The style and shape of classic cars from the 1950s were lost and left in that decade. Big, heavy cars made of steel with massive engines ready to take you down the road were a common sight during the middle of the previous century. Typically, you might expect these cars to be expensive and rare, but some can be found for an affordable price.Buying a classic car that’s more than 70 years old comes with some considerations and challenges, but these cars can be a joy to drive, fun to work on, and easy to admire. Most likely, when you take your 1950s classic to a local car show, you’ll be one of the only owners with such a rare and old car. If you want to spend a little but enjoy a classic car from the 1950s, these are the cars to consider.All the price estimates quoted in this article are courtesy of average prices on Classic.com and verified using models sold on Hagerty, Hemmings, and RM Sotheby’s. This list is sorted by the Classic.com average price from highest to lowest, with all cars priced below $20,000. 1953 Packard Clipper Average Price: $19,297 Raleigh Classic Car Auctions The Packard Clipper is famous as a car that spanned the era before and after World War II. Models built after the war are much more affordable than earlier versions. The Clipper is a beautiful car with luxurious lines, classic proportions, and plenty of chrome to give you the stylish 1950s look desired. The large front end offered plenty of room for big engines to fit under the hood, and the cabin was fitted with impressive materials and luxurious comfort for the whole family.The 1953 Clipper was offered with two different straight-eight engines. The standard model used a 288 cu-in engine that produced 150 horsepower, while the Clipper Deluxe was powered by a 327 cu-in engine that generated 160 horsepower. The standard transmission was a three-speed manual. The Clipper line remained unchanged for 1954, but with falling sales, Packard significantly upgraded this car in 1955 with a new design. 1955 Studebaker Champion Average Price:$16,927 WD Detailing/YouTubeThe Studebaker Champion stood out among domestic cars with its interesting European style, which gave it a more streamlined look than most postwar cars. This car offered a compact, rakish look that many admired during the 1950s. The Champion was offered in two and four-door sedan models, and the line also featured the Starliner hardtops and Starlight coupes, which have been sought after by many drivers.The Champion was powered by a straight-six engine, which measured 169.6 cu-in of displacement. This was enough to give the car 85 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque, which isn’t much, but it was enough to allow the Studebaker to be driven during the weekend, cruising with the family. Many Champion models utilized a three-speed automatic transmission, but a manual version was standard for this car. 1950 Oldsmobile 88 Average Price: $17,582 Bring A Trailer Pure 1950s style showed up in the 1950 Oldsmobile 88, which was offered in a Deluxe Club Coupe or Convertible body style. This car is often considered one of the precursors to the muscle car era, with the Rocket V8 engine under the hood. This is the engine that made the Oldsmobile 88 famous, allowing it to be a glorious car that set new postwar performance marks.A big engine for the time powered the Oldsmobile 88. The Rocket V8 is a 303 cu-in engine that produces 135 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque. This power is sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual transmission, giving drivers the desired feeling from behind the wheel. The Rocket V8 engine with the lighter 88 chassis made it possible for Oldsmobile to win the first NASCAR championship. 1951 Ford Custom Average Price: $16,759 Classic Promenade If you see a classic 1950s hot rod, there’s a good chance the foundational car is a Ford Custom. The use of this car as a project car in modern times has helped keep the market price low, making the Custom an affordable choice. This iconic postwar Ford has chopped-roof hot-rod potential, lots of chrome, and strong fender lines, making it a beautiful car.The 1951 Ford Custom was powered by either an inline-six or flathead V8 engine. The inline-six measured 225 cu-in and produced 95 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque. The V8 engine was bigger at 240 cu-in and delivered 100 horsepower and 187 lb-ft of torque through a three-speed manual transmission. The size and build of the Ford Custom allow many tuners to fit large and powerful modern engines for hot-rodding fun. 1956 Dodge Coronet Average Price: $16,150 HemmingsThe Dodge Coronet was one of the most popular cars of the 1950s, and it was a stunner as well. The crisp grille design and classic shape made this car a fantastic choice. The Coronet is practical, but it was also a gorgeous car when it wore two-tone paint. The Coronet is typically much more affordable than some of the higher-end models from Chrysler, making it easy to drive this beautiful 1950s classic.A Get-Away six-cylinder engine was the starting point for power in the Coronet. This 1956 Dodge engine measured 230 cu-in and produced 131 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque, which was excellent for the time. A Red Ram V8 engine was also offered, giving drivers a 270 cu-in V8 engine that delivered 189 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque to the wheels. Most models utilized a three-speed manual transmission, which was one of the most common transmission choices of the decade. 1952 Ford Crestline Average Price: $16,083 Bring A Trailer Period elegance and tons of chrome make the 1952 Ford Crestline one of the most beautiful classic cars of the 1950s. This car shows off with nice features and some excellent hood ornaments on higher trims. The Crestline was the top trim in the early Ford lineup, with the Mainline being the lower trim. Despite the higher position, a Crestline can be had for a reasonable price.Power for this impressive Ford car came from a 239 cu-in V8 engine that mated to a three-speed manual transmission, sending power to the rear wheels. The Crestline wasn’t a particularly powerful car, but it delivered 110 horsepower and 194 lb-ft of torque, making it easy to drive and enjoy during its heyday. 1955 Chrysler Windsor Average Price: $15,876 Classic.com Big cars were the staple of the 1950s, and the Chrysler Windsor was among them as a large car with beautiful, stately lines and the big-car presence that was expected of the decade. The Windsor was Chrysler’s midrange model, giving buyers a value option in the Chrysler lineup, which was known for being more upscale than Ford or GM products.Power for the Windsor came from a 300 cu-in V8 engine that gave the car plenty of power compared to other cars of the decade. This engine delivered 188 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque to the wheels. The standard setup gave drivers a three-speed manual transmission, but a two-speed PowerFlite automatic transmission was also available. 1956 Hudson Hornet Average Price: $15,403 Classic.com The low-slung profile gives the 1956 Hudson Hornet a sporty look that other cars simply didn’t offer. The step-down construction provided drivers with a lower center of gravity compared to other cars, making it a great choice at the track. The distinctive hood styling stands out as a gorgeous feature of a car that was dominant in stock car racing during the early 1950s, thanks to its low center of gravity and impressive torque figures.A Super Six engine was used in many 1956 Hornet models. This engine is an inline-six layout that measures 308 cubic inches and can produce 175 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. Some of the 1956 Hudson Hornet models used a 320 cu-in V8 engine, which sent 220 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. In either case, drivers had plenty of power on tap for some exciting experiences on the track. 1952 Plymouth Special Deluxe Average Price: $10,501 Unique Classic Cars Bold two-tone paint schemes were a signature part of the 1950s and the 1952 Plymouth Special Deluxe was certainly a candidate for such a paint scheme. These postwar Plymouth cars were ubiquitous, with parts being relatively easy to find, making them affordable and easy to enjoy as classic project cars. This is a fantastic choice when you want a budget-minded classic car.Power for this early decade Plymouth car comes from a 218 cu-in six-cylinder engine that sends 97 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. While not a particularly powerful car, the style, build, and impressive ease with which the Special Deluxe can be rebuilt and enjoyed make it a good option when you’re looking for your first classic project car. 1954 Buick Special Average Price: $5,500 Conceptcarz Classic Buicks are always stylish, attractive, and enjoyable to see. The beauty of Buick’s sweeping side trim gives it a big car presence and an elegant cruiser. Buick cars from this era leaned heavily into luxury trimmings, making them some of the most elegant and sophisticated cars of the time. This has also led to a large supply of Buick cars from the 1950s, which accounts for the extremely affordable pricing.Series 40 models used a 264 cu-in eight-cylinder engine that produced 143 horsepower and 228 lb-ft of torque, while Series 60 models had larger engines, measuring 322 cu-in, that produced 195 horsepower and 302 lb-ft of torque to give drivers more power. Both engines could be had with either a three-speed manual or a two-speed automatic transmission.