Car Culture in the 1950’s

New Car Styles

New Places to Go

New Technology in Cars

More Dependent on Cars

Easier Access to Places

SOURCES

By: Ben Morrison

NEW CAR STYLES

New car styles were very popular in the 1950’s.

They also called the styling “Jet Age” styling

Also, a lot of the new styles was the two tone paint, and the bright colors

FORD CHEVY FORD CHEVY

MORE TO SAY ABOUT CAR STYLES

Car styles were all about the new technology, the power and the sleek design

People also liked the fact that they lowered the body of most of the cars

People wanted cars that looked sleek and slim, they wanted the streamline body

People were looking for more power as well. As an example was people liked a lot of the new Fords because they were putting Thunderbird V8’s in the regular cars

http://www.albeedigital.com/supercoupe/articles/tbird_history.html

For more info on the Ford Thunderbird, click on the arrow

NEW TECHNOLOGY IN CARS

Many new technology was put into the new cars of the 50’s› Power steering› Motorized windows and seats› Motorized roofs on convertibles› Gear shifts on the dash› Newly shaped lights› Air conditioning

MORE ABOUT NEW TECHNOLOGY

Many of the cars looked similar but they were making new parts like motors, power windows and seats, motorized roofs on convertibles, and new lights.

They also wanted all the power. Many of the 1950’s automobiles came with the V8 which was very powerful

MORE DEPENDENT ON CARS

People where more dependent on cars because they moved farther away from there jobs, because they could afford it, so they depended on their cars to get them there

Although the men needed the cars, so did the women because one in three women had jobs in the 1950’s

MORE DEPENDENCE CONT.

Many of the jobs in the 50’s were industrial, this meant people working in factories making › Food› Cars› Appliances

This meant that if there was only one factory in a town, then you would have to drive a long ways to get there

NEW PLACES TO GO

Many new places where created to cater to the needs of motorists

Here are some examples:› Diners and Restaurants

Burger King was founded in 1954 Sonic was invented in 1953 Kentucky Fried Chicken was founded in 1952

› These are just to name a few

EVEN MORE NEW PLACES

Hotels and Motels› Holiday Inn was founded in 1957

Motel actually means “motorists hotel” Drive-in movie theaters were invented

in the 1930’s, but they became widely popular in the 1950’s because of the availability of cars

EASIER ACCESS TO PLACES

What easier access means is that there were many new highways and roads built to convenience drivers.

Map of roads constructed by the Interstate Highway Act

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/rw96e.cfm

For more info on the Interstate Highway System Click on arrow

EASIER ACCESS TO LOTS OF PLACES

The Interstate Highway Act constructed 41,000 miles of roadways in 1956

Not only did we need these new highways for easier transportation, but President Eisenhower thought we needed them for national defense.› If we were attacked we could

leave areas easily and the army could move to different areas faster

SOURCESCategory:1950s automobiles -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Web. 26 Feb. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:1950s_automobiles>.

"1950's Ford Pictures, 1,100 Classic Car Pictures." Antique and Classic Cars: Pictures and Information: 1902 - 1970s. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. <http://www.hubcapcafe.com/ocs/ford-1950.htm>."An Account of 1950s Cars." Anything About Cars - A Car

Resource About Buying, Selling, Leasing Cars. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. <http://www.anythingaboutcars.com/1950scars.html>.

Wikipedia. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. <http://www.wikipedia.com/>.