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Buick 1945
The new Buick it's big it's beautiful swift clean lines 12,000 parts to make it and a fireball straight eight engine, with aerofoil fenders and lines
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Buick Model 71 Roadmaster Sedan $1,359 1940
Buick Roadmaster Sedan $1,822 1946
Buick changes and models for each year
1940 ----- Oil Filters fitted on all engines
1941 ----- Engines tuned for more horsepower with compound carburation
1942 ----- Buick suspends civilian operations till war ends
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Cadillac 48
Cadillac the new standard of the world using Cadillacs high standard of manufacturing and quality look at the new style and quality
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Cadillac 1949
Prices from $3,497
Cadillac series 62 Coupe De Ville new for 1949
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Cadillac 1940 The New Cadillac 61
Prices from $1345
The new Cadillac 61 the value sensation of the century for hundreds of dollars less and includes the latest V8 Engine
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Cadillac 1947
The Cadillac you have been waiting for is worth the wait
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Cadillac 1946
The New 1946 Cadillac More beautiful and luxury and powered by the great Victory Engine and hydomatic gearbox for smoothness, quietness and quickness of power
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Cadillac Sedan $1,745 1940
Cadillac Coupe De Ville $3,497 1949
Cadillac La Salle $1,240 1940
Cadillac changes and models for each year
1940 ----- Cadillac is the first to introduce a V16 engine the first in the industry
1942 ----- Cadillac suffers from deep depression with less sales across its range
1943 ----- All Models get Hydraulic Brakes as standard
1948 ----- Revolutionary Sixty Special Debuts to critical acclaim
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Chevrolet 1940
Prices From $659
The new Chevrolet Clipper with exclusive vacuum power shift , silent valve in head engine, synchromesh transmission, new sealed beam headlights
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Chevrolet 1947
Fleetmaster 4 door sedan Big Car Quality at lowest cost , big car styling, big car comfort it's extra roomy and the latest valve in head performance
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Chevrolet 1948
Chevrolet is first for value and performance and comfort Big-car quality at lowest cost
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Chevrolet 1946
Now you can have big car styling at the lowest cost
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Chevrolet Station Wagon $903 1940
Chevrolet Fleetmaster $1,280 1946
Chevrolet changes and models for each year
1940 ----- The first use of Plastic parts on a car and stainless steel trim
1941 ----- Pickup Trucks redesigned with optional 93 hp engine
1942 ----- Chevrolet suspends civilian operations till war ends
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Chrysler 1940
The new Chrysler Highlander with automatic top simply touch a button and it glides away
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Chrysler New Yorker $1,385 1941
Chrysler Windsor 6 $3,206 1949
Chrysler Price List 1948
Chrysler Royal Coupe $2057
Royal 8 passenger sedan $2752
Chrysler Windsor Coupe $2125
Windsor Traveler Sedan $2463
Chrysler Saratoga Coupe $2395 <
Saratoga 4 door sedan $2521
Chrysler New Yorker Coupe $2515
New Yorker 4 door sedan $2641
Chrysler Town and Country $3678
Crown Imperial $4821
Chrysler changes and models for each year
1940 ----- Traveler Debuts as low end eight cylinder alternative
1942 ----- Chrysler suspends civilian operations till war ends
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Dodge model 30 1949
The dodge that dares to be different longer on the inside , wider on the inside higher on the inside and with the famous dodge getaway engine more knee room doors open extra wide for ease of getting in and out
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Dodge 1940
Prices From $860
The Deluxe Luxury Liner 2 door sedan with 87 HP motor
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Dodge truck 1948
Dodge trucks with ease of handling comfort for drivers and extra safety the finest trucks ever built
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Dodge D17 $755 1940
Dodge 2 Door Sedan $1,676 1946
Dodge changes and models for each year
1940 ----- Sealed Beam headlights added to all models
1941 ----- Turn signals offered as option on all models
1942 ----- Dodge suspends civilian operations till war ends
1946 ----- Cars are given major styling changes
1948 ----- Prices increase
1949 ----- Low Priced Wayfarers ride a shorter wheelbase
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Ford 1946
Prices From $1,553
Ford Super Deluxe Station Wagon 6 cylinder
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Ford 1949
Ford the only low priced car with a 100HP V8 engine feel the power of the V8 today
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Ford 1949
Prices From $2,119
The dream wagon with 2 doors and heart of steel perfect for families
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Ford 1942
A beautiful new Ford 6 or 8 cylinder with advanced ride and handling and comfort inside
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Ford 1940
The Ford Tudor Sedan
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Ford 1948
Ford now comes with a choice of 100 HP Super V8 or the 90 HP straight six with all the comfort you expect from a ford
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Ford Super Deluxe 1947
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Ford Deluxe Fordor $808 1940
Ford Custom $1,472 1949
Ford Deluxe Model 3 passenger coupe $1076 1947
Ford Deluxe Model 2 door sedan $1130 1947
Ford Super Deluxe Model 3 passenger coupe $11851947
Ford Super Deluxe 4 door sedan $12551947
Ford Station Wagon $1525 1947
Ford Sportsman $1931 1947
Ford changes and models for each year
1942 ----- Ford suspends civilian operations till war ends
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Hillman Minx 1948
The Hillman Minx from the rootes group of England sold in 119 countries with the reputation of the small car with the big car feeling and 35 miles to the gallon
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Hillman New Minx 1949
The new Hillman minx with independent front suspension , finger flick gear shift and air conditioning and British craftsmanship
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Hudson 6 Deluxe Touring Sedan 1940
Prices From $835
The best for economy and performance made to drive in the 40's and with 29 mpg it's the best in its class for economy built in radio grille
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Hudson 1949
Prices From $2381
Ride the most beautiful most roomy most road worthy most "all round performance car in America" the new Hudson
Hudson Country Club Sedan $952 1940
Hudson Commodore 6 < $1,896 1947
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Buick 1946
The engine decreased in power due to stopping compound carburation but still had 144 HP
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Willys 48 Jeep Station Sedan
The new Willys Jeep station sedan a distinctive passenger car with luxurious riding plus the extra spaciousness and comfort of an all steel station wagon body with seating for six and it's Willys overland 6 engine and gas saving overdrive and more legroom for drivers and passengers
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Lincoln Zephyr Continental 1942
V type 12 cylinder engine prodives the ultimate in power and liquamatic drive with automatic gearshift and rich interior appointments in coupe club coupe and convertible coupe models
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Lincoln 1946
The new Lincoln precision engineering brilliantly styled and a smooth ride
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Lincoln Cosmopolitan 1949
A one piece curved windshield with unsurpassed viability and smooth V type 8 is the last word in reliability the luxury car you deserve
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Lincoln Cosmopolitan $3,186 1949
Lincoln Zephyr $1,439 1940
Lincoln changes and models for each year
1940 ----- Birth of the Lincoln Continental as part of the Zephyr Lineup
1942 ----- Lincoln suspends civilian operations till war ends
1946 ----- Zephyr name dropped and power windows added on all models
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MG 1949
This racy handmade British sports car that does 93 mph with it's dual carburated 60 hp engine
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MG 1947
MG TC 80 mph and a thrilling drive
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Nash 1940
Prices from $999
The great new Nash Terrific pickup from 15MPH to 50MPH in less than 15 seconds sealed beam lights and all helps this car to say goodbye to winter and arrow straight steering
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Nash 600 and the Ambassador 1946
Nash 600 with the front seat nearly 5 ft wide and the back can me made as big as a double bed at night with a new standard of performance
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Nash 1948
from $1,478
The Nash 600 series with the best fuel economy in its class
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Nash Airflyte 1948
Nash Airflyte the worlds first car with cockpit control nearly 17ft long twin beds for daytime naps and air conditioned air
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Nash changes and models for each year
1940 ----- Sleeper conversions offered on all sedans Air heating inside car Weather Eye
1941 ----- Coil Springs offered on all 4 wheels
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Oldsmobile 1949
The new Oldsmobile with futuramic styling and the new 130 HP high compression rocket engine
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Oldsmobile 1941
Styled to lead styled to last with no clutch and no shift with new fastback styling
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Oldsmobile 1948
The new 98 series with hyrda-matic and futuramic for the dramatic new design for the future
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Oldsmobile 1947
The 1947 Oldsmobile the smart choice to buy with it's long flowing lines its beautifully tailored interior and hydromatic drive that shifts gears through 4 forward gears and eliminates the clutch pedal
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Oldsmobile 1946
After the war effort Americas oldest car manufacturer is rolling again with it's new hydromatic drive
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Oldsmobile 10 Series $963 1940
Oldsmobile Station Wagon $2,456 1947
Oldsmobile changes and models for each year
1940 ----- Hydromatic Automatic transmission introduced saving 10% fuel
1941 ----- 50% of all cars now have the new Hydromatic Automatic transmission
1942 ----- Oldsmobile suspends civilian operations till war ends
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Packard 1941
Prices From $907
The class of 41 provides smoothness of air-glide and T-Flex suspension
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Packard 1940
Prices From $1038
Packard 120 with straight eight enthusiasm and 120 HP
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Packard 1946
Americas Finest Pleasure Car and the smoothest lines today
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Packard 1948
Prices From $2274
1949 Packard eight 4 door sedan
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Packard Clipper 1942
Prices from $1,116
Clipper built for style, for quality and with great fuel economy and electromatic drive
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Packard changes and models for each year
1941 ----- New semiautomatic clutch "electromatic" and new overdrive "aero-drive" and factory installed air conditioning option offered
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Plymouth 1940 Station Wagon
Prices From $970
Deluxe Westchester Station Wagon
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Plymouth Coupe 1940
Prices From $655
Plymouth Coupe 1940 Basic Model
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Plymouth 1949
Now with the famous air pillow ride safety rim wheels and hydraulic brakes with the largest bumpers on front and rear and a redesigned instrument panel
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Plymouth 1946
The stand out car in low cost field husky and handsome and outstanding smartness and luxury
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Plymouth 1947
Prices from $1271
The new Plymouth is the greatest ever built by Chrysler for long life and low upkeep costs the lowest price 3 passenger coupe built today
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Plymouth 1949
Prices from $2,360
Full size woody wagon 8 passengers removable seats
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Plymouth Roadking $645 1940
Plymouth P15 Club Coupe $1,445 1947
Plymouth Deluxe Coupe $1460 1948
Plymouth Deluxe 4 door sedan $1554 1948
Plymouth Special Deluxe Coupe $1547 1948
Plymouth Special Deluxe 4 door sedan $1636 1948
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Pontiac 1941
The new Pontiac Torpedo with fastback styling and 90HP engines
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Prices From $940
Pontiac 1940
The Deluxe 4 door touring sedan
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Pontiac 1949
with the GM Hydromatic drive with fifteen beautiful models to choose from now makes the new car the most beautiful thing on wheels
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Pontiac 1948
Pontiac make the sweetest performing cars with economical 6 and 8 cylinder engines hydraulic brakes and true safety steering and the grill shows the width and massiveness of the car
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Pontiac 1942
The new Pontiac sixes and eights with triple cushioned ride and front wheel brakes have been increased in size and new streamlined sedan coupe
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Pontiac Metropolitan Torpedo Six $932 1941
Pontiac Torpedo Deluxe $1,731 1948
Pontiac changes and models for each year
1940 ----- Sealed Beam headlights added to all models and new two tone color option added
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Pontiac 1942
The new Pontiac sixes and eights with triple cushioned ride and front wheel brakes have been increased in size and new streamlined sedan coupe
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Studebaker 1949
The new miracle ride the newest motoring thrill for the next look in cars ready for the 50's
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Studebaker 1940
Prices From $660
Studebaker Champion with distinction and save up to 25% per mile with our new fuel efficient engine
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Studebaker Champion $660 1940
Studebaker Commander $2,078 1948
Studebaker President $1,260 1941
Studebaker changes and models for each year
1941 ----- Colors for paint and upholstery options increased
1942 ----- suspends civilian operations till war ends
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Willys 440 series $495 1940
Willys Station Wagon $1560 1946
Willys Jeepster $1760 1948
Willys changes and models for each year
1940 ----- First Station Wagons produced
1942 ----- suspends civilian operations till war ends and turns to Wartime Jeep production
In 1940 pre World War II. the US produced 4,680,000 cars.
This is the first time luxury car's started rolling off a production line. A car showed the wealth and status of it owner. Cars like the Delahaye 135 convertible whose top speeds reached 95 mph or 153kph, the Delahaye was the ultimate 1940 luxury car.
The 1941-42 Packard Clipper was another luxury car produced pre war.
The 1941 Nash was the first English car massed produced with unibody construction.
The jeep was first mass produced in the 1940's for the US armed forces.
The Ford motor company produced a number of cars like the v-8 deluxe coupe that went for the price of about 650 dollars. The ford V8 deluxe four door Sedan which went for around 750 dollars, included and were fitted with sealed beam head lights on the deluxe models, and had chrome headlight trim rings, and parking lights.
Before the US entered the war the automobile capital was St Louis MO, later Detroit MI became the leader in the automotive industry.
A new car back in 1940s was about 800 dollars and a gallon of gas was whooping 18 cents.
On average most cars got about 15 to 20 miles per gallon.
In 1941 the Chrysler Company started production of the luxury oriented Town & Country wagon . This car was the precursor to the modern-day mini van. The Town & Country Wagon like the Mini Van featured an optional 9 passenger seating, a rear hatch,and was the first to include genuine wood exterior panels. The Town & Country Wagon was the original "woody". This car made a huge splash with the public especially during the postwar era. The popular convertible version hit the highways in 1949 with a starting price of 3,970 dollars.
On Feb.9,1942 all the automotive production stopped and the entire US industry started making products for the military to help the troops over seas.
The war had an effect on the auto industry and Chrysler halted its production and, the company then diverted its attention to the war effort. Until the war ended in 1945 Chrysler factories & employees made everything from engines for b29 Super fortress to Pershing tanks,and 40mm trailer mounted anti aircraft guns. The projects completed by Chrysler for the military valued more then 3.4 billion dollars between 1940-1949.
In 1943 no civilian vehicles were produced, and in 1944 few light civilian trucks were produced. Finally in 1945 the war production board announced that the re conversion of civilian motor vehicles could begin on July 1st.
By 1946 the first radio telephones were used in cars, and the first power operated windows were introduced
For the first time drivers education was being offered at the many high schools.
In 1948 the Plymouth suburban was introduced, and Chrysler adopted the new method of starting the engine with an ignition key. At the end of the 40s a gallon of gas 26 cents. And after the end of World War II the auto industry was soaring as more and more people wanted to own cars.
Turn Signals started to appear on production cars in the 1940's
Some examples of car prices in the 1940's and how much it cost for a new car
Buick Model 71 Roadmaster Sedan $1,359 1940
Buick Roadmaster Sedan $1,822 1946
Cadillac Sedan $1,745 1940
Cadillac Coupe De Ville $3,497 1949
Cadillac La Salle $1,240 1940
Chevrolet Station Wag0n $903 1940
Chevrolet Fleetmaster $1,280 1946
Chrysler New Yorker $1,385 1941
Chrysler Windsor 6 $3,206 1949
De Soto 2 dr Custom Coupe $885 1940
De Soto Custom Convertible $2,578 1949
Dodge D17 $755 1940
Dodge 2 Door Sedan $1,676 1946
Ford Deluxe Fordor $808 1940
Ford Custom $1,472 1949
Frazer Nash Airflyte $1,786 1949
Frazer Nash Ambassador $1,085 1940
Frazer Nash Standard Sedan $2,295 1947
Hudson Country Club Sedan $952 1940
Hudson Commodore 6 $1,896 1947
Lee Francis Sports Roadster $1,240 1948
Lincoln Cosmopolitan $3,186 1949
Lincoln Zephyr $1,439 1940
Mercury Club Convertible $1,079 1940
Oldsmobile 10 Series $963 1940
Oldsmobile Station Wagon $2,456 1947
Packard Clipper 110 $1,116 1942
Plymouth Roadking $645 1940
Plymouth P15 Club Coupe $1,445 1947
Pontiac Metropolitan Torpedo Six $932 1941
Pontiac Torpedo DeLuxe $1,731 1948
Studebaker Champion $660 1940
Studebaker Commander $2,078 1948
Studebaker President $1,260 1941
Willys 440 series $495 1940
Willys Station Wagon $1560 1946
Willys Jeepster $1760 1948
1940's Cars Information
Some of the type of advertising for cars available in the 1940's
Ford Mercury Cars V Type 100HP 8 Cylinder Engine
Chrysler Cars 140hp new airflow bodies
Mercury 8 V8 engine an economical car
Federal Trucks Make Trucks of all kinds for supporting the war
Goodrich Manufacturers first Tubeless Tyre
The Beautiful Chrysler for 1947
Chevrolet brings you better breaks surer steering and with smooth graceful styling
More Makes and Models from the 1940's
Austin A40
Buick Roadmaster
Cadillac Series 62
Cadillac Fleetwood
Chrysler New Yorker
Dodge Coronet
Ford Model A
Ford Prefect
Ford Flathead V8
Ford Mustang
Hillman Minx
Lincoln Continental
Mercedes 340
MG TC
Morris 8 Series E
Oldsmobile Fastback
Oldsmobile series 66
Studebaker Roadster
Ford Anglia