"Burn Rubber" is a 50's slang term that was used to talk about hitting the acelerator on a car hard and fast and was directed at "hot rodders" who used to like to race their dream cars." Let's burn rubber and show them what we can do!"
Picture this: a typical Saturday night in the 1950's. It is Anytown, U.S.A. and teenagers are working on the final tune-ups to their hot rods which will tip the scales and lead their cars to victory over the finish line at the heads-up racing match that begins at sunrise.
Imagine a row of headlights lined-up on a dirt road waiting for the a sock-hopper's neck scarf to drop, signaling the start of the adrenaline rush and a break-speed race down the dusty road that leads to glory.
In another part of town, the older kids are "drive-in hopping." They are checking out the burger joints that you would drive up to, place your order into the speaker and then a car hop on roller skates glides over to your car, pops the tray on your window and "bon appetite!"
In the early 1950's the auto industry came up with a novel idea: the sports car. By the end of the decade, Americans were completely hooked on cars like the Chevrolet Corvette. The auto industry in the U.S. broke the all-time production record with 7,987,000 cars rolling off the assembly line. The government, however, re-imposed Regulation W which limited car purchases during and after World War II.
New "small" cars were introduced during 1950 to meet the demand of a second car for middle-class families and also to appeal to the used car market.
The hard top convertible was the star of the 1951 model year, which was an extension of the previous year's design.
In 1952, the Steelworkers strike in June and July halted car production. Defense production continued and a profits from civilian car production continued to grow. Many of the top automotive corporations placed 60% of their output on defense, making aircraft and parts, tanks, cannons, shells and other military goods. The copper and steel shortage was the worst problem the industry dealt with.
By 1953, air conditioners and power steering were introduced and research and engineering teams were working on making the following year's cars less expensive and safer. Prices and taxes on new car production rose and the price for a new auto was about $2,000 with $650 of that going to taxes.
Packard and Buick Motor Division both attempted to mass-produce the sports car and they exhibited their cars to the public to test reaction and extend the market.
Chevy introduced a concept sports car that was successful. It was called the Corvette.
Notwithstanding all the shortages and restrictions, the industry had one of its best fiscal years. The government relaxed controls on steel, copper and aluminum. The only slow down was the fire at GM's Hydramatic plant in Livonia, MI. The materials shortages inspired companies to come up with a new magnesium and plastic-fiberglass auto body.
Prices changed little in 1954 but new changes were made. Wire racing wheels became popular in larger cars. The wrap-around back window was added to more models and a front windshield of the same style was added on the 1954 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Starfire, named after the Lockheed F9413 Starfire Fighter Jet, bringing back the nostalgia for the war.
The population boom brought about the growing need for the continuing of the station wagon. It had been available for 30 years but production had never been more that 1% before WWII. The new models were built with strong steel bodies and a no frills approach. Cars were getting safer and less expensive and most had power steering and automatic shift. GM introduced the "Autotronic-Eye" which dimmed high beams when another car approached and turn them back on after it stopped.
By 1958 many design changes were taking place and at this time, more cars were imported than exported. The auto industry was aiming for the end of the one-car family and was dreaming of different cars for different uses: family trips, commuting to work, etc. In keeping with this idea, Ford introduced a full line of luxury Continentals and kept up production of the mid-priced Edsel. The 1958 Oldsmobile sported a new-designed body.
Resources:
http://coolestwords.com/content/top-15-slang-words-50%E2%80%99s#sthash.Pl7gK2mN.dpuf
auto.howstuffworks.com/hot-rod3.htm
http://www.retrowaste.com/1950s/cars-in-the-1950s/
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