The American Automobile Frenzy of the 1950s

Abstract

This chapter looks into the American automobile frenzy in the 1950s. Even more so than household appliances, motor cars are shiny, expensive, long-lasting durables. Yet in the marketing of motor cars to American society in the 1950s, producers fell over each other in a frenzy of styling novelty. For buyers of new cars, the strongest selling point was sensual gratification, rather than status signaling. Eventually, many consumers reacted to styling excess by downshifting to more austere cars.

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