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Museums 201: Chevrolet automobiles of the 1940s (photo diary) [1]

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Date: 2025-06-08

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. Beginning January 1, 1942, priority for natural resources went to the military. February 28, 1942, was the last day most civilians could buy a new car until the war ended. To conserve gasoline for the war effort, a national speed limit of 40 mph was established.

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. In 1949, Cadillac and Oldsmobile introduced the modern V8 engine.

About Chevrolet

William C. Durant (1861-1947) envisioned a large automobile company that would manufacture several different automobile makes. Durant founded General Motors Holding Company (GM) in 1908 which consolidated thirteen car companies and ten parts-and-accessories manufacturers. The rapid expansion of the company, however, created a cash shortage and in 1910, Durant was forced out of the company.

Together with Louis Chevrolet (1878-1941) and Arthur Chevrolet (1884-1946), Durant started the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. Using this company, Durant acquired a controlling stake in General Motors, merged it with Chevrolet in 1918, and once again became the GM president.

In the 1920s, GM marketed the Chevrolet to compete with Ford’s Model T and by 1929, Chevrolet overtook Ford as the best-selling car in the United States.

During the 1940s, Chevrolet maintained its position as the best-selling car in the U.S. Chevrolet production for the 1940s are shown below:

1940: 764,616

1941: 1,008,976

1946: 398,028

1947: 671,546

1948: 696,449

1949: 1,010,013

1941 Chevrolet Coup

This car was on display in the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM) in Hood River, Oregon.

1941 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Business Coupe

This car was on display in the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM) in Hood River, Oregon.

1941 Chevrolet Special Deluxe Coupe

This car was on display in the Montana Auto Museum in Deer Lodge, Montana. It was longer, lower, and wider than earlier models; runningboards were replaced with concealing safety steps. It sold for $800.

1941 Chevrolet 2 Door Sedan

This car was on display in the Veterans Car and Motorcycle Show in Vancouver, Washington.

1942 Chevrolet “Blackout” 2-Door Coupe

This car was displayed in the LeMay—America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.

According to the display:

“On December 14, 1941, the government decreed that to conserve scarce metals, all cars built after January 1, 1942 could not use any brightwork apart from chrome-plated bumpers. All cars, including this one, were known as ‘blackouts”. Blackouts of any make are rare; they were only made during January 1942.”

1947 Chevrolet Fleetline

This car was on display in the Veterans Car and Motorcycle Show in Vancouver, Washington.

1948 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery

Sedan Deliveries were used by small businesses. It has an inline 6-cylinder, 292 cubic inch, 210 horsepower engine.

This car was on display in the LeMay Family Collections at Marymount in Tacoma, Washington.

1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Custom Woody Station Wagon

This car was on display at the LeMay Family Collection in Tacoma, Washington. In 1948 only 10,171 of these were produced (less than 1% of the Chevrolet production.)

1949 Chevrolet Fleetline

This car was on display in the Veterans Car and Motorcycle Show in Vancouver, Washington.

More automobiles

Museums 201: Lincoln automobiles of the 1940s (photo diary)

Museums 201: Packard automobiles of the 1940s (photo diary)

Museums 201: Chrysler automobiles of the 1940s (photo diary)

Museums 201: Cadillac automobiles of the 1940s (photo diary)

Museums 201: Studebaker automobiles of the 1950s (photo diary)

Museums 301: Plymouth automobiles of the 1930s (photo diary)

Museums 201: Dodge automobiles of the 1960s (photo diary)

Museums 201: Fords of the 1960s

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