Wagons in vintage Street scenes

Ramblers are featured in this shot taken at the American Motors (AMC) exhibit area on the auto-show floor, including a Custom Rebel hardtop sedan at right (behind ropes). A mid-year addition, the Rebel had a bigger-than-usual V-8 engine, anti-roll bar, Gabriel shocks, and heavy-duty springs. At far left is a Nash Metropolitan, the mini-sized single-seat convertible built in Britain for American Motors.

 

A direct front end view of the V-8 powered Studebaker Silver Hawk coupe is seen in the center of the Studebaker-Packard exhibit during the 1957 show. On the right is a Packard Clipper station wagon. A profile of the supercharged Golden Hawk can be seen in the background.

 

On display in the Chevrolet exhibit at the 1957 Chicago Auto Show was the Chevrolet 'Corvette' Impala Motorama dream car from 1956. Featuring a Corvette-like grille, fiberglass body, spoke wheels with knockoff hubs, the modern coupe styling had room for five passengers. The prototype was built on a 116.5-inch wheelbase chassis and powered by General Motors 265 cubic inch V8 engine. Showgoers did not know that the Impala dream car was a preview of the production 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala hardtop, in name, side trim and roof design with reverse-slanted C-pillar.

 

A 300SL roadster on a raised platform dominates this scene at the Mercedes-Benz exhibit area. The 300SL (Super Light) debuted in 1955 as a 'gullwing' coupe, later joined by a roadster. Few sports cars were more coveted at the time. This scene also includes two large Mercedes-Benz sedans.

* You may have to look for the wagon after being distracted by the 300SL, but it's there.

 

Chicago Auto Show, 1958:

Three Swedish-built Volvos turned up at the 1958 Chicago Auto Show, in a simple display area that also featured a Volvo tractor. At left and center are two PV444 sedans, noteworthy for their resemblance in profile (albeit on a smaller scale) to 1948 Ford two-door sedans. At right is a PV445 station wagon. The first Volvos had arrived in the U.S. early in 1956.

 

Chicago Auto Show, 1959:

A community queen" leans against a 1959 Edsel station wagon during the "Motorevue of 1959." Due to poor first-year sales, Edsel dropped from four to two models: Ranger and Corsair, plus the Villager wagon. All were essentially reskinned Fords.

*A little Edsel Love. I don't care if they were "Reskinned FORDs"

 

Eddie Roberts is speaking into a hand-held microphone, leaning toward the crowd, promoting a Mercury Park Lane four-door hardtop. Roberts had a special show called "The Talking Mercury, which proclaimed that onlookers would be "amazed." A sign indicates that the presentation dealt with "What's On Your Mind." Two female presenters look on. The rear end of a Mercury station wagon can be seen at right. Park Lane was the top-tier Mercury in 1959. Specialty acts often help promote specific models at the 'windy city' annual auto extravaganza.

 

The "Wide-Track" Pontiac exhibit inside the International Amphitheatre are in place, just hours before the opening of the 51st Chicago Auto Show. A Bonneville Vista hardtop sedan is in the foreground, and directly behind it, and as if floating in the air, is triple-white Bonneville convertible.

 

A scene at the Mercedes-Benz display area. In the foreground is a sports racing car, built in 1955 and capable of 200 mph. A sign declares Daimler-Benz to be the "world's oldest manufacturer of automotive transportation." At right is an antique Benz Velo, built in 1893. Note the sign advising show goers that Mercedes-Benz models are sold and serviced by Studebaker dealers.

 

Based on the 1959 Buick Invicta four-door station wagon, the 'Texan' show car featured a sliding metal panel over the front passenger seating. Under the hood was a 325 horsepower 401 CID V-8 engine mated to Triple Turbine fully automatic transmission. The Texan featured a tailgate window that raised and lowered by a switch on the instrument panel and a key-activated switch on the tailgate.