When General Motors Was Dreaming

In its heyday during the 1950s, Motorama delivered G.M.'s message of postwar optimism to millions of curious spectators. The 1938 Buick Y-Job was the first such dream car.

The 1951 LeSabre, with its tail fins and lightweight components, shows the influence of jet plane styling.

The 1956 Buick Centurion was the first car designed by Chuck Jordan, who would later become G.M.'s styling chief.

The Cadillac Cyclone was first shown in 1959.

In 1950, G.M. borrowed the name of its permanent Chicago Museum of Science and Industry exhibit to rechristen its New York fashion show the Midcentury Motorama.

Unfettered by concerns over the cars’ production feasibility, designers toyed with extravagant shapes, exotic propulsion systems and impractical gimmicks. Seen here is the Futurliner from 1953.

The best ideas graduated to production models, while the turbine engines and titanium body panels never made it past the pages of Popular Science. Most notable on the 1954 Buick Wildcat II are its expanded wheel wells.

As the 1950s were winding down, a changing of the guard at G.M. — when Harley Earl, the design chief, was succeeded by William Mitchell — prompted a house cleaning. To save storage costs, dozens of show cars were slated for disposal. Seen here, the 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special.

The Firebird III, from 1958, was the third iteration of a gas turbine-powered concept car. With nine fins, it was the last dream car built by Harley Earl.

The 1955 Chevrolet Biscayne is one of five Motorama cars owned by Joe Bortz that will be on display at Pebble Beach.

The Chevrolet Corvette began as a show car in 1953 before it became the company's signature roadster.

With fins and lots of chrome, the 1953 Cadillac Le Mans anticipated the looks of later models of the '50s.

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