1957 Chrysler 300C

Dubbed the Beautiful Brute, the 1957 Chrysler 300C was the defining triumph of Virgil Exner's Forward Look styling philosophy. Exner discarded upright postwar proportions in favor of a low roofline, taut side surfacing, and purposeful soaring tailfins that began mid-flank to stabilize the car at high speeds. Rather than relying on heavy chrome slabs, the front end commanded attention with an imposing trapezoidal mesh grille and a panoramic wraparound windshield. Motivation came from Chrysler's mighty 392-cubic-inch FirePower Hemi V8 equipped with dual four-barrel carburetors, delivering 375 horsepower. The 300C married race-bred muscle with high-speed grand touring luxury.