1953 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

The Corvette made its debut in 1953, and is widely considered "America's Sports Car". Its origins date back to the end of World War II, when returning GIs sang the praises of the lithe sports cars they had seen overseas, such as MGs, Jaguars, and Alfa Romeos. GM designer Harley Earl, always quick to sense a trend, convinced GM to create its own original sports car. Earl chose fiberglass for the body, making Chevrolet the first big company to use the new miracle material in a mass production vehicle. Mechanically, the early 'Vettes used mostly off the shelf components, including a modified "Blue Flame" six cylinder engine. Corvette prototypes made a huge impression at the auto shows, and from this, a legend was born.

1953 M.G. TD

American soldiers stationed in London during WWII were excited by the many sports cars they saw, including MG's similar to this 1953 M.G. TD. The Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Thunderbird drew much of their inspiration from these nimble, exciting cars.

1956 Ford Thunderbird

The genesis of the Ford Thunderbird can be traced back to the end of World War II. Many American GIs stationed in England during the war acquired a taste for the sleek and agile MGs and Jaguars. Chevy answered the call with its famous Corvette, prompting Ford's brilliant response. The Thunderbird is somewhat less sporting than the Corvette, but more comfortable and luxurious. It's plenty potent, however, with a 285 hp V-8.

1940 Packard Super Eight 160

Packards in the 1930s and 1940s were the last word in luxury, refinement and mechanical excellence. Sadly, they went out of business in the late 1950s.

1991 Chrysler 300 Concept Car V10

The Chrysler 300 concept car is the direct spiritual descendant of the original Chrysler 300 series from the '50s. It combines the features of an ultra-luxury car with blistering performance, thanks in part to an 8-liter V-1 0 "Copperhead" engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. With its striking good looks, the Chrysler 300 Concept Car helped blaze a path for Chrysler's styling in the 1990's, including the Viper and LH series.