Round openings follow the "form follows function" belief system of early modernist architects and industrial designers. They usually look nice, and are seen occasionally today on cars such as the 2005 and later Chrysler 300 sedans.
There were only a few early-mid 1950s American examples of round rear wheel openings on passenger cars. These are the subject of this post. Sports cars are not dealt with. Images are of cars for sale unless noted.
Gallery
1950 Lancia Aurelia B10
A number of Italian sports cars from around 1950 had round rear wheel openings, but these were rare on sedans. The Lancia pictured here does have them.
1951 Chrysler K-310
Chrysler's Virgil Exner was a fan of Italian automobile styling, and used round wheel openings on this, his first concept car.
1953 Packard Caribbean
Packard's Caribbean convertible was one of the first American production passenger cars to have rounded openings. But only for the 1953 model year.
1953 Buick Skylark - Mecum auction photo
Buick's sporty line-leading convertible for '53 was the Skylark. It too has round rear wheel openings.
1954 Buick Super Riviera hardtop coupe - Mecum
General Motors launched a sensational (at the time) futuristic 1954 redesign for Oldsmobiles, Buicks and Cadillacs. Only Buick hardtops and convertibles received round openings.
1955 Buick Century 4-door hardtop
When Buick offered a four-door hardtop the following year on Specials and Centurys, they too got round openings. The same applied in 1956 on Super and Roadmaster four-door hardtops.
1955 Imperial 4-door sedan
Chrysler's Imperial brand cars all had round rear wheel openings for the 1955 and 1956 model years. As best I can tell, the only American four-door sedans of that era with that feature were Imperials.
There were only a few early-mid 1950s American examples of round rear wheel openings on passenger cars. These are the subject of this post. Sports cars are not dealt with. Images are of cars for sale unless noted.
A number of Italian sports cars from around 1950 had round rear wheel openings, but these were rare on sedans. The Lancia pictured here does have them.
Chrysler's Virgil Exner was a fan of Italian automobile styling, and used round wheel openings on this, his first concept car.
Packard's Caribbean convertible was one of the first American production passenger cars to have rounded openings. But only for the 1953 model year.
Buick's sporty line-leading convertible for '53 was the Skylark. It too has round rear wheel openings.
General Motors launched a sensational (at the time) futuristic 1954 redesign for Oldsmobiles, Buicks and Cadillacs. Only Buick hardtops and convertibles received round openings.
When Buick offered a four-door hardtop the following year on Specials and Centurys, they too got round openings. The same applied in 1956 on Super and Roadmaster four-door hardtops.
Chrysler's Imperial brand cars all had round rear wheel openings for the 1955 and 1956 model years. As best I can tell, the only American four-door sedans of that era with that feature were Imperials.
Somehow I never noticed the 1955 Imperial wheel openings. They are more squared off on Chryslers so not just the rear but front fenders had to be different on the low production Imperials. The Chrysler rear door shape has enough room for the Imperial wheel opening probably so that didn't have to also be special for the Imperial. The facelifted '56 Imperials have wheel openings similar to the Chrysler and probably used the same front fenders, but '56 Imperials have a 3" longer wheelbase (133") that puts a few extra inches between the back door and the wheel opening. I didn't think Chrysler was putting as much trouble and money into differentiating the Imperials of that time. (Now I want a '55.)
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