The design of a car is more than just an engineering feat, it represents a specific time in our history. From the 1920’s until today, here are some of the most iconic cars ever made…

1920s: 1927 Ford Model T

The 1927 Ford Model T is easily one of the most recognizable and known cars to date. When Ford began producing these cars in 1908, they took the country by storm by making cars accessible to middle class Americans. But the Model T was important for another reason, and that is because it was the first car produced on an assembly line, kick-starting the beginning of mass produced vehicles. With an estimated 15,000 orders placed the day after its release in the past, and over 16.5 million sold over the years, this car was, and still is, a staple of the 1920s.

1930s: 1936 Buick Series 40

With a change in the times and in design, cars in the 1930’s took on a rounder, sleeker shape than those produced in the 1920s. In effect, the 1936 Buick Series 40 became the most memorable vehicle in its time for a number of reasons. In the midst of the Great Depression, car manufacturers had difficulty making sales, as people found themselves both unemployed and in debt. To combat this challenge, Buick created the Series 40, which came in a number of varieties to meet the needs of families at that time at a reasonable price.

1940s: 1949 Chrysler Town and Country

The 1949 Chrysler Town and Country; what a car. Not only did it represent yet another change in design, it became a status symbol that reflected the American, nuclear family. While the mid-1940s marked the end of World War II and the return of hundreds and thousands of American men coming home from the war, there was also a massive national campaign to expand the highway system. So when the soldiers returned, more people and families had the ability to travel further distances, making the 135 horsepower car suitable for recently reunited families looking to grow.