Let’s revisit the topic of colors, with colors on top. Should you feel there’s not enough in the modern automotive world, then this gallery is for you. A collection of American iron in bright two-tone treatments.
We’ll open with the ’57 Fairlane Town Sedan above, in what looks like will be a family outing.
1950 Oldsmobile 2-door sedan.
1954 Chevrolet BelAir two-door Sport Coupe.
1954 Buick Century.
1954 Pontiac Chieftain.
1954 Oldsmobile Holiday Coupe.
1955 Chrysler.
1955 Chevrolet BelAir.
1955 Nash Statesman.
1955 Ford Fairlane Victoria.
1956 Plymouth Savoy.
1950s Nash Metropolitan.
1958 Ford Thunderbird.
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In the first photo, can’t help but think the son on the right is the proud new owner of the `57 Fairlane Town Sedan. Very popular color combo that year was Inca gold and white. Looks fresh off the showroom floor!
The Dad on the left is probably saying “you bought this? You can’t afford this! What were you thinking?” The women are just staying quiet.
What can I say?
You get to the point.
Very well observed.
And the son is probably saying “But Dad, it’s only a Ford!”.
That’s what I’m thinking also… Always had family showing off their new cars back then. Aunts uncles cousins. My cousin was a sport car guy, would always come and take me for a ride , had tr4s, sunbeam tigers, new 70 240z… We bad a nice straightaway North of my house… Big fun when I was a kid
I’d take the Plymouth Savoy, remove the fender skirts, and go cruising.
Seeing the four 1954 GM car photos grouped together really highlights how the different shapes of the side trim make the cars look very different: straight on the Chevy, concave-down on the Pontiac, concave-up on the Buick, and a little bit rocket-shaped on the Olds, pointing to infinity and beyond.
The orange and white 55 Ford…..what’s he got in the trunk?
The architecture in the picture with little Nash strongly suggests that the photo was taken in the residential complex of a US barrack in the south of West Germany (could it perhaps be in Würzburg or Nuremberg ?).
I would bet it is. There is also a green number plate with white writing indicating this.
The other interesting bit in that photo is the two-tone VW Type II, demonstrating that multiple paint colors on a vehicle was not a uniquely American phenomenon.
We’ve seen other shots from this (or a similar) compound. It definitely is from a military housing complex in W. Germany.
Some beautiful homes in the background as well. Love those craftsman/bungalow homes behind the gold 57 Ford. The big, deep front porch is something you never see on any post war house.
Not sure exactly what you call that style house behind the blue 55 Chrylser. Tudor? English cottage? A lot of those style houses here in Tennessee had beautiful all stone masonary, limestone I think.
I second your opinion of craftsman/bungalow homes. Our current home is a 1920s bungalow with a 400 sq. ft. porch – I use that porch a great deal. When you see porches on modern houses, they’re usually so small, there’s hardly room for a chair, but it’s great having a big, covered porch.
I’m not great with architectural styles, but I call houses like the one behind the Chrysler Tudor Revival, largely on account of the steeply-pitched roof. But I’m never sure if the “Tudor” name really applies to houses that don’t have the classically Tudor design embellishments.
The picture of the ’54 Pontiac was taken at Hains Point Park in Washington, DC. The building in the background is the National War College, located on the grounds of Ft. McNair. The smokestacks belong to the Buzzard Point Power Plant, which was constructed in the 1930s – I believe it’s no longer operational, though it’s still standing.
Here’s the Google StreetView link to the location:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zgmQMCkU1NhsL6mU6
You confirmed what I had thought — it looked like Washington DC near the Tidal Basin. Hains Point also has lots of cherry trees with their beautiful blossoms in the spring.
When did we stop rolling up the cuffs on our jeans?
Two tone always looked nice unfortunately for Kiwis most, local assembly cars were solid colour a white top or other two tone paint job was a dealer added extra on most cars and GM cars in particular range topping models had factory twotone anything lower on the food chain wasnt, I still have a twotone Hillman Capri blue with foam grey roof, original it never had a blue top its faded direct to primer in places.
For a moment I misread that. Thought you had a Hillman Capri! 🙂 Need another coffee….
I’ll take the ‘54 Ninety Eight Holiday! Actually I would take any of them except the Metropolitan. The picture reminds me of my childhood. Whenever someone bought a new car the whole neighborhood would turn out to inspect it. Nowadays nobody cares. No wonder, almost all new vehicles are a snooze. I am so tired of silver, charcoal, black or white.
Remove the skirts and it would be even more of a “Plain Jane”.
Never wore so never started.
Besides the nice colors, I miss the white wall tires. Those wide whites looked great on Fifties era cars.
I am positive that the 1950 Oldsmobile turned heads on the streets… wasn’t much/anything else of style in 1950
The homes in the first pic put me in mind of the neighborhood on “Mama’s Family”.