From the perspective of automobile history, the 1940s was an interrupted decade: during World War II, automobile manufacturers turned to making war materials and stopped making cars. Following the War, car sales boomed. For the most part, automobile designs immediately following the War were similar to the pre-war designs. By the end of the decade, new designs were beginning to emerge.
Harold LeMay, a Tacoma businessman, loved cars and managed to collect more than 3,000 automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles over forty years of collecting. A number of the vehicles from his collection form the nucleus of the LeMay—America’s Car Museum. This collection of more than 300 cars, motorcycles, and trucks is displayed in a four-level building in Tacoma, Washington. Shown below are some of the cars of the 1940s displayed in the LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.
1940 LaSalle Series 50 Convertible Coupe
The General Motors LaSalle brand was considered to be a sub-series of Cadillac but priced above a Buick. By the late 1930s, the LaSalles were taking sales away from the entry-level Cadillacs, so the brand was discontinued in 1940. Only 598 Series 50 convertible coupes were produced in 1940. It had a sale price of $1,395.
This car has a V8, 322 cubic inch, 130 horsepower engine with a 3-speed manual transmission.
1940 Chrysler Crown Imperial Limousine
In 1940, Chrysler was tenth in terms of automobile sales and produced 92,419 cars.
According to the Museum:
“The Crown Imperial was introduced in 1940 as the flagship of the Chrysler lineup. This six-passenger limousine has a privacy-glass divider, passenger footrests, and storage compartments built into the back of the front seat. Engineering features include the innovative Fluid Drive transmission designed to minimize use of the clutch, along with automatic overdrive and vacuum-operated brakes. The target market for the Crown Imperial were buyers who considered price secondary to comfort, style, performance and safety. Limousine production totaled 210 cars making this a very rare example.”
The car has an 8-cylinder, 324 cubic inch, 132 horsepower engine.
1942 Ford DeLuxe, 2-Door Club Coupe
The 1942 Fords were actually introduced in 1941. While World War II stopped car production in 1942, Ford was second in car sales and produced 160,432 cars that year.
The Museum describes this as “less car for more money”. With the impending war, prices crept up and there were material shortages.
This care has a V8, 221 cubic inch, 96 horsepower engine with a 3-speed manual transmission.
1946 Packard Clipper Limousine
In 1946, Packard ranked 13th in automobile sales and produced a total of 30,793 cars.
According to the Museum:
“Packard distinguished between two versions: the chauffeur-driven limousine vs. the owner-driven seven-passenger sedan. In back, both had folding jump seats plus a fixed bench seat. This specific car is a seven-passenger sedan. It has the same body as the limousine, but without a partition. The wool-upholstered front seat is adjustable.”
This car has an inline 8-cylinder, 356 cubic inch, 165 horsepower engine with a 3-speed manual transmission.
1947 Lincoln Model 76H, 2-Door Convertible Coupe
In 1947, Lincoln ranked 18th in terms of sales and produced a total of 21,460 cars.
This car has a V12, 292 cubic inch, 125 horsepower engine with a 3-speed manual transmission.
1947 Oldsmobile Dynamic Cruiser Series 78 Deluxe Club Sedan
In 1947, Oldsmobile ranked seventh in terms of sales and produced 193,895 cars. In terms of styling, the 1947 Oldsmobile was nearly identical to the 1945 model.
This car included a rear window wiper, driver-side mirror with thermometer, sun visors with lighted vanity mirrors, a map light, fender skirts, exterior sun visor, dash-mounted traffic light reader, rear window blinds, and a rear window fan.
This car has an 8-cylinder, 257 cubic inch, 110 horsepower engine with a 4-speed transmission.
1948 DeSoto Custom Series Club Coupe
In 1948, DeSoto ranked 12th in terms of sales and produced 98,890 cars. In terms of style, there was little difference between the 1947 models and the 1948 models.
This car has a 6-cylinder, 237 cubic inch engine with a fluid drive transmission.
1949 Buck Super 4-Door Station Wagon
In 1949, Buick was fourth in terms of sales and produced 324, 276 cars. In 1949, Buick’s station wagon used less wood than in previous years. The ventiports or portholes made their appearance this year. The Buick Supers had three portholes while the Roadmasters had four.
This car has an inline 8-cylinder, 248 cubic inch, 115 horsepower engine with an automatic transmission.
More Cars
Car Show: Cars from the 1940s (Photo Diary)
Museums 201: 1948 Automobiles (Photo Diary)
Museums 201: 1941 Automobiles (Photo Diary)
WAAAM: Automobiles of the 1940s (Photo Diary)
Truck Museum: Trucks of the 1940s and 1950s (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: 1940s Fords in the Classic Auto Museum (photo diary)
Museums 101: Automobiles of the 1940s (Photo Diary)
America's Car Museum: Some cars of the 1930s (photo diary)
