In this edition of The Year in Cars we look at 1942, the shortest year in Motor City auto production but an interesting and important one.
In the 1942 model year, automobile production was capped at barely one million units when civilian manufacturing was suspended early in February. Volume had topped 3.6 million vehicles in 1941, a figure the car biz would not match again until 1949. Following Pearl Harbor, the industry’s entire output was focused on military production, creating what President Franklin Roosevelt called the “arsenal of democracy.” It was the most awesome industrial war machine the world had ever seen.
Of the handful of passenger cars manufactured in January ’42, many used painted rather than plated exterior trim, as chromium was declared a strategic material. Extremely rare today, these vehicles are known as blackout or victory models. Starting on January 1, sales of all new vehicles were strictly rationed, with the remaining inventories stockpiled and slowly meted out over the balance of the war for military and strategic civilian use.
Lost in all these momentous events were the 1942 models themselves. The new DeSoto featured hidden headlamps, an almost-industry first preceded by Cord in 1936. The fastback torpedo look at General Motors was now in full flower, creating a slick, pseudo-aerodynamic profile that would stick into the early ’50s. Fenders were disappearing into the bodies, and the traditional vertical radiator was evolving into horizontal grillwork spread across the front of the car. Harley Earl termed this development “catwalk cooling.”
The 1942 model year created some handsome cars—a good thing in retrospect, since Americans would be looking at them for some years to come. New car production would not resume until MY 1946. And with a few exceptions, the ’46-’48 cars were mildly facelifted ’41-42 models. So here, essentially, are the cars America was driving through much of the ’40s. Gallery below.
The lede illustration is the coolest car I’ve ever seen. It looks like something out of a comic book.
In the spring of 1941, 8 or 9 months before Pearl Harbor and the U.S.’ entry into the war, the heads of the Big 3 car companies announced that due to all of their government contracts for military purposes, there would be no new 1943 models, they simply didn’t have the engineering manpower to do it. A lot of the conversion to military production started before the war. Construction of the Detroit Tank Arsenal in Warren, MI, which was owned by the government but operated by Chrysler, was started in 1940 and completed in early 1941.
So in any case, the 1942 models were going to be the last new car designs for the duration of the war.
It’s a shame that real ’42 DeSotos don’t look nearly as sleek as the one i n that drawing.
Great points. Ground was broken on Willow Run in April 1941, eight months before Pearl Harbor. The Packard Merlin engine plant at Harper and Concord was built in ’40-41 and began production in Aug ’41. The American Propeller plant (now Toledo Hydramatic) was begun in July. Willys had nearly 10,000 Jeeps built before the end of ’41. America was inexorably drawn into the war.
To me, the war effort is one of the most remarkable achievements in American history. When you consider what they accomplished and how quickly, and with only pencil and paper, no computers….
No frivolity or fun in these designs. Even though the war hadn’t reached our shores when these cars were drawn, its impact on our society was undeniable.
Artists’ renderings of cars always exaggerated “longer, lower, wider” well into the 1960s. The real cars seem almost dumpy by comparison. A photo or drawing timeline by decade (1910, 20, 30, etc) of each make and/or model would be most instructive. Harley Earle sure did push the envelope with his Buicks a good 10 years ahead in styling, thanks to the Y job.
this helped me a lot!
Picked up a rare find! A original private owned 1942 Super Deluxe Ford. This car is in tack with Federal Stamps still on the windshield. Need help understanding how to deal with it.
James, If it is as original as you say and driveable, be very careful changing anything. Check out the Early Ford V8 Club and either join ( recommended) or attended a national meet and enter the rouge class. You will be judged on originality and helpful suggestions on maintaining it will be available. Ask questions of knowledgable people on the clubs forum. Congratulations on owning a somewhat rare car. Let me know, if I can be of help. Ron.
A very nice display of the 1942 model year automobiles. I am partial to the BUICK. When I was a baby in 1954 my oldest brother gave my Dad a 42 Buick Roadmaster model 71. It was a freak! That Straight Eight Engine would pull a 7% grade very well with a load of 3 adults, 3 children, a dog, and 10, 50lb bags of potatoes. It left a 48 Dodge with only 2 adults in it, in the wind! It turned out to be a family legend, it was nick named. The Green Hornet, you can find a photo of this Green Hornet, and my Brother by typing in My Dad’s 1942 Roadmaster.
I have always thought that the designs for the 1942 model-year were amongst the most attractive ever. I still think so – especially with respect to the grilles,and the general front-end aspects. I have always loved those attractive 1942 grilles,particulary the grilles on the Studebaker,the Mercury,and the DeSoto. The wrap-around effect on the Chryslers is entrancing-maybe even a bit strange,but certainly bold and daring. Automatic gear-change certainly came to the fore for 1942,what with the Hudson “Drive-Master” , the Lincoln and Mercury “Liquamatic” and the Studebaker “Turbomatic”,even though the latter two by most accounts didn’t seem quite to work out for one reason or another. Of course,the GM ” Hydramatic” was already well established even before the 1942 model-year. The U.S. cars for 1942 have always been amongst my very favourites,as there was so much happening in that model-year.
In contrast, I think th ’42 models were the homliest, ever.
What about 1945 models?Were there still 1942 civilian models to be had?.
I have a 1942 civilian model with 10,000 miles on it. Know the history of it also. It still has the federal stamps on the windshield. It is still like it was when I got it. Need some advice on what to do with it.
Love my 1942 Buick Century,only 3319 built before WWII,a true American car.
The 42 Buick Century was a Roadmaster hidden in a Special body. They were sleepers for their time, and a very beautiful looking car. I guess you could say they were one of the mussel cars of 1942. The Century didn’t return until 1954. The 320 Straight Eight was a very dependable power plant. Those were certainly true American cars to say the least.
Anthony C.