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Space Age Design
Midcentury Futuristic Atomic Googie Jet Age
Transportation
We had a car culture in the 1950s and 1960s unlike we have had before or since. Due to prosperity and major advances in technology and financing, cars became more affordable, safer, more reliable, longer, lower, sleeker and much faster. Horse power during the 1950s doubled or tripled for the major car makers. Car production had stopped during World War II. As the 1950s started, three out of five families had a car and producers were still trying to meet pent up demand. By around 1953 pent up demand was met and manufacturers resorted to annual changes with new gadgets, and more futuristic styling. Every year, heavy marketing was used to drive up anticipation for the latest models. GM put on auto shows called the Motorama, which often traveled around the country.
The Interstate Highway Act of 1956 provided funding for a National highway system. This new highway had wider, multi-lane highways to allow for faster travel and more vehicles. This further drove demand as distant travel became easier. It also led to increased billboard advertising. Car features became exaggerated with tail fins, lots of chrome, multi-colors, jet or rocket like tail lights, wrap around windshields and much more. More useful things such as automatic transmissions, power steering and power brakes became widely available. This also juiced demand as it allowed more women to feel comfortable behind the wheel. Another occurrence was the loss of all but four manufacturers as Packard, Studebaker, Crosley, Kaiser, Frazer, Nash, and Hudson disappeared or merged into larger companies. Auto model names were often very Apace Age such as; Rocket 88, Flight Pitch Dynaflow, Torqueflite, Swept Wing and Star Chief. The peak period for futuristic styling was about 1958 to 1962. After that, everything started to get toned down and manufacturers moved on to muscle cars with aggressive styling. But that's a different story.
Today, many consider the futuristic cars of the period over the top. But many others consider them works of art, unequalled before or since. They certainly stand out at car shows or on the road, which of course is what they were meant to do.
Futuristic transportation was much more than just cars. It also included trucks, boats, trains, and kids bicycles and tricycles.
1960 Chevy Impala 4 Door Sport Sedan. Notice the rocket on the quarter panel. Postcard
Postcard scene of a steeple chase boat race at Cypress Gardens in Winterhaven, FL.
1965 Corvette in "Ermine White lacquer". It had an automatic transmission, "Wonderbar" radio, and factory tach. Image from a postcard.
Dashboard of a 1960 Mercury Comet. Is it looking back at you?
Mustang emblem off the front of the 1964-1965 Ford Mustang.
Image from the 1955 GM Motorama show. From a brochure about the Motorama. The glitz, the glamour. Cities visited were NY, Boston, LA, San Francisco and Miami.
1959 Chrysler New Yorker vinyl interior. From the brochure. Note the angularity of the seat bottom.
1959 Chevy Impala Sport Sedan, Harbor Blue over Frost Blue. Max tail fin size for this car was 1959. Postcard image.
Tail lights from the 1961 Pontiac. On the car they looked like rocket after burners.
Vinyl interior of the 1967 Dodge Charger from the brochure. While firmly in the muscle car era, some futuristic styling was still used.
Party Doll Fleet Houseboats on US Highway 110 south of Fremont, WI. sold and rented these boats. Take a plain rectangle, add angular railing and ladders and voila a Space Age boat. Postcard image.
1963 Corvette Sting Ray Convertible in Riverside Red. Back page of the brochure.
Fortress Cove Marina on Lake Meredith near Fritch, TX. Featured a "Nautomat" for snacks, bait store, marine supplies, fuel, boat rentals, marina and repair service. From a postcard.
1960s Ford truck step plate.
1950s era Ford air conditioner controls. Air conditioning started being offered in a widespread way in cars in 1953.
Continental Trailways Golden Eagle bus from the 1950s. Postcard image.
1966 Holiday Rambler travel trailer. Some trailers of the period even had tailfins. Postcard.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower started the Space Program.
1960 Caddilac Fleetwood Sixty Special Sedan. The tailfins were toned down from the 59, but the tail light looked like a jet engine.
Rear of the 1959 Cadillac. Cover of the brochure for that year. The 1959 is either the ultimate Space Age car or the most over the top depending on your point of view. It represented the peak for tail fins.
Interior of a 1955 Cadillac from the 1955 GM Motorama brochure. Seats, steering wheels and dashboards were often more Space Age than the cars exteriors.
Two page poster sized spread of the 1957 Swept Wing Dodge Custom Royal Lancer 2 Door. From the brochure.
A 1955 auto records book by a PA refinery. The service man is jumping off the page.