5 Cars of the Fab ’50s You Can Buy for Under $15K

Volvo

It’s wild to think that 1950 was 75 years ago, because until very recently, it was only 50 years ago and, not long before that, just 25 years ago, which was practically yesterday! Those Fabulous Fifties gave car enthusiasts much to drool over, from floaty chromed American droptops to the darty little lozenges of Europe, and while many of the rarest and most exotic ’50s dream cars are now out of reach for many of us, there are plenty still out there keeping the flame of affordability aglow. 

By and large they will be sedans rather than coupes or convertibles, and usual suspects include volume machines built by the Big Three: Ford Fairlanes and Chevy Biscaynes, Plymouth Cranbrooks and Pontiac Catalinas, Olds 88s and Mercury Montereys. For those on the hunt for something just a little different … well, you’ve got options, too. Based on the latest update to the Hagerty Price Guide, here are five less mainstream 1950s rides you should be able to find in #3 (good) condition for $15,000 or less. 

1956–59 Volvo PV445

Stefan Lombard

#3 Value: $13,400–$14,700

When Volvo resumed automobile production after the war, it did so with the 1947 PV444, a two-door four-passenger coupe that borrowed heavily—and cleverly—from the styling of prewar Fords. It was the Swedish carmaker’s first unibody car, and power came from a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine making 70 horsepower. It proved so popular that its planned production run of 8000 units eventually became 196,000, before being updated to the five-seat PV544 for 1958, which enjoyed its own long production run. 

Before that transition, however, Volvo unveiled the PV445. Front end styling was identical to the coupe, but the 445 was built on a separate ladder frame (with rear leaf springs rather than coils), which allowed for multiple coachbuilt bodies to be fitted for commercial purposes—pickups, vans, wagons, and even some rare convertibles. Today we mostly see the Duett, the Volvo-built two-door wagon, an attractive upright machine that shares its sturdy mechanicals with its unibody counterparts, including the 1.4- and later 1.6-liter engine (which accounts for the higher end of the price range above). As unique family haulers go, you’d be hard-pressed to find something cooler.

1953 Hudson Wasp Club Coupe

Wikimedia Commons/Armchair Aviator

#3 Value: $14,600

In the race to deliver an all-new automobile design after WWII, Hudson beat its Detroit rivals to market with its “Step-Down” series of cars. The new Hudsons were unique with an over-engineered unit-body “Monobilt” chassis that had the floorpan affixed to the bottom rather than the top of the rails. The frame also enclosed the rear wheels, which afforded a wider rear seat than was found in other cars. The new Hudsons were low, sleek, and fresher than anything else on the road. 

The Wasp arrived in 1952 as the Hornet’s lower-priced sibling, while still possessing all of its character. Power came from the Pacemaker’s 232-cid inline-six, and Hudson offered the car in both sedan and two-door club coupe body styles. Though the sedan is the cheapest of the lot, the club coupe is one of the few two-doors of the era that still fall under our $15,000 threshold. And it looks great doing it.

1959 Alfa Romeo 2000 Berlina

Malta Museum Alfa Romeo 2000 Berlina Tipo 102 front three quarter
Ronan Glon

#3 Value: $10,100

Looking for some classic Italian verve without a six-figure price tag? Then the 2000 Berlina is for you—if you can find one, that is. Alfa debuted its new 2000 model lineup at the 1957 Turin Motor Show, and the range included the open-top Spider (bodied by Touring) and two-door Sprint coupe (bodied by Bertone)—as well as the Alfa-built Berlina four-door sedan. Just 2800 Berlinas were produced through 1962. The sedans shared all the same underpinnings with their smaller stablemates but couldn’t match them for outright performance. The slightly detuned 1975-cc four-cylinder was mated to a five-speed manual and drove the rear wheels, with a claimed top speed of 100 mph. These 2000 Berlinas are a far cry from the more upright, squared-off models of the same name that graced Italian autostradas of the late 1960s and ’70s, but they’re a great entry into Italian family-car ownership, at a tenth of the price of a Spider

1957–59 International A- and B-Series Pickups

Hagerty Media

#3 Value: $8700–$14,800

International pickups have always lived in the shadow of contemporary offerings from Chevy, Ford, and Dodge, but the company’s long history as a maker of tough, proven machinery makes them worthy of consideration if a classic truck is in your sights. No fewer than 116 different models were available across the A- and B-series of the late 1950s, with ½-tons, ¾-tons, 1-tons, Fendersides, Bonus Loads, and Travelette crew cabs offered in two- and four-wheel drive, with six- and eight-cylinder powerplants. Today, with the exception of the 1957 Golden Jubilee trim that celebrated International Harvester’s 50th anniversary of truck production, all of them fall within our sub-$15,000 parameter. Hard living as work vehicles took many of them off the road, of course, but good ones are out there, awaiting their cushy retirement as weekend cruisers.

1953–55 Studebaker Commander DeLuxe Starlight Coupe

1954 Studebaker Commander
National Motor Museum/Heritage Images via Getty Images

#3 Value: $13,400

Studebaker had been applying the Commander name to its cars since 1927. The V-8–powered Commander Starlight Coupe that appeared for 1953, however, carried its own unique tagline: “The American car with the European look.” It was true; the stylish new Studes looked like nothing else on American roads—except for their lower-priced six-cylinder Champion cousin, that is. Today, base Commander sedans can be had for less than $5000—a great deal—but there’s still immense value in the attractive Starlight Coupes. Cars from 1953–54 featured a 233-cid V-8 making 120 hp, while the new-for-’55 V-8 upped displacement to 259 cid and bumped output to a healthy 162 hp. The market makes no real distinction, so you may as well keep a ’55 in your sights. 

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Comments

    The Volvo and the Stude’ are interesting to me because of their looks. The Hudson is certainly a great nostalgia piece. An IH pick-up would just be used as a work truck for me. But try as I might, and I have, I just can’t warm to the Alfa.

    53 coupe was my first car when I was 15 delivered orders and saved $350.00 in 1963 for it. long gone but still love them. These were so advanced over anything in their day.

    The Internationals are a steal right now. Easy to work on, hard as nails as long as they aren’t run in snow and salt which is their weakness. It will be interesting to see if the price gap to Fords/Chevies continues. I suspect it will narrow, in part based on the additional attention the International name will get with the intro of the new Scout.

    In 1979 a friend saw a1953 IH pickup sitting in a field. He stopped, asked the farmer if he would sell it. The farmer said he would give it to my friend if he would just get it out of his field, he was darn tired of plowing around it. My friend towed it home, changed the oil, cleaned the gas tank and put a new battery in it. As far as I know he still has it.

    My very first Rambler was like that — abandoned in a furniture store back parking lot instead of a field. 61 American four door wagon they used at one time for a TV service vehicle. I bought it in the summer of 1979. It sat in that parking lot since the early 70s — at least five years. Furniture store belonged to a friend’s grandfather. I asked about it, and he said if I could get it running I could have it for $100. Fresh gas, clean points and cap, jump start, and vroom! it needed some work, but about $200 more (mostly in recapped tires) and I was driving!

    My Grandparents live in Logansport IN about 65 miles of South Bend on Michigan Avenue. I would set on their covered front Porch and watch the Studebaker car carriers..I fell in love with the 1952 2 Hardtop. I still have my 1:24 plastic model that was expensive at
    $ 3.00. I never owned one, but Dad had a yellow Lark around 1962ish.

    I oddly like the raised white lettered Uniroyal on the Hudson. Gives it a real driver quality. As though the owner went to his local shop for a new set of treads and they were what was in stock. Not too fussy.

    1953 Hudson Wasp Club Coupe is probably the most interesting to me but there are a few more here I’d take.

    I’m partial to the Volvo–I love old Volvos–but I really liked the Hudson. I should probably have had more partiality to the Studebaker, as I took my first cross-country trip in a 1950 Studebaker Champion, at age 4, Menlo Park to Boston, and I like the general outline of Commanders. But some subtle flaw bugged me, even though I’m very fond of my Golden Hawk, a Dinky Toy that I’ve probably had since I was 5 or 6.

    Agree with all. 1959 was a good year for wild designs from almost all makes too. Prices depend on the model. 4 door models are cheap if you can find a good example. I can get into those now. Don’t always have to have a 2 door V8. Base models look cool now.

    If you are going to show Condition 3 prices, show Condition 3 cars, those cars wouldn’t be in the low end of condition 2 if they needed full detailing.

    It’s comical to think that condition ratings can be made based on a single photo. There is a lot more to consider in a condition rating than shiny paint.

    The Alfa is not the most pretty car for sure but the real measure of the car is not just the style but the “fun factor” in driving the car- these cars are a blast, tossable and rev friendly- driving the slow car fast is better than a fast car slow-disc brakes, good suspension and a real trunk- at less than a used Honda Fit this is a good deal and a “classic” that is sophisticated enough to enjoy while not being a maintenance headache

    I had three of the 69-73 Alfa Berlinas and they were the most fun to drive sedans ever built. Wish I could buy one now!

    I like them all*, though lean towards the Volvo and the Stude’, two completely different marques. Then, again, the Hudson would be fun to start adding carbs.

    *But not an Italian vehicle. I was an auto insurance claims adjustor back in the day. Body shops would try numerous times to get fenders, doors, windshields and other factory parts to fit Alphas and Fiats. Of course that was also true of Chrysler auto of the day…

    The Volvo and the Studie would be my picks, too. My Dad had a ’49 or ’50 bullet-nose Studie when I was 9. Wish he still had it when I started driving.

    I had a ’66 Ducati in the ’70s. Getting parts for that was also a problem. Probably true of anything Italian.

    I remember, very clearly, the first time I saw a 1953 Studebaker. I had been driving a 1949 Studebaker, I wasn’t the owner, and the 1953 was the complete styling antithesis. My jaw dropped. I fell in love. I eagerly awaited every year to see the next Studebaker model. I fell out of love with the introduction of the Lark. Just a boring box on wheels. The 53 was a work of art. I think I can legally say that, being the owner now of two Porsches.

    A shop in my town has a 53 Studebaker that was restored in the 80,s with a mid 60’s Corvette drive train and front clip. I drool over it every time I see it. Not for sale unfortunately.

    If a well sorted Volvo Duett crossed my path for under $20k, I would buy it in a heartbeat. I cannot imagine that there are many out there as I have only seen one in the flesh in the past 50 years. I am thinking that they were used hard back in the day and that most of them have succumbed to rust and neglect. There are lots of the 544’s and there seems to be a dedicated following with good parts availability.

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