1954 Bel Air

1954 Chevy Bel Air

Chevy’s styling for its 1954 model was not radically different from the previous post war years. The bold move would come the following year with the 1955 Chevy. Four years after Ford had adopted a flat sided design with no distinct fenders, Chevrolet still held on to a protruding rear fender and a hood that rose visibly above the front fenders. the ’54 Chevy did have a horizontal grille with the menace of a shark's open mouth, but it seemed to be holding on to a stately traditional look and traditional look.

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Background

Like the other car companies, General Motors was preoccupied with building tanks and trucks for the military from 1941 to 1945. World War II was more than a distraction; American car and plane manufacturers went into to high gear in short order in what was probably the greatest manufacturing boom in human history. Civilian cars were simply not made during those years.

1948 Chevy by Charles01-300

1948 Chevrolet courtesy Charles01/Wikimedia

After the war, the car companies resumed production of cars for the people with variations of the 1940 and '41 models. They needed time to readjust after the war and convert their production lines back to civilian vehicles. They also had developed some new technology and expertise during the great military production process, ideas which would lead to new innovations in car design and engineering.

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1950 Chevrolet. Photo by Lars-Göran Lindgren Sweden

New styling would not come until the 1949 (same as with Ford). The 1949 styling would then not change much for the next several years. General Motors sold their cars with advertising that promoted "Fashion first with body by Fisher" and "The only fine cars priced so low." They also talked up the "Valve in Head Blue Flame engine."

The next major style change would come with the 1955 model, which remains to this day an iconic American car.

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1955 Chevy Bel Air. Photo by Lars-Göran Lindgren Sweden