There isn’t a denying that the hardtop physique type was a triumph of midcentury auto design. Relying on who you ask, the 1949 Buick Roadmaster Riviera coupe was the primary regular-production hardtop of the post-war period. For Normal Motors, issues received much more fascinating when their designers turned to sedans.

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For 1955, Normal Motors rolled out its first 4-door hardtops, with an instance in all 5 of the maker’s model lineups.

For these unaware, the hardtop physique type is much like a normal coupe or sedan, however doesn’t embody the central “B” pillar usually discovered aft of the entrance doorways. The Pillarless look affords a given car an open, ethereal, and unbroken silhouette. The hardtop physique type was often supplied solely on midline and high trim ranges of a given mannequin, and usually commanded a worth premium over “pillared” examples.

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Although GM’s 4-door hardtops have been launched for 1955, the maker started promoting the lot in single company adverts for 1956. It’s fascinating to see Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Cadillac in the identical print advert, it’s additionally actually cool.

Cool, too, is the introduction of recent hardtop trim-level identify addendums which, for probably the most half, have stood the check of time. The 1956 Chevrolet hardtop was generally known as the Bel Air, The Pontiac because the Catalina, the Oldsmobile because the Vacation, the Buick because the Riviera, and the Cadillac because the de Ville.

As famous above, going with the hardtop added to the underside line. Whereas the least-expensive 1956 Chevrolet 4-door sedan began at $1869, going with the hardtop Bel Air would set customers again a minimum of $2068; that’s a hefty 11-percent worth bump.

Although uncommon, GM would often assemble automobiles from all of its divisions for various adverts within the following years, presumably to the chagrin of name advertising and marketing varieties on the lookout for more-exclusive publicity.

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1956 Normal Motors Hardtop Sedans

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Favourite Automobile Advertisements: 1956 Normal Motors Hardtop Sedans

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1956 Normal Motors Hardtop Sedans

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