10 Beautiful Classics From The ’50s That Are Now Dirt Cheap
Somewhere between the chrome-laden showrooms of the Eisenhower era and today’s collector market lies a sweet spot that savvy enthusiasts have quietly exploited for years: genuinely beautiful 1950s classics that won’t drain your savings account. These are cars with sweeping fenders, thunderous straight-eights, and enough curb appeal to stop a car show in its tracks — yet they remain surprisingly within reach for the average buyer.
Buying a classic car that’s more than 70 years old comes with some considerations and challenges, but these cars can be a joy to drive, fun to work on, and easy to admire. Pull up to a local car show in a well-kept 1950s classic and you’ll likely be the only owner with something that old and that rare. If you want to spend a little but enjoy a genuine piece of American automotive history, these are the cars to consider.
All the price estimates quoted in this article are courtesy of average prices on Classic.com and verified using models sold on Hagerty, Hemmings, and RM Sotheby’s. This list is sorted by the Classic.com average price from highest to lowest, with all cars priced below $20,000.
1953 Packard Clipper
Average Price: $19,297
The Packard Clipper is famous as a car that bridged the era before and after World War II. Models built after the war are considerably more affordable than their prewar counterparts. The Clipper is a beautiful car with luxurious lines, classic proportions, and plenty of chrome to deliver the stylish 1950s look so many collectors desire. The long front end offered ample room for big engines under the hood, and the cabin was appointed with impressive materials and luxurious comfort for the whole family.
The 1953 Clipper was offered with two different straight-eight engines. The standard model used a 288 cu-in engine that produced 150 horsepower, while the Clipper Deluxe was powered by a 327 cu-in engine that generated 160 horsepower. The standard transmission was a three-speed manual. The Clipper line remained unchanged for 1954, but with falling sales, Packard significantly upgraded this car in 1955 with a new design.
1955 Studebaker Champion
Average Price: $16,927
The Studebaker Champion stood out among domestic cars with its interesting European style, which gave it a more streamlined look than most postwar offerings. This car offered a compact, rakish look that many admired during the 1950s. The Champion was offered in two- and four-door sedan models, and the line also featured the Starliner hardtops and Starlight coupes, which have been sought after by collectors ever since.
The Champion was powered by a straight-six engine displacing 169.6 cu-in. That was enough to produce 85 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque — modest figures, but perfectly adequate for weekend cruising with the family. A three-speed manual was standard, though many Champion models were also paired with an automatic transmission.
1950 Oldsmobile 88
Average Price: $17,582
Pure 1950s style showed up in the 1950 Oldsmobile 88, which was offered in a Deluxe Club Coupe or Convertible body style. This car is often considered one of the precursors to the muscle car era, with the Rocket V8 engine under the hood. That engine made the Oldsmobile 88 famous, allowing it to be a glorious car that set new postwar performance marks.
The Rocket V8 is a 303 cu-in engine that produces 135 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque, sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual transmission. Pairing that V8 with the relatively lightweight 88 chassis gave Oldsmobile a performance edge that translated directly to the track — the combination was enough to win the first NASCAR championship.
1951 Ford Custom
Average Price: $16,759
If you see a classic 1950s hot rod, there’s a good chance the foundation is a Ford Custom. The enduring popularity of this car as a project vehicle has helped keep market prices low, making the Custom an accessible choice. This iconic postwar Ford has chopped-roof hot-rod potential, loads of chrome, and strong fender lines that make it genuinely beautiful in stock form.
The 1951 Ford Custom was powered by either an inline-six or a flathead V8 engine. The inline-six measured 225 cu-in and produced 95 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque. The V8 was larger at 240 cu-in and delivered 100 horsepower and 187 lb-ft of torque through a three-speed manual transmission. The Custom’s robust body structure also makes it a natural candidate for modern engine swaps, which is a big part of its lasting appeal among hot-rodders.
1956 Dodge Coronet
Average Price: $16,150
The Dodge Coronet was one of the most popular cars of the 1950s, and it was a stunner as well. The crisp grille design and classic shape made this car a fantastic choice. The Coronet is practical, but it was also a gorgeous car when finished in two-tone paint. Sitting below the higher-end Chrysler models in price, the Coronet remains an easy entry point into 1950s Mopar ownership.
A Get-Away six-cylinder engine was the starting point for power in the Coronet. This 1956 Dodge engine measured 230 cu-in and produced 131 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque — excellent figures for the time. A Red Ram V8 was also available, displacing 270 cu-in and delivering 189 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. Most models utilized a three-speed manual transmission, the most common gearbox choice of the decade.
1952 Ford Crestline
Average Price: $16,083
Period elegance and tons of chrome make the 1952 Ford Crestline one of the most beautiful classic cars of the 1950s. This car shows off with refined details and some excellent hood ornaments on higher trims. The Crestline sat at the top of the early Ford lineup, above the Mainline, yet examples can still be found at a reasonable price.
Power came from a 239 cu-in V8 engine mated to a three-speed manual transmission, sending drive to the rear wheels. The Crestline wasn’t a particularly powerful car, but its 110 horsepower and 194 lb-ft of torque were more than adequate for relaxed, enjoyable driving — which is exactly what it was designed for.
1955 Chrysler Windsor
Average Price: $15,876
Big cars were the staple of the 1950s, and the Chrysler Windsor was firmly among them — a large car with beautiful, stately lines and the commanding presence the decade demanded. The Windsor served as Chrysler’s midrange model, giving buyers a value option within a lineup that was already known for being more upscale than comparable Ford or GM products.
Power came from a 300 cu-in V8 that gave the Windsor a meaningful performance advantage over many of its contemporaries. The engine delivered 188 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. A three-speed manual was standard, but buyers could also opt for the two-speed PowerFlite automatic transmission.
1956 Hudson Hornet
Average Price: $15,403
The low-slung profile gives the 1956 Hudson Hornet a sporty look that other cars of the era simply couldn’t match. Its step-down construction placed the floor between the frame rails rather than on top of them, lowering the center of gravity and improving handling compared to conventional designs. The distinctive hood styling stands out as a gorgeous feature of a car that dominated stock car racing in the early 1950s, thanks to that low center of gravity and impressive torque output.
A Super Six engine powered many 1956 Hornet models — an inline-six displacing 308 cubic inches that produced 175 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. Some 1956 Hudson Hornet models used a 320 cu-in V8 instead, delivering 220 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. Either way, drivers had more than enough power for an exciting time behind the wheel.
1952 Plymouth Special Deluxe
Average Price: $10,501
Bold two-tone paint schemes were a signature of the 1950s, and the 1952 Plymouth Special Deluxe was certainly a candidate for such treatment. These postwar Plymouth cars were produced in large numbers, with parts remaining relatively easy to source, making them affordable and approachable as classic project cars. For a budget-minded buyer looking for their first 1950s classic, this is a hard choice to beat.
Power comes from a 218 cu-in six-cylinder engine that sends 97 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. While not a particularly powerful car, the style, solid construction, and the relative ease with which the Special Deluxe can be rebuilt and enjoyed make it an excellent option for a first classic project.
1954 Buick Special
Average Price: $5,500
Classic Buicks are always stylish, attractive, and a pleasure to look at. The sweeping side trim gives the Special a big-car presence and the air of an elegant cruiser. Buick cars from this era leaned heavily into luxury appointments, making them some of the most sophisticated automobiles of the time. That also means a large number of them survive today, which goes a long way toward explaining the extremely affordable pricing.
Series 40 models used a 264 cu-in eight-cylinder engine that produced 143 horsepower and 228 lb-ft of torque, while Series 60 models stepped up to a 322 cu-in engine producing 195 horsepower and 302 lb-ft of torque for drivers who wanted more performance. Both engines were available with either a three-speed manual or a two-speed automatic transmission.
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