Postwar Boom
When civilian production got moving again after the war, America was ready to buy cars. At first, Detroit sold plenty of warmed-over prewar ideas because buyers would take just about anything with four wheels and a delivery date.
That didn’t last long. New bodies, lower rooflines, longer proportions and better engines started showing up, and the American car began moving toward the shape and attitude that would define the 1950s.
The 1949 Mercury looked good from the factory, but its long roof, slab sides and proportions gave customizers exactly the raw material they wanted.
Bottom Line
The first postwar years were the bridge between old Detroit and the chrome-heavy, horsepower-hungry industry that came next. The interesting part is watching that change happen one car at a time.
Pick one and pull up a fender.