The earliest post-World War II designs from the Big Three were futuristic looking from a 1940s perspective, but quickly came to look outdated as 1950s industrial design left Streamline Moderne behind for the jet age. Similarly, reliable prewar mechanical designs became hard to market to a public expecting great technological advancements to come out of the war. It was only in the 1955 model year when Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors all finally converged on the full envelope body, doing away with detachable rear fenders, and embracing a look that seems modern, even to 21st century eyes.
Ford had been the first to head in that styling direction with its “shoebox” 1949-’51 models. Later enthusiasts would tag the 1955-’57 Chevrolets with the shoebox epithet as well, due to their break from the
