevrolet Styleline De Luxe, but the year is in question.  It has 1951 hood emblem, park lamps, and front fender and door moldings.  While the grille, and rear fender nameplate and molding are all from a 1952 model.  Otherwise it was well equipped with a radio, bumper wings, whitewalls, and a 1953 Iowa license plate issued in Sioux County.  Perhaps someone with a good eye for color can tell if this is 1951’s “Moonlight Cream”, or 1952’s “Honeydew”.

We will sneak in one 1949 model since the 1950 version had little change.  It was a Ford Custom, which was available in Six or V8 power, both of the flathead variety.  Additional accessories were a radio, outside mirror, hood ornament, fender stone guard, wheel trim rings, and whitewalls.  The man behind the wheel looked like he was happy to be there.

Stepping up a class or two we have a 1950 Buick Roadmaster with what appears to be a 1951 issue New York license plate.  The Roadmaster was the senior series with a 125″ wheelbase and weighing in at 4,345 pounds, about 30 pounds more that a Cadillac Series 62.  Power came from a 320 cubic inch “Fireball ” overhead valve straight eight, and Dynaflow Drive was standard equipment.  This one also had a radio, outside mirror, whitewalls, and some kind of grille guard to protect those teeth.

Here was a 1950 Chevrolet Styleline De Luxe in Moonlight Cream and a dark red interior.  Fender skirts were standard on the De Luxe models, and these were obviously missing.  The outside mirror was standard on the convertible, in place of the inside unit, so the only option I see was the radio. The 215 ci OHV with 92 horsepower was standard on all manual transmission cars, and a new 235 ci version with 105 hp came with the newly available Powerglide transmission.  That combination was only available on the De Luxe models.

To round out the low priced field offerings from the Big Three in the early part of the decade, here was a 1951 Plymouth Cranbrook that was on a drive in the melting snow.  It was equipped with a spotlight, outside mirror, radio and whitewalls.  Power came from the 217 ci flathead 6 cylinder that had been around in that size since 1942.

And another one from the medium price class, a 1950 Oldsmobile Futuramic 98 De Luxe with a 1953 Hawaii license plate.  It had the usual extras; a radio, outside mirror, and whitewalls.  1950 was the second year of the 303 ci “Rocket” V8 with 135 hp, and for this year the Hydra-Matic Drive was optional.
On the left was a 1942-1948 Buick, and further down a 1942-1947 Cadillac Series 62 Touring Sedan facing out, and a two tone 1953 Chevrolet Two-Ten 2 door sedan.

Pontiac was celebrating their Silver Anniversary in 1951, and this one was a Chieftain De Luxe with the 268 ci “Silver Streak” straight eight.  It also had the lighted hood ornament, bumper protection group which included the corner wings and grille guard, whitewall tires, and curb feelers that did not seem to do much good in this case.  It was fairly new judging from the 1951 New York license plate.

The Ford Sunliner was “far and away America’s favorite convertible”, per the 1956 sales brochure, and the sales figures backed that up.  The one shown above was a 1956 Fairlane Sunliner that was optioned with one of the “Thunderbird” (292 ci or 312) V8’s, radio, outside mirror, full wheel covers, and whitewalls.  It and its operators were taking a rest at a scenic overlook.

The convertible was not near as popular in the Mercury line, as this 1956 Montclair sold 7,762 units, about 13% of the Ford sales.  The base price difference was $541, a good chunk of change in 1956.  All 1956 Mercurys were powered by a 312 V8, and this top of the line Montclair likely had the 235 hp version.  Other options include dual outside mirrors, fender skirts, wheel covers, and whitewalls.

One gentleman was looking at his gear while the other was attaching the top boot on a 1956 Pontiac Star Chief with a same year Indiana license plate for an amateur radio operator.  All Pontiacs used a 316 ci “Strato-Streak” V8 for power this year, and they grew in size and output every year until they leveled off in 1959.  It also had a spotlight/mirror combination, radio with a rear mounted power antenna, fuel door guard, rear bumper wing guards, back up lamps, dual exhaust, fender skirts, and whitewalls.

Buick produced a convertible in all four series throughout the mid 1950’s.  From 1954-1958 the Special and Century shared a 122″ wheelbase, while the Super and Roadmaster’s was 127″.  The Century used the upper series powertrain, so it was considered the higher performance model.
The featured car was a 1957 Century with the 300 hp version of the 364 V8, along with the standard Variable Pitch Dynaflow Drive.  It was wearing a Michigan license plate registered in Genesee County, the home of Flint.

Parked next to it was a 1955 Century 4 door Riviera hardtop, and parked in the street were two blue 1957 models; an Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday Sedan on the left, and further down was a Ford.  Heading this way looked like a 1953 Oldsmobile.

Two “Swept-Wing” 1957 Dodge’s were parked at this house; a black Coronet Lancer convertible with a New York license plate, and in the driveway was a two tone Royal Lancer 4 door hardtop.  The Coronet had a 325 ci “Red Ram” V8 with 245 hp as standard power, with a 325 “Super Red Ram” available in 260, 285 & 310 hp ratings.  If you really wanted to go fast the 354 “D-500” with 340 hp was on the option list.  Other options on this one were dual outside mirrors, radio and rear mounted antenna, wheel covers and whitewalls.

Out on the beach in a V8 powered 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air.  The new Turbo-Fire 283 V8 was first available this year in six horsepower ratings, with the basic 185 hp the most common.  Also available were the 235 “Blue Flame” 6 cylinder, and a Turbo-Fire 265 V8 with 162 hp.  It also had a radio, wheel covers and whitewalls.  In the background was a 1955 Pontiac.

These folks were out for a drive on a cool spring day in a new looking 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 Sunliner.  Fords new “Interceptor” V8’s in 332 and 352 cubic inch were introduced this year, to go along with the “Mileage Maker” Six and 292 “Y-Block” V8.  Visible options on this one were the usual radio, fender mounted outside mirror, wheel covers and whitewalls.  And the license plate may have been a Michigan 1958 issue.

A lady was posing with a 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala with V8 power that was from Pennsylvania.  This was the first year for the Impala, and was available only in a coupe or convertible.  The “Turbo-Thrust” 348 V8 in two versions was also new this year, with several versions of the Turbo-Fire 283 and the good old Blue Flame six still on the list of choices.  This one was optioned with the rare “Level Air” suspension (nameplate above license plate).  It was a troublesome air suspension system that only lasted one year.  Most, if not all automakers offered their own version in 1958, and most if not all cars equipped were later converted to standard suspension because of all the issues.  Plus it had an outside mirror, radio with rear antenna, wheel covers and whitewalls, and an “AAA” badge or two.

Thanks for joining us and have a great day!

 

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