If you look up the word "classic" in the Oxford dictionary, you'll find that it's defined as "a work of art of high standard and lasting value." Clearly, in the 1950s automakers were unconsciously working toward that objective – to create cars that would be revered for years to come as the pinnacle of automotive beauty.

Some of these models are worth millions of dollars and considered collectible items. Brands have become legendary thanks to these true classics. The 1950s are considered the golden era of car design where beautiful and sinuous lines were the true protagonists of the decade.

These '50s classic cars are so well designed that they are still considered beautiful to this day and some of the most gorgeous cars ever seen on a road.

10 Ford Thunderbird

Ford Thunderbird
Via: Monterey Touring Vehicles

The 2-door was unveiled by Ford for the first time in 1954 at the Detroit Auto Show, in response to rival Chevy, who just unveiled the first-ever Corvette. It was packed with a V8 that produced 193 horsepower and could reach 150 mph, not bad for the 1950s.

Ford Thunderbird
Via: Hagerty

This gorgeous car is considered what kicked-off the sports car era for Ford. The car was an absolute home run by the American company as it sold an incredible 16,155 units in the first year alone.

9 Maserati A6GCS/53

Maserati A6GCS/53
Via: CarJager

This stunning Maserati was designed by Pininfarina and it was launched at the auto show in Turin in 1954. The car used a 2-liter engine that produced 170 horsepower and had a top speed of 146 mph. The A6 was a true racing car that derived from the 1952 Maserati that competed in the Mille Miglia run.

Maserati A6GCS/53
Via: Supercars.net

However, the 1952 model had no roof and that year there were heavy rains during the competition. Therefore, the customers who wanted to compete again in the race asked Maserati for a closed Berlinetta version of the A6GCS. The finished product was one of the most beautiful cars ever produced by the Italian company.

8 BMW 507

BMW 507
Via: TopSpeed

The fantastic roadster was in production from 1956 to 1959. This sublime car was created for the American market with the sole purpose of competing with the incredibly fast 300 SL built by rival Mercedes-Benz. It had a marvelous 3.2-liter V8 that produced 150 horsepower and pushed the car to 125 mph.

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BMW 507
Via: Wikipedia

Unfortunately, BMW sold only 252 units by 1959 due to the fact that the 507 was far more expensive than rival cars. At $9,000, it cost double the price of a Thunderbird and Jaguar XK150s.

7 Chevrolet Corvette (C1)

Chevrolet Corvette 1955
Via: Hagerty

This is one of the first cars ever produced by an American manufacturer with a fiberglass body. The unique-looking car was presented for the first time in 1953 at the New York Auto Show. This is considered one of the most beautiful American sports cars ever produced.

Chevrolet Corvette 1955
Via: Pinterest

The C1 had a straight-six inline engine that produced 150 horsepower and propelled the car to a top speed of 108 mph. Today the 1953 version of this car is considered one of the rarest Corvette models ever as only 300 units were built by Chevy.

6 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder Veloce

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder
Via: Classic Driver

This car is another masterpiece by legendary designer Pininfarina. The Giulietta was first built in 1954 but it was not until 1956 that Alfa Romeo brought out the Spider Veloce version.

RELATED: 10 Greatest Alfa Romeos Ever Made

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder
Via: Classic Driver

The car had an inline-four that produced 90 horsepower and had a top speed of 113 mph. This gorgeous and agile two-seater is a rare display of beauty. Only 2,796 models were produced by Alfa Romeo. However, it is considered an absolute success as it is revered as one of the greatest Italian cars ever produced.

5 Porsche 356A Speedster

Porsche 356 Speedster
Via: Rent a Classic Car

As the name suggests, this car was built to be fast. The 356 was a unique car in every sense, starting from the fact that its 1.6-liter engine was air-cooled. It produced only 60 horsepower, but it could push the snappy compact car to 99.4 mph.

Porsche Speedster 356
Via: Amalgam Collection

The car became an absolute hit as it was far less expensive than its rivals with an asking price of only $2995 when it first came out. The 356A was in production from 1956 to 1959 and since then it has been considered a classic thanks to its unique and flawless design.

4 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta

Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta
Via: Squir

A V12 that produced 260 horsepower that pushed the car to 150 mph. That would be enough to explain how special this Ferrari is. This car is also referred to as "Tour de France" after the GT secured the top three spots at the race in 1957.

1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta
Via: Silodrome.com

This model is considered a unique example of beauty and power combined together and it is currently one of the most expensive cars ever built. At an auction in 2015, a 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta was sold for over $13 million.

3 Aston Martin DB4

Aston Martin DB4
Via: TopSpeed

This car is the predecessor of the more famous James Bond car, the DB5. This 1958 classic was equipped with a special 3.7-liter straight six-cylinder that produced 266 horsepower with a top speed of 140 mph.

RELATED: These Are the Best Bond Cars That Aren't Aston Martins

Aston Martin DB4
Via: Pinterest

This model truly started a dynasty of elegant, graceful but very powerful vehicles, the true gentlemen's cars. The letters D and B stand for David Brown, the man who bought Aston Martin in 1947 and pushed it to become the household name that it is today. The DB4 is a true masterpiece.

2 Ferrari 250 California Spyder

Ferrari 250 California
Via: Fiskens

Ferrari had the audacity to take the already fantastic 250 GT Berlinetta and make it even more memorable. This two-seater Spyder was also powered by a V12 that produced 240 horsepower with a top speed of 140 mph.

Ferrari 250 California
Via: Hypebeast

This work of art was introduced in 1957 and, from the design, it was meant to be driven only with the top off. Two versions of this car were produced, the LWB and SWB, for a grand total of only 105 units of 250 California ever built.

1 Mercedes Benz 300SL

Mercedes Benz 300 SL
Via: eMercedesBenz

The 300SL is an ode to engineering and design perfection. The coupé debuted in 1954 at the Motor Sport Show in New York and it was based on the W194 Mercedes that competed (and dominated) in the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1952. It was the fastest production car of its era as it had a 3-liter straight 6 cylinder engine that generated an output of 215 horsepower and a top speed of 155 mph.

Mercedes Benz 300 SL
Via: Pinterest

This car was the beauty and the beast all in one because that powerful engine was not the only glaring aspect of the 300SL. It also became an icon thanks to its gull-wing doors that gave a rather unique look to this masterpiece.

NEXT: 10 Most Powerful Muscle Cars Of The 1960s