America is home to some of the world’s most classic cars. Beginning with the Ford Model T, American ingenuity has led to numerous innovations such as automatic transmission and the car stereo. This post looks at some of the most classic American cars and their history.
Tucker 48
The Tucker 48 takes its name from its inventor, Preston Tucker, and the year it was produced: 1948. 1948 is actually the only year it was produced; only 51 cars were created before the company folded. Hagerty Classic Car Insurance values the Tucker 48 at $1.4 million if it’s in “fair” condition, and the price goes up for cars in better condition.
One innovative feature of the Tucker 48 was its third headlight which sat in the middle of the two traditional headlights. The third headlight activated when the car turned. Each Tucker featured different designs than the one built before it. As the car was produced, engineers experimented with design concepts and improved upon their ideas.
Cadillac Eldorado
Over the years Cadillac has produced a number of famous cars. One of the most famous, though, is the Cadillac Eldorado, which was produced from 1953 to 2002. The first generation of Cadillac Eldorados came equipped with the standard features of the day, such as heating and powered windows. Elvis Presley was a big fan of Cadillacs. In 1967, he purchased a Topaz Gold Firemist Eldorado which he later shot when it stopped working properly.
For many years the Eldorado was the most expensive car that Cadillac offered. Each generation of Eldorados featured a different design, but the 1953 design was the most famous. Today, a 1953 Eldorado in excellent condition can fetch up to nearly $200,000.
Chevrolet Corvette
In 1953, the Chevrolet Corvette was introduced as a display model at the New York Auto Show. However, GM decided to sell it to the public after it received a lot of interest. In 1955, the Corvette began to come with a V8 engine, a welcome addition that made the car faster and more reliable.
NASA astronauts were some of the Corvette’s most famous owners. Take a look at this article to learn more about the history behind the Corvette and America’s space explorers. The most expensive Corvette ever purchased is the 1967 L88 Coupe. In 2014 it was sold for $3.8 million at auction.
Ford Mustang
The original “pony car” appeared in 1964. In order to make it more affordable, it shared many of its engineering features with the Falcon. At first, the Mustang could be purchased as either a coupe or a convertible. In its first year of production, Ford sold 126,538 units, and in 1965 the company sold 559,451 units.
As a result of the Mustang’s success, Ford had many competitors such as the Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, and Plymouth Barracuda. Ford refined many of the Mustang’s features, and the car managed to sell well in spite of the increased competition. 2015 marked the Mustang’s sixth generation. Since the vehicle’s first appearance it has been associated with racing. Take a look at this list to learn about some of the fastest Mustangs ever built.