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Car ad 1950

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

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With the recent posts about 4x4s that are mostly used for impressing others ...


A 1950 DeSoto ad, featuring such luxuries as:

big windows
big brakes
tip-toe transmission
high seats
easy steering
sparkling beauty and
lovely lines

Back then we must have been easily impressed.
 
NutmegCT said:
With the recent posts about 4x4s that are mostly used for impressing others ...


A 1950 DeSoto ad, featuring such luxuries as:

big windows
big brakes
tip-toe transmission
high seats
easy steering
sparkling beauty and
lovely lines

Back then we must have been easily impressed.
Click to expand...
... and back then, if we could've peeked into the future, we would have said, "Boy, it sure takes a lot to impress in the future."
 
NutmegCT said:
With the recent posts about 4x4s that are mostly used for impressing others ...


A 1950 DeSoto ad, featuring such luxuries as:

big windows
big brakes
tip-toe transmission
high seats
easy steering
sparkling beauty and
lovely lines

Back then we must have been easily impressed.
Click to expand...
I'm more impressed with the DeSoto than anything made today. Car manufacturers lost me forever when they introduced the "infotainment" center. For me, that was a declaration that they no longer make cars for drivers, only for the mindless masses.
 
My folks were into Buicks, the last on was a Century hard top, what I got my license in, in 1955. I guess that's the reason I never had a problem driving big trucks! LOL. :thumbsup2:
 
The old General Motors "economic ladder" paradigm:

Chevrolet - assembly line employee
Pontiac - supervisor
Oldsmobile - manager
Buick - mid-level manager
Cadillac - owns the company

Trivia Time! Who knows why there were several letter "D"s on the old General Motors Building in Detroit?

Shield over entrance.jpg
 
NutmegCT said:
The old General Motors "economic ladder" paradigm:

Chevrolet - assembly line employee
Pontiac - supervisor
Oldsmobile - manager
Buick - mid-level manager
Cadillac - owns the company

Trivia Time! Who knows why there were several letter "D"s on the old General Motors Building in Detroit?

View attachment 92642
Click to expand...
I'll guess (and that's all it is) they stand for one or more of Durant, Dort, DuPont and possibly Detroit?
 
Cars were stronger, lasted longer, more recognizable. Maybe not as fuel effecient. Killed people in crashes. But, would like them today.
 
LarryK said:
Cars were stronger, lasted longer, more recognizable. Maybe not as fuel effecient. Killed people in crashes. But, would like them today.
Click to expand...
Ish. Yes, stronger but rusted soooo much quicker (especially British), lasted much less - remember engines that were getting clapped out at 60k. (now you don;t even have to change the plugs in that span) Fuel efficiency, I remember seeing a post that a 50's Caddy and a 2000's Escalade got the same gas mileage and yes, killed people in and out of the car - My son's godfather owned a body shop and when I asked him if the really 'don't make 'em like they used to' he said that when he started part of their repair job was getting the blood off the seats - a job he didn't have to do any more. I would also note that there are ample videos of mini vans out dragging 60's muscle cars.

So, objectively they were worse in literally every respect - except styling (and fun) - where they win hands down every single time.

I must say I actually appreciate having a car (SUV) that is essentially an appliance. I bought it this summer for the 10 year warranty (Mitsubishi), the rear visibility and the fact that it has FWD/4WD/Locked 4WD on demand. I don't especially like the looks - it looks literally like every other grey SUV in the parking lot - and yes we often have to search.

BUT

It does exactly what I want, it gets great gas mileage, it's roomy and I can jump in and drive a 1000 miles without even considering checking anything under the hood.

Conclusion.

Different horses for different courses. Happy to drive a toaster 90% of the time knowing it will just work and happy to play with and drive the classics when I want style and fun.
 
Basil said:
I'll guess (and that's all it is) they stand for one or more of Durant, Dort, DuPont and possibly Detroit?
Click to expand...

Durant it is! The building was originally to be called the Durant building, as he was a co-founder of GM. One wing of the new building opened in 1921, and the D had already been built into various parts of the exterior. There was a kerfuffle at GM, and Durant was ousted. But the D remained.
 
PAUL161 said:
My folks were into Buicks, the last on was a Century hard top, what I got my license in, in 1955. I guess that's the reason I never had a problem driving big trucks! LOL. :thumbsup2:
Click to expand...
My dad was a GM master mechanic, so I grew up with a menagerie of Buicks and Cadillacs. And of course, we had our IHs.
 
JP, I would say that we have diametrically opposed positions on new cars.

I would have no qualms with driving my fifty-five year old Cadillac across the country tomorrow. Despite the difference in gas mileage, I would find it a much more pleasant experience than driving something new.
 
Neighbor from down the street came by and saw the 58 Jag Sedan I am working on. Are you going to drive that anywhere? I said, sure. Would like to take it out west or Florida or through the mountains of Kentucky or Tennessee. He said, why would you do that in such an old car. I told him I remember going from St. Louis to Sacramento and back in a 54 Studebaker in 1958. What people used. His eyes glazed over and said OH! Younger generation only knows 2010 to present.
 
My 50 year old M-B during the coolest drive I've ever done. Connecticut to California and back.

img_02391.jpg


And no modern car today would ever substitute.
 
"It's delightful; it's delovely, it's DeSoto..." TV jingle I recall from the early fifties.
 
You got that right NutmegCt!
 
DrEntropy said:
"It's delightful; it's delovely, it's DeSoto..." TV jingle I recall from the early fifties.
Click to expand...
“See the USA in your Chevrolet.”
Dinah Shore
 
Last edited:
And other than Geritol (!), Lawrence Welk was sponsored by ...
 
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