All about cars and driving

As the American auto industry grew through the post war era manufacturers searched for ways to win the hearts of drivers. Something was needed to ignite the passions of the American motoring public. New techniques, new body styles and new concepts were being developed to win over automotive purchasers. As England developed its two seat open roadsters American companies investigated the possibility of a roadster with American power and prestige. The results were some pretty interesting automobiles.

The Nash Healey
Between 1951 and 1955 the Nash Kelvinator Company, manufacturer of Ramblers and refrigerators, collaborated with British sports car designer Don Nash to produce America’s first post war roadster. The components were strictly Nash Ambassador while the original body was purely Nash’s creation. The body underwent a redesign with help from the Italian design firm Pinin Farina in 1952. The car retained the classic convertible lines with a restyled grill and lights. When Nash was merged with Hudson in 1954 to from American Motors Corporation the Nash Healey was phased out.

The Kaiser Darrin
Contrary to popular opinion the Corvette was not the first fiberglass bodied two seat sports car in the United States. Kaiser beat Chevrolet to market with the Darrin. This small two seat car was produced with a fiberglass body and some features that made it very unique. The front grill of the Kaiser Darrin, designed by Dutch Darrin, appeared to be modeled after puckered lips. The roof was a three position canvas top that could be fully opened, half opened and decorated with iron landau bars or fully closed. The engine was a six cylinder used in the Kaiser cars of 1952 with a triple carburetor manifold that produced 125 horsepower. The strangest feature was the patented sliding doors that disappeared into the front fenders when opened.
The Darrin beat the Corvette to market by nearly a year but the company was plagued by financial difficulties and closed in 1955. Dutch Darrin finished off the last remaining cars with Cadillac engines and sold them himself.

Chevrolet Corvette

Polo White and Power-Glide for 1953, the Corvette was introduced as Chevrolet’s response to the British sports roadsters. The original car was offered only in white with a two speed automatic transmission and a six cylinder engine code named the Blue Flame. The original cars were all handmade. In 1954 the newer models featured color choices but still the power-glide and blue flame combination. By 1955 the Corvette had grown into a respectable sports car, just in time to take on the challenge of the new Ford Thunderbird.
After nearly sixty years the Corvette, now a world class sports GT, is the only American roadster from the 1950’s still standing.