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 Welcome To The 1920's

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Facts of the 1940's

1940 The department of wartime came up with a one-quarter ton four wheel drive military vehicle called the Jeep. WWII caused the conversion of many U.S. automobile branch plants, to military production. Chrysler introduced a safety rim wheel that kept the tire on the rim in case of a blowout. Chrysler offered two-speed electric windshield wipers.

1941

The new models had a lower, longer, broader, and more massive look. Grilles were wider, bumpers heavier, and running boards were either absent of concealed. Hudson offered a combination automatic clutch with a semi-automatic transmission. The driver could select either the manual or semi-automatic shift with buttons on the dash.

1942

All auto companies halted production of civilian passenger cars on Feb, 9. They all started production of war products including anti-aircraft guns, combat cars, machine guns, aircraft engines, Jeeps, shells, helmets, tanks, and many other products that would help troops over seas.

1943

No civilian cars were produced.

1944

In November the War Production Board authorized manufacture of the first light civilian trucks since early 1942.

1945

On May 11 the War Production Board announced that reconversion to motor vehicle production could begin July 1.

Summary of the Automotive Industry's War Production The automotive industry contributed more material to the armed services of the U.S. and Allies than any other single industry. It supplied 92% of all scout cars and carriers, 87% of the aircraft bombs, 85% of the steel helmets, 75% of the aircraft engines, 57% of the tanks, 56% of the carbines, 50% of the diesel engines, 47% of the machine guns, 10% of the land mines, and 3% of the marine mines. By the end of the war almost $29 billion worth of products for war had been delivered. 1946 Radio telephones were used in motor vehicles. Power operated windows were introduced. Willys-Overland Motors, Inc., introduced a seven passenger Jeep all steel station wagon.

1947

Driver education courses were offered in many high schools.

1948

Goodrich introduced tubeless tires.

Facts of the 1950's 1950 Nash-Kelvinator introduced the Rambler series, and offered seat belts.

1951

Automotive companies strted to use new methods and materials in producing carsThe 100,000,000th passenger car produced in the U.S. came out in December.

1953

Motor vehicles were used in an atomic bomb test in Nevada during March to determine the effects for civilian defense data.

Production started on Chevrolet's plastic laminated fiberglass body sports car, the Corvette.

• 1953 Corvette

The number of V-8 engines out numbered V-6 engines in passenger cars for the first time.

1954

1. Some cars introduced during that year included Packard's fiberglass sports model, the Panther; a gas turbine-powered XP-21 Firebird by General Motors; and Ford's two-passenger Thunderbird.
2. Louis Matter of San Diego, California and two friends completed the first non stop motor trip from Anchorage, Alaska to Mexico City, Mexico, a distance of 6,391 miles.

1955

1. Safety door latches to help prevent doors from being forced open in collisions were made standard equipment.
2. Michigan was the first state to require a course in driver education before licenses could be issued to youths under 18.

1956

1. General Motors displayed a free piston engine which burned any type of fuel from high octane gas to whale oil, peanut oil, and other vegetable fats.

1957

1. The Dual Headlamp System (four lamps) was adopted by nearly all makes.
2. An exterior side mirror with adjustment controls inside the car was available on the Lincoln-Continental and Cadillac.

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

1958

1. General Moters engineered a car that was called the Firebird III, it was an exparametnal car. This car had a single-stick control system, this eliminated the steering wheel, brake pedal, and accelerator pedal.
2. Ford Moter Company displayed a thyree-foot model of a Glideair vehicle which traveled on a thin cushion of air instead of wheels.
3. Chrysler cars made an electronic control which changed the rear view mirror to non-glaring automatically when a headlamp beam hit its surface.
4. Ford Moter Co. offered a latch located by the drivers seat to unlock the trunk.

1959

1. A new seven-inch headlamp, with the approximate low beam advantages of the Dual Headlamp System, was offered for vehicles using two, instead of four, headlamps.
2. Chevrolet offered a light aluminum air-cooled rear engine car, the Corvair; Fords model was called the Falcon; and Plymouths version was the Valiant.
3. Electroluminescent dusk lighting to reduce eye strain in night driving in Chryslers Corporation cars was introduced.
4. An automatic control to turn on the headlamps when driving at dusk and a four-light emergency flashing system on Chrysler cars was introduced.

Facts of the 1960's

1960

1. Chevrolet displayed the XP-700 Corvette exerimental car.

1961

1. American Moters announced it would offer fatory-installed seat belts on all Ramblers for both front and rear seats.

1962

1. Amber lights for front turn signals were adopted by the entire industry after a recommendation by the AMA Board of Directors.
2. Studebaker made all of their models have seat-belt anchors for the front seat.
3. The International Rectifier Company unveiled a solar energy-powered Baker electric (1912 vintage) car. The Vehicle was outfitted with a roof deck composed of 10,640 individual solar cells.

1963

1. Chevrolet brought out a new line of cars called the Chevelle.

1964

1. General Moters Corporation, with its five divisions, produced more than four million vehicles in the 1964 model year, the first time any manufacturer had done so.
2. Dodge Dividion celebrated its 50th year in the automotive industry.
3. Three new sports-type cars appeared during mid-1964. Ford intoduced the Mustang, Chrysler-Plymoth unveiled the Barracuda, and American Motor brought out the Marlin.
4. New models introduced in the fall of 1965 included: Chrysler-Plymouth's 300-L; Dodge's new intermediate Coronet series, and the Dodge Monaco, a top of the line two-door hardtop. Ford's LTD in the Galaxie series; and Buick's Gran Sports models of ht Skylark and Riviera Series.

1964 Lincoln Continental

1965

1. Passenger-car and commercial-vehicle production in1965 established all-time records. Automobile production totaled 9,335,277 units, almost 1.4 million above the previous peak established in 1955.
2. Chevrolet Division of General Motors became the first producer in the industry to build more then three million cars and trucks in a single year.
3. As part of its truck-turbine program, Ford Motor Company tested its 600 HP turbine truck on a cross country tour.
4. Rear seat belts became manditory for all 1966 models.
5. Oldsmobile Division introduced its 1966 Toronado, the first car with front wheel drive built in the U.S. since 1937.

1966

1. After 64 years as an automobile manufacturer, Studebaker Corporation in Canada terminated car production in March. The first Studebaker, and electric vehicle, was build in 1902. The corporation ended production in the U.S. in December of 1963.
2. Collapsible steering columns were installed on all General Moters, Chrysler Corporation, and American Motors cars.

1966 Chevrolet Corvette

1967

1. The Mercury Cougar, Chevrolet Comaro, and the Pontiac Firebird join Mustang "ponycars."

1967 Chevrolet Comaro

1968

1. Front shoulder harnesses are required in addition to seatbelts, in America.

1968 Pontiac Firebird

1969

1. Front headrests are mandated in the Untied States.

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