In hindsight neither the DC-7C or L-1649 were very good investments for the airlines that bought them and it seems even Howard Hughes realised this prior to delivery. Nonetheless they did look awesome and were a fitting end to the pistonliner era:
Trans World Airlines Lockheed L-1649 Starliner by rstretton, on Flickr
Trans World Airlines Lockheed L-1649 Starliner by rstretton, on Flickr