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From the book, Cars with Fins, by Diane K. Stevenson, ISBN 0-8362-2642-9: The 50's was a decade with flair, not just in automobiles but in houses and in furniture, in toasters and in dinnerware. Everything--not just cars--looked like it was about to take off. Molded plastic, bent plywood, tubular metal: New materials inspired new styles. Fins were one of the multiple appeals being made to the American consumer. Atomotively speaking, things were picking up. The 1950's saw the innovation of higher horsepower engines, automatic transmissions, power brakes, power steering, and tubeless tires. This decade also saw the introduction of the taillight, the brake light, the back-up light, and the turn signal. Were the new fins needed to accommodate all these rear lights? Not really. Fits were decorative and superfluous, an appeal to prestige. Cars were getting bigger and presumably better. They came in different styles, with hubcaps and chrome. They offered optional air-conditioning, heaters, and radios. They were available in different colors, two-tone and three-tone, their paint jobs so gleaming and reflective that some people considered them dangerous in traffic. Here is a partial list of the options and innovations newly available in those fabulous cars; Swivel seats, electrical seat adjustment, seat belts, padded dash panels, back-lit instrument panels, 'self-winding' watches affixed to the steering wheel, dual illuminated ashtrays, push-button automatic transmissions, push-button radios, rear speakers, naugahyde, vinyl, or leather interiors, linoleum floor mats, electrically operated antennas, keyless door locks, carpeted trunks, courtesy lights, license plate lamps, fog and driving lights, hooded headlights, chromed headlight surrounds, tinted green glass, wraparound chromed grilles, two-tone side paneling, rear fender skirts, whitewall tires, wire wheel covers, fake spare tire monts on rear decks, dual fuel tanks.
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