Cadillac produced its one millionth car in 1949; just three years later, by its 50^th birthday, it had doubled that total. The 1955 Chevrolet–designed by GM’s chief World War II tank engineer- changed Chevrolet’s image overnight, and by the end of the year Chevrolets made up nearly a quarter of the cars sold in the United States. For GM the 1950s were a series of celebrations, sales records, anniversaries, and styling and engineering innovations.

Decades of engineering and styling improvements crescendoed in flashy gas guzzlers. Flamboyant fins and high-compression V-8 engines were the order of the day. Interest in road racing went into high gear. People got serious about collecting and restoring automobiles. Cars acquired an entirely new look through advances in glass manufacturing, which made features like wraparound windows possible.The car world’s original designer, GM’s Harley Earl, had drawn his inspiration for tailfins from World War II fighter planes; in the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Seville, fins reached their controversial peak. Earl also designed a concept car which attracted so much attention that is was put into production. The Corvette remained America’s premier sports car for decades. In 1957 Chevrolet gave some of its V-8s fuel injection and enlarged their engines to a 283-cubic-inch displacement. At 283 horsepower, with its long, smooth-sided look, the ’57 Chevrolet was a dream come true.

GM showed off its accomplishments to millions at its Motoramas. These were elaborate car shows, enhanced with music and dance troupes, that traveled to cities around the United States. Some of the novelties showcased at the Motoramas, such as cruise control, eventually became everyday features. Others –like a rear-mounted TV camera in place of a rearview mirror- have yet to find their way into production cars.

At the same time that automobile design was coming to embody extravagance, cars like the Chevrolet and the Pontiac were also making performance affordable. The wide availability of cars with powerful, reliable engines set a high standard for the next generation of cars.