Postwar America rewired car culture: designers and small firms chased sportier silhouettes, lower weight and sharp handling, creating roadsters and two-seaters that still influence collectors today. Streets, race paddocks and private garages all played a part in shaping that decade’s automotive identity.
There are 18 1950s American Sports Cars, ranging from 300 (Letter Cars) to Thunderbird. The list is organized with Maker,Years (1950s),Production (units) so you can compare origins and output, and you’ll find those details below.
How comprehensive is this list and what criteria were used?
The list focuses on production sports cars built or sold in the U.S. during the 1950s—factory roadsters, two-seaters and notable low-volume specials are included; prototypes, concept-only cars and later replicas are excluded. Entries rely on manufacturer records and period production data where available.
Can I use the production figures to judge rarity or value?
Production numbers indicate relative rarity but don’t determine market value alone—condition, provenance, desirability, and restoration quality often matter more. Use the figures here as a starting point when researching rarity or pricing.
1950s American Sports Cars
| Model | Maker | Years (1950s) | Production (units) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corvette | Chevrolet | 1953–1959 | 55,000 |
| Thunderbird | Ford | 1955–1959 | 116,000 |
| Kaiser-Darrin | Kaiser | 1954 | 435 |
| Muntz Jet | Muntz | 1951–1954 | 200 |
| Nash-Healey | Nash | 1951–1954 | 500 |
| Skylark | Buick | 1953 | 1,690 |
| Eldorado | Cadillac | 1953–1959 | 8,500 |
| 300 (Letter Cars) | Chrysler | 1955–1959 | 13,000 |
| Speedster (President) | Studebaker | 1955 | 2,400 |
| Hotshot | Crosley | 1950–1952 | 1,700 |
| Super Sport | Crosley | 1952–1955 | 1,200 |
| Italia | Hudson | 1953–1954 | 26 |
| Caribbean | Packard | 1953–1956 | 3,200 |
| Golden Hawk | Studebaker | 1956–1959 | 6,500 |
| Bonneville | Pontiac | 1957–1959 | 11,000 |
| Adventurer | DeSoto | 1956–1959 | 6,000 |
| Jeepster | Willys | 1950 | 14,000 |
| 300 (Non-letter)/Road Runner-style performance models | Various (smaller makers) | 1950–1959 | Various |
Images and Descriptions
Corvette
America’s first mass-market sports car, the C1 Corvette launched in 1953. Notable for its fiberglass body, V8 development in later years, and strong enthusiast following; early postwar examples are highly collectible and command premium prices.
Thunderbird
Introduced in 1955 as a two-seat personal roadster, the Thunderbird blended comfort with sportiness. Its success spawned later luxury versions; early two-seaters are prized by collectors for style, V8 power, and cultural significance.
Kaiser-Darrin
An exotic-looking American roadster with sliding pocket doors and fiberglass body, the Kaiser-Darrin was hand-built and very low-volume. Its rarity and unique styling make it a coveted oddball among 1950s American sports-car collectors.
Muntz Jet
The Muntz Jet was a hand-built luxury sports coupe/convertible with a Cadillac V8 and rugged construction. Very limited production and celebrity ownership make surviving cars rare and desirable to niche collectors.
Nash-Healey
A U.S. automaker/Healey collaboration, the Nash-Healey combined American power with European chassis tuning. Marketed as a high-end sports car, its racing pedigree and low numbers give it collector cachet today.
Skylark
Buick’s 1953 Skylark was a one-year, hand-finished convertible with a sporty image and upscale trim. Produced in small numbers, the Skylark is collectible as a stylish, factory-backed American two-seat sportier offering.
Eldorado
Cadillac’s Eldorado line blended luxury with sporty flair, especially early limited-run convertibles. Marketed as exclusive personal luxury cars with performance options, Eldorados from the 1950s are sought by collectors for prestige and style.
300 (Letter Cars)
Chrysler’s 300 “letter” cars were high-performance, limited-production coupes and convertibles with potent V8s and racing-derived tech. Marketed as performance luxury, they’re prized for power, rarity, and their role in Chrysler’s performance image.
Speedster (President)
Studebaker’s 1955 Speedster was a limited-run, sporty trim of the President line with distinctive styling and performance cues. Its limited production and distinctive looks attract Studebaker collectors and aficionados of 1950s personal luxury sports cars.
Hotshot
The Crosley Hotshot was a tiny, lightweight American sports car with a two-cylinder engine focused on economy and nimble handling. Low production and quirky appeal make it an interesting collectible for microcar and 1950s Americana fans.
Super Sport
A later Crosley sporty model, the Super Sport continued the brand’s micro-sports ethos with lightweight design and modest power. Rarity and a unique place in small American sports-car history drive collector interest.
Italia
The Hudson Italia was an upscale, coachbuilt coupe with Italian styling produced in tiny numbers. Marketed as a stylish sporty halo car for Hudson, its rarity and striking design make it a museum-piece favorite among collectors.
Caribbean
Packard’s Caribbean was a premium, sporty convertible with distinctive trim and performance options, positioned as a luxury performance model. Low production and Packard’s mid‑century prestige give surviving examples significant collector appeal.
Golden Hawk
Studebaker’s Golden Hawk combined a powerful V8 with sporty styling and performance-oriented marketing. As a comparatively quick American of the era with limited numbers, it’s popular with period-performance collectors.
Bonneville
Introduced as a limited, high-performance convertible in 1957, the Bonneville became Pontiac’s performance flagship. Early low-volume Bonnevilles are prized for their rarity, chrome-forward styling, and place in Pontiac’s performance heritage.
Adventurer
DeSoto’s Adventurer was a performance-oriented limited-series model with sporty trim and stronger engines. Marketed as a dealer-available “one-off” sporting model, Adventurers enjoy collector interest for rarity and distinctive late‑50s styling.
Jeepster
Willys’ Jeepster (produced into 1950) blended open‑car styling with utilitarian Jeep heritage and was marketed as a sporty leisure car. Surviving examples are collectible for their unusual niche between roadster and utility vehicle.
300 (Non-letter)/Road Runner-style performance models
A catch-all for small-volume American sporty models and coachbuilt specials marketed as sports cars in the 1950s; many were low-volume, hand-built cars prized today for uniqueness, period performance, and rarity.
