Photo: Michael Furman via High Museum
The GM Le Sabre is often considered to be the most important concept car of the 1950s, largely because of the influence it had over future car design. It introduced features such as the wraparound wind shield and dual tail fins which became standard in car design over the latter part of the decade, and persisted into the 1960s. The car maintains its popularity among car enthusiasts to this day.
12. Chrysler Thunderbolt
Photo: Michael Furman via High Museum
In a list where many of the cars featured were inspired by jets and planes, the 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt stands alone. Its art-deco design was instead inspired by the streamliner trains of the day and featured rounded curves rather than the sharper points and fins of cars like the Gilder. It featured a number of innovative design quirks, such as push button releases instead of door handles and hydraulic windows, while the headlights were concealed in the aluminum body work. All these concepts were to inform future car design for decades to come.