The 1940′s were an unusual decade for the automobile industry with the first luxury cars rolling off the production lines. We’ve taken a look at the industry during that time and some of the luxury cars that came about during the historical decade.
The Automobile Industry in the 40′s
Most notably, the US stands out for its automobile industry especially in the 40′s. In 1940, the US produced 4,680,000 cars prior to the Second World War, however, this decade is the only period in which car manufacturing stopped for over 3 years. No cars were produced after 1942 due to World War II, and production for civilians didn’t resume until 1946. The early 1940′s did however see luxury cars rolling off the production lines, with cars showing the wealth and status of their owners. Such cars like the Delahaye 135 Convertible were produced, a car that was the ultimate 40′s luxury vehicle.
World War II saw the conversion of many automotive manufacturing plants to produce military vehicles such as the one-quarter tonne four-wheel drive military vehicle called the Jeep. At the same time Chrysler introduced the safety rim wheel, a wheel that kept the tyre on the rim in the event of a blowout. At this time they also introduced the two-speed electric windscreen wiper. Here’s a look at some of the most memorable cars from the 1940′s:
The Packard Clipper
Produced from 1941 to 1955 by the Packard Motor Car Company, and the Studebaker-Packard Corporation between 1955 and 1957, the Clipper was one of the most luxurious cars available at the time. A huge competitor to Cadillac, Packard’s Clipper was elegantly designed but lost its ‘bathtub’ appearance in the later stages of its production [1].
Delahaye 135 Convertible
Originally produced for the French government, private sales of the 135 Convertible were ceased, however, a small number of Delahaye cars such as the 134, 175 and 168 continued to be built for the occupying forces until 1942, and after World War II production of the 135 resumed.
Car Insurance in the UK
Extremely desirable today, cars from the 1940′s are favoured for their lower, longer and broader look. Purchasing a vehicle from the 40′s takes much consideration and there are a few things to know about car insurance in the UK. For classic cars, insurance differs from the standard car insurance available, yet it is still as easily obtainable. It takes into account that many classic cars may be laid up for restoration or rarely used.
Charlotte Walker writes for MediaVest (Manchester) on a number of topics including car insurance in the UK.
Tags: Auto Insurance, car insurance in the UK, Cars, classic cars, insurance