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139CARS FROM THE 1950s REPRESENT AN INCREDIBLE AUTOMOTIVE ERA IN AMERICAROAD TRIP TOCOOLSVILLEAfter World War II, the United States saw an unprecedented surge in economic prosperity – and a newfound fascination with cars. The 1950s saw families moving out of the cities and into the suburbs, meaning a vehicle was pretty much a necessity for a commute to work. The automobile also signified freedom for the average American – a chance to hit the open road to explore via the burgeoning highway system (hello, Route 66!). Car culture flourished: drive-in movies, drive-thru restaurants and car clubs popped up everywhere.This era saw the United States become the world’s largest manufacturer of automobiles – by the end of the 1950s, one in six working Americans were employed either directly or indirectly in the automotive industry. The decade began with some 25 million registered vehicles on the road; by 1958 there were more than 67 million.American car designers let their imaginations run wild, and the advent of the jet age proved to be a major influence. As a result, Fabulous ’50s cars were resplendent with chrome, tailfins, chrome, wings, chrome, turbines, chrome and afterburner taillights. Did we mention chrome?Ford, GM and Chrysler – known as the “Big Three” automakers at that time – led the way in automobile production during the 1950s boom. Vehicles forever emblematic of the decade of their creation include Chevrolet’s Bel Air and Corvette, Cadillac’s Eldorado, Ford’s Thunderbird and Fairlane, and Chrysler’s New Yorker. But smaller entities made waves, too – as evidenced by cars like the Kaiser Darrin roadster with its unique pocket doors and DeSoto’s impressive Adventurer – some of which even came with built-in record players.Highlighted here are just a small sampling of the fantastic cars from the Fabulous ’50s that will be headed across the auction block during the 2024 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, January 20-28 at WestWorld. See you there, Daddy-O!