Return

1950

• Chevrolet introduces Powerglide, the first automatic transmission in the low-price field

1951

• Harley Earl designs the 2-seat, experimental LeSabre

1952

• Power steering offered by Cadillac, Oldsmobile and Buick

1953

• The first Corvette appears at the 1953 Motorama and is the first GM vehicle to evolve unchanged from a Motorama show car to production as well as the first series-production car with fiberglass body

• 12-volt electrical systems, developed by Delco Remy Division, installed on Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles and Buicks

• Power brakes offered by Buick and Oldsmobile

1954

• GM produces its 50,000,000th U.S. made car (Nov.23)

• Turbocruiser, world’s first gas turbine bus, introduced

• Cadillac is the first car manufacturer to provide power steering as standard equipment on its entire line of automobiles

• GM Desert Proving Ground, Mesa, Arizona, established

• Pontiac Bonneville introduced

• GM provides power steering and automatic windshield wipers as standard equipment

1955

• First four-door hardtop sedans offered by Buick and Oldsmobile

• The legendary small-block Chevrolet V8 is introduced

• GM establishes the world’s first safety test laboratory at the GM Proving Grounds in Milford, Michigan

• GM conducts atmospheric research and shares its findings with government and industry

1956

• GM Technical Center dedicated on May 16

1957

• Chevrolet Bel Air. Embodies the successful trim, clean, lean look which defined the 50s

1958

• GM marks 50th anniversary with year-long Golden Milestone celebration

• Impala nameplate arrives

1959

• First Chevrolet El Camino Pickup rolls off the lines

• Chevrolet introduces the Corvair