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The fifties
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The fifties era
In the fifties The car design evolution arised again as differnt countries where overcoming the effects of war
and rebuilding it's economy.
America had it's lead at this era obviously with many beautifull designs that where very advanced in that time
and the aim was to build and design cars that carry some of the advance in technology and set the pace in car industry with ideas that show the american leading in aerodynamics
1951 LeSabre
The LeSabre combined functional styling aerodynamics and advanced engineering. Reflecting Harley Earl's fascination with sleek jets, the LeSabre adapted many of
the aerodynamics and engineering features found in high-performance aircraft.
Lightweight materials are used throughout the car, including cast magnesium for the decklid, front fender valance and inner door panels.
The hood, fenders and outer door panels are sheet aluminium. The supercharged V-8 engine was constructed entirely of aluminium.
Rubberized 20-gallon fuel tanks are located in each tail fin - one for gasoline, the other for methyl alcohol for additional
power bursts when the accelerator was depressed past the mid-position.
1954 Firebird I
The idea of the Firebird originated with Harley Earl who also designed its fibreglass, reinforced plastic body.
The car's Whirlfire Turbo-Power engine and the chassis were developed under the direction of GM Vice President Charles McCuen, general manager of
GM Research Laboratories Division.
The aircraft motif is evident in the car's "needle" nose, delta wings swept back over the rear of the body, a vertical tail fin and a plastic
bubble over the driver's cockpit.
Mechanically, the gas turbine of the Firebird is the reverse of conventional automobiles. In the nose, ahead of the driver is a 35-gallon
glass fibre-plastic fuel tank.
Behind the driver is an integrated power "package" with an engine consisting of two mechanically independent parts - the gasifier section and the
power section.
1954 El Camino Dream Car
The Cadillac El Camino, first displayed in 1954 as part of GM's Motorama show, had a fibreglass body and a brushed
stainless steel top which was a preview of Cadillac styling later that decade.
The passenger compartment used a curved glass, aircraft-type bubble canopy.
1956 Firebird II
The Firebird II represented a progress report on the feasibility of gas turbine powered vehicles. Unlike the original, single-seat
Firebird I that developed exhaust temperatures of more than 1250 degrees F, the four-passenger Firebird II featured a regenerative gas turbine
engine that operated nearly 1000 degrees cooler.
Other innovations included the first use of wheel disc brakes, fully independent four-wheel suspension and the sophisticated electronic
guidance system for use on the electronic highway of the future.
1956 Centurian Dream Car
The 1956 Buick Centurian was an aerodynamic four-seat coupe with a patented rear-mounted television camera to provide a rear view to the driver.
Front seats automatically slid back when the doors were opened for easier entry and also moved forward to provide entry and exit to the back seats.
A cantilevered steering wheel positioned the steering shaft down the centre of the car, allowing more legroom for the driver.
1958 Firebird III
The Firebird III was the first space age inspired car by General Motors.
The Firebird III has an aerodynamic fibreglass body and is pearlescent silver-gold in colour.
It has a wide, tapered nose, twin plastic bubble canopies over the passengers and a high dorsal fin at the tail.
The car's most significant single feature, its control system, features
combined and improved versions of "no-hands" steering and the single-stick Unicontrol introduced separately by GM Research Laboratories.
1959 Corvette Stingray
The Corvette Stingray was built in 1959 to explore the limits of handling and performance of the future Chevrolet Corvettes.
This Experimental concept car was designed and built in 1959 by then vice president of General Motors Styling, William L. Mitchell.
Mr. Mitchell designed this unique thin shelled, fibreglass body for the minimum racing weight possible.
The vehicle has an advanced multi-tubular chassis with de Dion rear suspension and inboard rear brakes.
Powered by a fuel injected, high performance Chevrolet V-8 engine, this vehicle was campaigned as an independent
on the sports car club circuit in 1959 and 1960. After its racing days were complete, the vehicle was retired and is now part of the vintage
concept car collection, owned and cared for by the General Motors Design Center.
1959 Cadillac Cyclone
The 1959 Cadillac Cyclone was designed to test new styling and engineering ideas.
The two-passenger automobile has a clear plastic cover that fits snugly against the panoramic windshield to give the driver true 360 degree vision.
When not in use, the power-operated canopy folds backward beneath the surface of the trunk deck.
It automatically lifts out of the way when either door is opened. At a touch of a button, Cyclone's doors move outward from the car three inches.
Moving smoothly on ball bearings, they can be slid back for easy entrance.
Among its advanced engineering features is a radar device which scans the highway, and warns the driver electronically of objects in its path.
Large, twin nose cones in the front of the car house the proximity-sensing units.
They electronically alert the driver with both an audible signal and a warning light if an object is in its path.
The Cyclone is powered by a 325 hp engine that is positioned in the nose of the car.
It features a low profile carburettor, cross flow aluminium radiator and twin fans.
The muffler and exhaust are located in the front engine compartment with the exhaust outlets just ahead of the front wheels.
Inside, instruments are clustered like an aircraft dashboard before, and between, the two passengers. An intercommunication system allows passengers
to converse with persons outside the automobile without raising the canopy.
