THE STORY OF THE DECADE

The cliche is that the ’50s is the era of fat drivers and skinny tires. Perhaps. But more than anything, the decade is the apex of the old-world masters. Juan Fangio chases four world titles in a row in little more than street clothes, all while being hounded by geniuses like Stirling Moss and Alberto Ascari (pictured). Their cars evolve quickly, closing the door on the front-engine era, but also the era of driver as visible artisan, arms and upper body exposed and visibly working. F1 cars won’t make Alfetta levels of power again until the engines are behind the driver and slicks and wings are the norm. The human in the car will get smaller, better trained (and thinner), but never more romantic.