Air conditioners spreading throughout America in the 50’s
Air conditioners first appeared in cars in 1953.
General Motors was the first company to offer them in their Cadillac cars.
General Motors decided to add air conditioners because they were becoming increasingly popular in homes and offices.
Air conditioners became more common in cars over the next few decades, and by the 1990s, most cars were equipped with them.
A famous quote about air conditioners is..
“Nothing says ‘summer’ quite like an air conditioner!”
-Unkown
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See this beautiful 1953 Oldsmobile 98 with OEM Frigidaire air conditioning – Watch
5 interesting facts about America in the 1950’s
1) Air conditioners became widely available, with around 70% of homes having them by the end of the decade.
2) The first color TV sets were introduced, allowing Americans to watch their favorite shows in vibrant color for the first time.
3) America saw a huge increase in car ownership, as cars like the iconic Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Corvette became hugely popular.
4) The first McDonald’s restaurant opened in 1955, and the fast food chain would quickly become a nationwide sensation.
5) American families began to suburbanize, as the baby boom led to a need for more housing. This led to the development of many new suburbs across the country.
4 additional car inventions in the 1950’s:
1) Power windows, which made it easier for drivers to control their cars’ window functions.
2) Airbags, which became standard in many new cars and helped protect drivers and passengers during accidents.
3) Car radios, which allowed people to listen to music on the go and made long car trips more enjoyable.
4) Overhead consoles, which helped with navigation and provided a convenient storage space while driving.