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- 1950 Lincoln Presidential Limousine Used by Dwight D. Eisenhower - This massive convertible Lincoln was built for President Harry S Truman in 1950, but it is most associated with Truman's successor Dwight D. Eisenhower, who used the car from 1952 until 1960. Eisenhower added the distinctive plastic "bubble top." Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson also used this car as a spare until its retirement in 1967.
- 1950-1967
- Collections - Artifact
1950 Lincoln Presidential Limousine Used by Dwight D. Eisenhower
This massive convertible Lincoln was built for President Harry S Truman in 1950, but it is most associated with Truman's successor Dwight D. Eisenhower, who used the car from 1952 until 1960. Eisenhower added the distinctive plastic "bubble top." Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson also used this car as a spare until its retirement in 1967.
- 1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster - Corvettes became the iconic American sports car -- but not right away. Sports cars are automobiles reduced to their essence -- a motor, two seats, a simple body, and a powerful emotional appeal. The first Corvettes, with six-cylinder engines and automatic transmissions, promised more than they delivered. But when a 195-horsepower V-8 arrived in 1955, the Corvette's go finally matched its show.
- 1955
- Collections - Artifact
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
Corvettes became the iconic American sports car -- but not right away. Sports cars are automobiles reduced to their essence -- a motor, two seats, a simple body, and a powerful emotional appeal. The first Corvettes, with six-cylinder engines and automatic transmissions, promised more than they delivered. But when a 195-horsepower V-8 arrived in 1955, the Corvette's go finally matched its show.
- 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible, Serial Number One - It's an old auto industry cliche -- "you can't sell a young man an old man's car, but you can sell an old man a young man's car." It's also true. The sporty Mustang was a young man's -- and woman's -- car. The under-30 crowd loved it. But older people also bought them, often as a second car. The Mustang hit a sweet spot in the market, appealing to a wide range of buyers.
- 1964
- Collections - Artifact
1965 Ford Mustang Convertible, Serial Number One
It's an old auto industry cliche -- "you can't sell a young man an old man's car, but you can sell an old man a young man's car." It's also true. The sporty Mustang was a young man's -- and woman's -- car. The under-30 crowd loved it. But older people also bought them, often as a second car. The Mustang hit a sweet spot in the market, appealing to a wide range of buyers.
- 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible - This car symbolizes 1950s America: a time of exuberance, self-confidence, excess, and self-indulgence. Cadillac designers drew on jet aircraft for ideas, from the sharp, swept-back tailfins to the front parking lights that resemble B-52 bomber air intakes. Under that jet-inspired skin is a 345 horsepower engine, air suspension, and a host of luxury options, including an automatic headlight dimmer. We are unlikely to ever see such cars again.
- 1959
- Collections - Artifact
1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible
This car symbolizes 1950s America: a time of exuberance, self-confidence, excess, and self-indulgence. Cadillac designers drew on jet aircraft for ideas, from the sharp, swept-back tailfins to the front parking lights that resemble B-52 bomber air intakes. Under that jet-inspired skin is a 345 horsepower engine, air suspension, and a host of luxury options, including an automatic headlight dimmer. We are unlikely to ever see such cars again.
- 1953 Ford V-8 Pace Car, Used at Indianapolis 500 Race - The Indianapolis 500 features a "rolling start" with entrants following a pace car into the green flag. Various manufacturers provided pace cars over the years. Ford was chosen to supply the vehicle for 1953, the automaker's 50th anniversary. The company built 2,000 replicas of the special Sunliner convertible for sale to the public, but this is the actual race-used car.
- May 30, 1953
- Collections - Artifact
1953 Ford V-8 Pace Car, Used at Indianapolis 500 Race
The Indianapolis 500 features a "rolling start" with entrants following a pace car into the green flag. Various manufacturers provided pace cars over the years. Ford was chosen to supply the vehicle for 1953, the automaker's 50th anniversary. The company built 2,000 replicas of the special Sunliner convertible for sale to the public, but this is the actual race-used car.
- 1962 Budd XT-Bird Concept Car - Looking for a sporty new car, Ford approached the Budd Company in 1961 with the idea of reviving the 1955-1957 Thunderbird. Budd's XT-Bird prototype combined a 1957 Thunderbird body with a 1961 Falcon chassis and powertrain. It captured the original T-Bird's look, but the car's rear seat was too small to be practical. Ford ultimately found its sporty car in the Mustang.
- 1962
- Collections - Artifact
1962 Budd XT-Bird Concept Car
Looking for a sporty new car, Ford approached the Budd Company in 1961 with the idea of reviving the 1955-1957 Thunderbird. Budd's XT-Bird prototype combined a 1957 Thunderbird body with a 1961 Falcon chassis and powertrain. It captured the original T-Bird's look, but the car's rear seat was too small to be practical. Ford ultimately found its sporty car in the Mustang.
- 1950 Nash Rambler Convertible - This 1950 Nash Rambler convertible was an attempt to market a small automobile to the American public. Other independent automobile manufacturers had produced small vehicles, but none to the success of the Rambler. The compact Rambler was attractive, well equipped, and sensibly priced. But in the 1950s, big cars ruled. Only by 1960 did the larger "Big Three" auto companies produce an "in-between-sized" car.
- 1950
- Collections - Artifact
1950 Nash Rambler Convertible
This 1950 Nash Rambler convertible was an attempt to market a small automobile to the American public. Other independent automobile manufacturers had produced small vehicles, but none to the success of the Rambler. The compact Rambler was attractive, well equipped, and sensibly priced. But in the 1950s, big cars ruled. Only by 1960 did the larger "Big Three" auto companies produce an "in-between-sized" car.
- Submariner Frequency Converter, Model S, 1928-1935 - Shortwave radio made it possible to bring the world into the living room. This device, used to alter any radio receiver, would have appealed to listeners hoping to hear beyond local and regional broadcast ranges. The ability of short wavelength radio waves to travel long distances through saltwater made this band useful for submarine communications, hence the "Submariner" brand name.
- 1928-1935
- Collections - Artifact
Submariner Frequency Converter, Model S, 1928-1935
Shortwave radio made it possible to bring the world into the living room. This device, used to alter any radio receiver, would have appealed to listeners hoping to hear beyond local and regional broadcast ranges. The ability of short wavelength radio waves to travel long distances through saltwater made this band useful for submarine communications, hence the "Submariner" brand name.
- Model LCP-5 Converter, Part of a Lear LTRA-6 Navigation System, circa 1952 - This device is part of the LTRA-6 aircraft radio navigation unit. Its creator Lear, Inc. was a pioneering company interested in expanding the popularity of private flight. This system was affordable and combined several low and high frequency radio navigation aids that were essential to the safe travel of small aircraft.
- circa 1952
- Collections - Artifact
Model LCP-5 Converter, Part of a Lear LTRA-6 Navigation System, circa 1952
This device is part of the LTRA-6 aircraft radio navigation unit. Its creator Lear, Inc. was a pioneering company interested in expanding the popularity of private flight. This system was affordable and combined several low and high frequency radio navigation aids that were essential to the safe travel of small aircraft.
- Designers with Full Size Fiberglass Model of 1958 Lincoln Convertible - Lincoln automobiles were completely redesigned for the 1958 model year. Distinctive features included slanted headlights, sweeping bumpers, and wraparound front windshields. The cars were also distinguished by their massive size -- 19 feet long by 6.5 feet wide. This photograph shows designers with a full-size fiberglass model of a 1958 Lincoln convertible.
- 1957
- Collections - Artifact
Designers with Full Size Fiberglass Model of 1958 Lincoln Convertible
Lincoln automobiles were completely redesigned for the 1958 model year. Distinctive features included slanted headlights, sweeping bumpers, and wraparound front windshields. The cars were also distinguished by their massive size -- 19 feet long by 6.5 feet wide. This photograph shows designers with a full-size fiberglass model of a 1958 Lincoln convertible.