by Brocker’s Beautys

In the automotive industry, the year 1940 started with a bang. Chrysler had just started selling the Town & Country wagon with seating for nine people and, most famously, the solid wood exterior panels that made this “Woody” famous.

Buick was putting oil filters on all car engines, Cadillac introduced the first V6, and Dodge added Sealed Beam headlights to all their models, which increased visibility. The Lincoln Continental was born, and Oldsmobile introduced the hydramatic automatic transmission.

Then, in 1942, all civilian automobile manufacturing ceased, except for Willy, which began producing Jeeps for military personnel. It wasn’t until 1946 that automobile manufacturers began to generate cars again.

From 1946 to 1949, Cadillac became the car of the jet set crowd and power windows were introduced. High schools started offering driver education classes and Goodrich introduced the tubeless tire. The Thunderbird by Ford hit the consumer market, offering drivers luxury and performance. Plymouth brought “turn key” ignition to low-cost car buyers, and Buick’s Raodmaster and Estate Wagon were favorites among families.

About the author: Brocker’s Beautys is a national classic, antique, and vintage car dealer in Auburn, California. Brocker’s Beautys ships internationally and can be found at www.brockersbeautys.com or by calling 530-885-1045.