The world was completely transformed after being at war for six years. The winners benefited from this victory and saw their economy booming. In the US, life drastically changed. People starting to purchase more and more consumer goods. Life was good.
The booming economy of the 1950s translated into people having jobs. These jobs paid well and provided people with a sustainable amount of disposable income. Owning a car had become a necessity rather than a luxury. Fast forward almost 70 years, and some of these classic cars are among the most badass classic American cars to buy and restore for cheap.
10 1950 Plymouth Special Deluxe
These days, Plymouth is mostly known for its downfall. Though it was not as dramatic as Pontiac, it was painful to watch the company that manufactured the Barracuda produce some sub-par minivans. It was like watching someone spiraling out of control and crashing. Back in the days, Plymouth knew how to get the job done.
The Special Deluxe should be among the coolest Plymouth that unreasonably cheap. This particular Plymouth sold for only $39,000. Compared to other classics, it is relatively affordable. The car is fitted with a 3.6L inline-six engine that produces 97 hp. Forget about wheel-stands and smoky burnouts. This Special Deluxe is all about cruising in style.
9 1952 Pontiac Chieftain Catalina
To most car aficionados, Pontiac came up with astonishing vehicles, such as the Trans Am and the GTO. Nobody in their right mind could refute the fact that these cars are iconic. Despite being among the top players for a couple of decades, Pontiac went downhill and became a laughingstock after people laid their eyes on the Aztek.
The first generation Chieftain Catalina is a wonderful coupe. The car is, like most cars from the 1950s, not overly powerful. The Chieftain comes with either a 239 ci six-cylinder engine or a 249 ci eight-cylinder engine. At best, both engines produce 93 and 106 hp.
8 1955 Ford Thunderbird
Ford did not wait until the Mustang was released to be among the most popular carmakers in America. The 1950s were blessed with a plethora of great Ford cars, including the Thunderbird. Though the 1958 model year is the best, other years are fairly impressive too.
The '55 Thunderbird is quite a great two-door convertible. The first generation of Thunderbird is fitted with a 292 ci Y-block V8 that produces enough power for the car to attain a top speed of 115 mph. In excellent condition, the 1955 Ford Thunderbird can cost up to $72,800.
7 1956 Chevrolet Corvette C1
Chevy and its Camaro tend to be second to Ford's Mustang. However, when it comes down to luxurious muscle cars, Chevy dominates the market. Chevy has been dominating the market. Back in the 1950s, the Corvette was already above everything else. The C1 is a tremendous car that will most likely appreciate with time.
When looking at the very first and the latest Corvettes, the reasons why the Chevrolet Corvette has been a huge success is quite obvious. Chevy dropped the six-cylinder engine in 1956, and instead installed a 265 ci V8 that cranks out between 210 and 240 hp. This is a lot of power for a car released prior to 1960.
6 1956 Mercury Monterey
Mercury is an interesting brand. Being the missing link between Ford and Lincoln cars, the company has gone from being quite impressive to being discontinued altogether. In 2010, Ford Motors decided to end Mercury's run. Looking back at the '56 Mercury Monterey, it is fair to say that Mercury once knew how to build a car.
In 1956, the Monterey lost its number one spot to the Montclair. At the same time, Ford Motors decided to replace its engine with the same 292 ci Y-block V8 found on the Thunderbird. With a power output of 188 hp, the Monterey was far from being atrociously sluggish.
5 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air
The 1950s saw the rise of several brands, including Chevrolet. Though the carmaker had been around for ages, it tends to have always been in Ford's shadow. Several Chevy cars seem to have been created only to compete with Ford. Chevy did come out with some amazing cars throughout the 1950s.
It has been said that the '57 Bel-Air is the best Bel-Air ever made. The main reason behind it is the fact that Chevy replaced the former engine with a 283 ci with the Super Turbo Fire V8 that produces 283 hp at 6,200 rpm and 290 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. The '57 Bel-Air shared the same specifications as the Corvette of the same year.
4 1957 DeSoto Fireflite Sportsman
DeSoto is to Chrysler what Mercury is to Ford. The mid-range vehicles were directly rivaling every car of the same caliber available on the market back then. Despite have a couple of interesting vehicles, DeSoto was discontinued in 1961. Classic DeSoto vehicles are slowly but surely appreciating in value.
The 1957 DeSoto Fireflite Sportsman is a truly iconic vehicle. As a matter of fact, it was DeSoto's flagship vehicle. Its curvy body makes it very peculiar. DeSoto did not forget to give the car a decent amount of power. Under the hood sits a 330 ci V8 that develops 230 hp. Great classic car all around.
3 1957 Oldsmobile Super 88
Oldsmobile is one of the most incredible brands of the 1950s. Around this era, the American carmaker had already been in the market for over 40 years. The brand became a division of General Motors in the early 1910s. Oldsmobile greatly benefited from GM's resources, which helped the company stay in business until the early 2000s.
The '57 Super 88 is the sort of cars that would not fail to please its owners. The car saw its power increased in 1957. The powerplant nestled under the hood is a 371 ci Rocket V8 that churns out 277 hp. Though the car is heavy as a boulder, 277 hp is quite impressive for a mid-range sedan of that era.
2 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
There are very few brands in America that scream money like Cadillac. For over seven decades, the luxury carmaker has released some of the most elegant and impressive cars made in America. Sure, the classic Cadillacs are not sporty, but they are literally fancy couches on wheels.
The Eldorado is among the most emblematic Cadillac ever made. In 1959, Cadillac went ahead with a 390 OHV V8 that produces 345 hp. Sure, the car is humongous. However, it is one of the few cars of that era to produce almost 350 hp straight out of the factory.
1 1959 Dodge Coronet
Dodge has been around for longer than most people think. The company was acquired by Chrysler in 1928. During the 1950s, Dodge was still a second-tier brand of the Chrysler Group. Several vehicles did not receive the best designs, but others were simply gorgeous.
The '59 Coronet uses the same chassis as the DeSoto Fireflite. The same year, the Coronet Challenger was released, yet it was a cheaper version of the actual Coronet. The '59 Coronet itself is fitted at best with a 325 ci Red Ram V8 that produces between 245 and 310 hp depending on the options chosen.