American Car Spotters Guide - 1940 |
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The Second World War caused the end of civilian car and truck production in US manufacturers' European plants but domestic production was well up on 1939 and sales totalled 3,717,385 cars and 754,901 trucks and buses (compared with 2,888,512 and 700,377 respectively in 1939).
Most 1940 models had restyled bodywork. Among the innovations were sealed-beam headlights, and concealed running boards were generally adopted.
Military production was also stepped up. In addition to fulfilling European orders for military trucks, production for national defence was increased.
To direct this production, William S. Knudsen, president of General Motors, moved to Washington at the invitation of President Roosevelt. Dodge received contracts for 20,000 trucks for the US Army and the first 'Jeep' was produced by American Bantam.
The Automotive Committee for Air Defense was formed on 30 October to facilitate aircraft production, and Ford and Packard were contracted for the manufacture of Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce Merlin aircraft engines respectively. |
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American Bantam |
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American Bantam, producer of Austin Seven inspired baby cars, was the first to come up with a military ¼-ton 4 x 4 field car. in the summer of 1940. This new type of vehicle became known as "Jeep". |
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Buick |
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Also see: Buick Car Reviews | The History of Buick |
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Buick in 1940 produced well over 300,000 cars in six series: 40 Special, 50 Super, 60 Century, 70 Roadmaster, 80 and 90 Limited, varying in price from US$895 to US$2465. Pictured left is the Series 40 Special Convertible Phaeton Model 41-C. |
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Buick Limited Limousine |
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Also see: Buick Car Reviews | The History of Buick |
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Buick also manufactured two Limited Limousines, the Series 80 with a 133 inch wheelbase, and the Series 90 with a 140 inch wheelbase. |
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Cadillac |
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Also see: Cadillac Car Reviews | The History of Cadillac |
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The Cadillac 1940 line consisted of two LaSalles and five Cadillacs. Included was the Sixty Special which had first been introduced for the 1939 model year. Only the most expensive (US$5140) Cadillac had a V16 engine: all the others had V8s. Pictured left is the Imperial Sedan. |
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Checker |
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Also see: Checker Car Reviews |
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This stylish taxicab was a product of the Checker Cab Co., a specialist taxicab builder since the early 1920s. Maybe its just us, but we reckon the Checker Cabs got a whole lot uglier as the years went on. |
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Chevrolet |
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Also see: Chevrolet Car Reviews | The History of Chevrolet |
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General Motors' 25-millionth car, a Chevrolet sedan, came off the line in 1940. Shown at the ceremony are, from left to right: M. E. Coyle, General Manager of Chevrolet, William S. Knudsen, GM President, Alfred P. Sloan Jr, Chairman of the Board of GM, and Charles E. Wilson, Executive Vice-President of GM. Chevrolet as a Division produced its 16-millionth car in 1940, only ten months after No. 15,000,000. Chevrolet was the world's largest producer of cars and trucks. |
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Chevrolet Special DeLuxe Convertible Series KA |
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Also see: Chevrolet Car Reviews | The History of Chevrolet |
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Chevrolet Special DeLuxe Convertible, Series KA. Engine was a 216 CID 'Stove Bolt Six', wheelbase 113 in. Convertible top was power-operated and actuated by a control on the dashboard. |
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Chevrolet Special DeLuxe Convertible Series KA |
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Also see: Chevrolet Car Reviews | The History of Chevrolet |
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Chevrolet Special DeLuxe Convertible, Series KA. Engine was a 216 CID 'Stove Bolt Six', wheelbase 113 in. Convertible top was power-operated and actuated by a control on the dashboard. |
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Chevrolet Australia |
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Also see: Chevrolet Car Reviews | The History of Chevrolet |
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Australian Chevrolet consisted of a Canadian chassis with Holden bodywork which differed in styling from the parent design. There were two versions: Pullman 1200 and Ridemaster 1000. |
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Chevrolet Australia Wagon |
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Also see: Chevrolet Car Reviews | The History of Chevrolet |
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Australian-built Chevrolet Station Wagon used by Australian Army in Egypt. Official nomenclature: 'Car, 6- Passenger, Utility (Aus)'. Note military features: opening windshield and oversize tires. |
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Chevrolet Master 85 Sport Sedan |
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Also see: Chevrolet Car Reviews | The History of Chevrolet |
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The 1940 Chev's were blessed with the indestructable 'Blue Flame' six-cylinder engine, although it had been re-designed with four main bearings and 3.55-liter engine producing 85 bhp. This engine went into production in a new plant at Tonawanda, New York. One of these engines, in a 1939 Master 85 coupe, played an important role in Chevrolet history. General Motors of Argentina helped a 20-year-old racing driver get a race-prepared car of that type in 1940. The driver, a certain Juan Manuel Fangio, became nationally famous in 1940 when he won the incredible 5900-mile road race from Buenos Aires to Lima, Peru and back again, he and his Chevrolet averaging 53.6 mph over some of the worst roads in the world. In the next two years, Fangio won four major races in a row with his solid-axled coupe. Fangio last raced a Chevrolet at the end of 1949, when his career as a Grand Prix driver was well under way. |
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Chrysler Saratoga |
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Also see: Chrysler Car Reviews | The History of Chrysler |
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Chrysler Saratoga Model C-265 was the performance version of New Yorker (C-26N). It had a 323·5 CID 8-in-line engine. Wheelbase 128½ inches. Along with other Corporation cars, Chrysler adopted the new sealed beam headlights which gave over 50% more light in high beam. At midyear production, a special model called the Highlander was introduced as a closed coupe and convertible. It had authentic Scotch plaid and moleskin leather upholstery. The Saratoga was introduced as a performance version of the New Yorker. Two tone paint combinations became available. |
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Chrysler Crown Imperial |
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Also see: Chrysler Car Reviews | The History of Chrysler |
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Chrysler Crown Imperial Model C-27 was the top-line model on a 145½-in wheelbase. The Crown Imperial had Fluid Drive, overdrive, and Power Brakes as standard equipment. |
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Chrysler Fluid Drive Clutch |
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Also see: Chrysler Car Reviews | The History of Chrysler |
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Fluid Drive hydraulic clutch was available on all Chrysler Corp. cars except Plymouth and Plymouth-based DeSotos and Dodges. Chrysler also introduced safety-rim wheels and two-leading-shoe front brakes. |
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DeSoto |
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Also see: The History of DeSoto |
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DeSoto came in two series: the S-7 DeLuxe (pictured left) and Custom with 122½-in wheelbase, and a special export version SP-9 with 117½-inch wheelbase. The latter was mechanically similar to the Plymouth. Engines were CID 201·3 and 217·8 respectively. |
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Dodge |
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Also see: Dodge Car Reviews | The History of Dodge |
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Dodge had three model ranges: D-14 Luxury Liner DeLuxe (119½- and 139-inch wheelbase), 0-1 5 (117½-inch wheelbase export model, based on Plymouth) and 0-17 Luxury Liner Special (119½-inch wheelbase). |
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Ford |
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Also see: Ford Car Reviews | The History of Ford |
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Ford produced its 28-millionth vehicle on the 8th April 1940. There were three car chassis: the basic 022A 60 HP, the 01 A Standard 85 HP and the 01A DeLuxe 85 HP (all V8s), and 12 body styles. |
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Ford DeLuxe Fordor / Marmon Herrington All Wheel Drive |
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Also see: Ford Car Reviews | The History of Ford |
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Ford Model 01A-738 DeLuxe Fordor with Marmon-Herrington all-wheel drive conversion serving as military staff car in South America. |
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Hudson Super Six |
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Also see: The History of Hudson |
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Hudson Six Coupe had 92-bhp engine. 113-in wb. A sedan set new AAA records for endurance by travelling 20,327 miles at an average of 70·5 mph at Bonneville, Utah. |
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Hudson Eight Convertible Coupe |
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Also see: The History of Hudson |
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Hudson Eight Convertible Coupe. In 1940 Hudson introduced coil-spring IFS and Weathermaster fresh air and heat control. |
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Hudson Eight Australian Ambulance |
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Also see: The History of Hudson |
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Australian Army Hudson Eight with ambulance bodywork. |
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Hupmobile |
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Also see: The History of Hupmobile |
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Hupmobile Skylark sedan shared bodywork with Graham's Hollywood. The body dies were acquired from Cord after that company ceased operating, but unlike the Cord these cars had conventional rear wheel drive. |
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LaSalle |
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LaSalle, Cadillac's lower-price line, was discontinued in 1940. In its last year there were two series: the 40-50 and 40-60, the four-passenger coupes of which sold at US$1240 and US$1380 respectively. Both had V8 engines. |
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Lincoln |
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Also see: Lincoln Car Reviews | The History of Lincoln |
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Lincoln, Ford's luxury marque, came in two basic models, the 06H Zephyr and the top-line Continental. The Continental Cabriolet cost US$2840. Engines were V12. Pictured left is the Lincoln-Zephyr Coupe. |
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Mercury |
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Also see: Mercury Car Reviews | The History of Mercury |
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Mercury, Ford's medium price range, was in its second model year. The 100,000th Mercury was produced on 18 January Designated 09A. All 1940 models had a 116-inch wheelbase and there were five body styles. Pictured left is the 09A-74 Convertible Sedan. |
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Nash Ambassador |
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Also see: Nash Car Reviews | The History of Nash |
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The Nash Ambassador Eight Model 4081 Convertible had 125-in wb Cheapest Nash products were LaFayettes (from $795). with 117-inch wheelbase. After 1940 these were replaced by the '600' line. |
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Oldsmobile Series 76 Sedan |
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Also see: Oldsmobile Car Reviews | The History of Oldsmobile |
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Oldsmobile Series 60 Club Coupe. Olds offered three series: 60, 70 and 90. Total production in 1940 was 215,028 units and the Hydramatic four-speed automatic transmission was offered as optional equipment for all models. |
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Packard |
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Also see: Packard Car Reviews | The History of Packard |
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The Packard 110 was lowest-price Packard. A DeLuxe version was added for 1940. It sold for US$1116 as compared with US$1056 for the 110 Special (both 100-bhp 6-cyl. four-door sedans). Packard also introduced an Electromatic Clutch 120 Packard, which differed from 110 mainly in having an 8-cylinder engine (4·62-liter, 120 bhp). The wheelbase was 127inches (122 inches for the 110). The Touring sedan pictured left cost $1261. Packard also offered the 160 and 180 Super Eight models. |
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Plymouth |
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Also see: Plymouth Car Reviews | The History of Plymouth |
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Plymouth offered two basic ranges: P-9 Road King and P-10 DeLuxe. Both had 117½ inch wheelbase and 201·3 CID 84-bhp six-cylinder engine. An 87-bhp engine was optional, as was an economy power unit with low 5.2:1 compression ratio, developing 65 bhp. The P-9 was also available as DeSoto and Dodge, with different front end styling. |
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Pontiac |
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Also see: Pontiac Car Reviews | The History of Pontiac |
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Pontiac DeLuxe Two-Door Touring Sedan, Series 26 (6-cyl.) and 28 (8-cyl). Like Oldsmobile, Pontiac used the same basic frame for both the 6 or 8-cylinder engines. Supporting the radiator frame or using a longer fan shroud made up the difference in shorter engine. In addition to the 120-inch wheelbase 26 and 28, there were 117-inch wheelbase Special Six, Series 25, and 122-inch wheelbase Torpedo Eight Series 29, models. |
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Studebaker Commander |
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Also see: Studebaker Car Reviews | The History of Studebaker |
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Studebaker Commander and President were similar in appearance except for nameplates and wheel hub covers. The Commander had a 6-cylinder 226 CID engine and 116½-inch wheelbase, while the President had a 8-in-line 250 CID engine, 122-inch wheelbase. Front suspension was independent with transversal leaf spring. |
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Willys |
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Also see: Willys Car Reviews | The History of Willys |
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Willys offered this compact 102-in wb Model 440 sedan with alligator-type hood (bonnet) and front-hinged doors. Several other body styles were available. |
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