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Although 1942 models had been introduced, as usual, in the late summer and autumn of the previous year, all production of civilian cars came to a halt on 9 February 1942. Production of civilian trucks halted on 3 March, the day after civilian car rationing commenced. Gasoline (petrol) rationing and a national speed limit followed, in order to conserve fuel and rubber.
On the last day of 1941 the Automotive Council for War Production had been set up with the aim of applying the facilities of the automotive industry to all-out war production. Chrysler stepped up its production of tanks, spending $40 million on plant expansion, Ford opened the Willow Run Michigan Bomber Plant in May, General Motors produced countless items of war material including Chevrolet and GMC trucks, Nash-Kelvinator produced aircraft engines, helicopters, etc.
Pontiac was the first automobile manufacturer to win the Navy 'E' Award, Chrysler's Tank Arsenal the first to win the Army-Navy 'E', which superseded it. Total value of arms produced by the automotive industry in 1942 was $4,665 million.
Crosley World War II Production
The Crosley Corporation was involved in war production planning before December 1941, and like the rest of American industry, it focused on manufacturing war-related products during the war years. The company made a variety of products, ranging from proximity fuses, radio transceivers, field kitchens, and quarter-ton trailers, to gun turrets, among other items. Powered gun turrets for PT boats and B-24 and B-29 bombers were the company's largest contract. Crosley also produced a number of experimental vehicles during the war for the U.S. government.
Crosley's auto manufacturing division, CRAD, in Richmond, Indiana, produced experimental motorcycles, tricycles, four-wheel-drive military light utility vehicles, a self-propelled gun, and continuous track vehicles, some of which were amphibious models. All of these military prototypes were powered by the 2-cylinder boxer engine that powered the original Crosley automobiles. Crosley had nearly 5,000 of the engines on hand when auto production ceased in 1942, and hoped to put them to use in war-time production of miniature vehicles.
One vehicle prototype was the 1942–1943 Crosley CT-3 "Pup," a lightweight, single-passenger, four-wheel-drive vehicle that was transportable and air-droppable from a C-47 Skytrain. Six of the 1,125-pound (510 kg), 2-cylinder Pups were deployed overseas after undergoing tests at Fort Benning, Georgia, but the project was discontinued due to several weak components. Civilian car production resumed at the Marion, Indiana, facility in 1946 with the newly designed model CC. (The Richmond, Indiana, facility had been sold during the war years.) In 1950 Crosley brought the Farm-O-Road model, a 63-inch (1.60 m) wheelbase utility vehicle, decades ahead of the John Deere Gator and other small Utility vehicles. From 1950 onwards, Crosley's main models gained roll-down instead of sliding side windows.
Crosleys were built under the Crosmobile marque for overseas export. Crosmobiles were simply badge-engineered Crosleys, and were identical to standard Crosley models except for having Crosmobile-lettered hood and rear badges and hubcaps and instrument-cluster demarcations. The purpose of differentiating the exported Crosleys was to avoid confusion or conflict with Great Britain's non-related Crossley marque. Crosmobiles not only made it to Europe, but also elsewhere, including Cuba.
Also see: 1942 Automobile Ads Published in the USA |
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Buick |
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Also see: Buick Road Tests and Reviews | Buick Brochures |
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War-time Buick advertisement, showing 1942 Roadmaster Series 70 Convertible (Model 76-C). Super Model 56-C was similar in appearance but had 124-in vs 129-inch wheelbase. |
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Buick Special Series 40 |
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Also see: Buick Road Tests and Reviews | Buick Brochures |
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Buick Special Series 40 was cheapest range, on 118-inch wheelbase. Pictured left is the Model 48 Sedanet. Originally Buick offered 23 individual models for 1942, in six lines (Special, Extra Special (121-inch wheelbase), Super, Century, Roadmaster and Limited). Later this was reduced to 14 models. This 'H1942' range included seven Specials, three Supers, two Century's and three Roadmasters. |
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Cadillac Series 62 Convertible |
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Also see: Cadillac Road Tests and Reviews | Cadillac Brochures |
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Cadillac Series 62 Convertible. Fenders shown appeared on all 1942 Cadillacs, except Series 75 Convertible had full-width rear-seat. Series 61, 62, 63, 67 and 68 had Fisher bodies with Fleetwood interior styling. |
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Chevrolet |
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Also see: Chevrolet Road Tests and Reviews | Chevrolet Brochures |
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Chevrolet came in three series: BG Master DeLuxe, BH Special DeLuxe and Fleetline. Shown is a BG four-door sedan as used by the USMC. Wheel hub covers and other bright metal trim (except bumpers) of all US cars were painted instead of chrome as from 1 January 1942, by Government order. |
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Chrysler Saratoga |
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Also see: Chrysler Road Tests and Reviews | Chrysler Brochures |
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The Chrysler Saratoga C-36K and New Yorker C-36N had 8-cylinder 323·5 CID engine and 127½-inch wheelbase.
A horizontal wrap around grille theme, long hoods and concealed running boards were identifying characteristics of the short lived 1942 models. By February, 1942, Chrysler plants had halted production of passenger cars for civilian use and had turned completely to wartime work. |
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Chrysler Crown Imperial |
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Also see: Chrysler Road Tests and Reviews | Chrysler Brochures |
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Chrysler Crown Imperial C-37 had 145½-inch wheelbase and 8-in-line engine. Only 448 Imperials had been made when civilian car production stopped in February 1942. |
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DeSoto |
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Also see: DeSoto Brochures |
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DeSoto DeLuxe 5-10 and Custom 5-10 constituted the 1942 model range, and were available with various body styles, all on a 121½-inch wheelbase and powered by 236·7 CID 115-bhp L-head engine. |
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DeSoto |
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Also see: DeSoto Brochures |
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DeSoto 1942 had 'Airfoil' headlights which in daytime were concealed behind sliding panels. |
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Dodge |
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Also see: Dodge Road Tests and Reviews | Dodge Brochures |
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Dodge marketed two lines, the DeLuxe D-22S and the Custom D-22C. 68,522 of these 1942 models were produced until Dodge converted entirely to military truck production, chiefly the ¾-ton 4 x 4 'Beep'. |
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Dodge Military Staff Car |
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Also see: Dodge Road Tests and Reviews | Dodge Brochures |
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Dodge 1942 Sedan used by the military as a staff car. Note painted 'brightwork' instead of chrome (except bumpers) and blackout masks on headlights. |
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Ford 21 A-73B Super DeLuxe Fordor Sedan |
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Also see: Ford Road Tests and Reviews | Ford Brochures |
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There were four series: 21A Super DeLuxe (V8), 21A DeLuxe (V8), 2GA DeLuxe (Six), and 2GA Special (Six). Both engines developed 90 bhp and all had 114-inch wheelbase. Body styles numbered 14. |
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Ford 21 A-73B Super DeLuxe Fordor Sedan |
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Also see: Ford Road Tests and Reviews | Ford Brochures |
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Ford 21 A DeLuxe Fordor Sedan, used by British Forces in North Africa. Military modifications included 9'00-13 desert tyres, equipment racks and brackets, and a canvas-covered observation hatch in the roof. |
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Hudson Super Six |
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1942 Hudsons differed from 1941 models only in minor details. Only 5396 Hudson cars and 67 commercials were delivered in 1942. |
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Hudson |
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Hudson stopped production of civilian cars on 5 February. Shown is the last one 'for the duration'. Most of the brightwork had austere paint finish. |
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Lincoln |
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Also see: Lincoln Road Tests and Reviews | Lincoln Brochures |
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Lincoln-Zephyr 26H had a V12 L-head engine, restyled front end, and was optionally available with Liquamatic Drive automatic gearshift. The Lincoln Continental 26H Cabriolet Model 56, was one of Ford's top-line models. Its shipping weight was 4020 lb, price US$3169. The Coupe, Model 57, weighed 20 lb less but sold at same price. |
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Mercury |
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Also see: Mercury Road Tests and Reviews | Mercury Brochures |
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Mercury 29A had 118-inch wheelbase and was available as Sedan (29A-70), Sedan Coupe (72), Town Sedan (73), Club Convertible (76), 5-Window Coupe (77) and Station Wagon (79). |
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Nash |
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Also see: Nash Road Tests and Reviews |
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Nash 600, Model 4240 Sedan was one of five body styles available Wheelbase was 112 inches, engine 6-cyl. L-head. This sedan sold at US$993. |
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Nash Ambassador |
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Also see: Nash Road Tests and Reviews |
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Nash Ambassador, last 'pre-war' model to come off the assembly line. The date was February 4, 1942. |
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Packard |
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Also see: Packard Road Tests and Reviews |
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The Packard Clipper 180 was first introduced in 1941 and carried-over for 1942 model year. The 1946 Clipper was to be similar in appearance to 1941/42 model, the main exception being the radiator grille. |
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Packard |
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Also see: Packard Road Tests and Reviews |
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Packard Clipper was available as Six or Eight (price difference $55) and either as Special or Custom model. Electromatic Drive (overdrive) optional. The last civilian 1942 Packard car was produced on 9 February. |
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Plymouth |
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Also see: Plymouth Road Tests and Reviews | Plymouth Brochures |
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Plymouth offered two lines: DeLuxe P-14S and Special DeLuxe P-14C. Both had 11n-in wb and 95-bhp 217 CID L-head power unit They were in production from August 1941 to January 1942. |
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Pontiac Torpedo |
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Also see: Pontiac Road Tests and Reviews | Pontiac Brochures |
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Pontiac offered 20 1942 models in four series: Torpedo Six 25, Streamliner Six 26, Torpedo Eight 27 and Streamliner Eight 28. The Torpedo Two-Door, available as Six or Eight (both with 119-in wb). 32B: Pontiac Torpedo Eight Series 27 four-door Sedan. Eights had 248·9 CID, Sixes 239·2 CID: both were L-heads. |
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Pontiac Torpedo Eight Series |
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Also see: Pontiac Road Tests and Reviews | Pontiac Brochures |
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Pontiac Streamliner Series 26 (Six) (shown) or 28 (Eight) Station Wagon. The wheelbase of all Streamliner models was 122 inches. Other body styles in Streamliner Series were sedan coupe and four-door six-window sedan. Wagon shown was used by USMC. |
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Pontiac Torpedo Eight Series |
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Also see: Pontiac Road Tests and Reviews | Pontiac Brochures |
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The last Pontiac to come off the line, early in 1942. Pontiac assembly plants were located in Atlanta, Linden, Oakland, Pontiac (main plant), St Louis, Southgate and Tarry town. |
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Studebaker |
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Also see: Studebaker Road Tests and Reviews |
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Studebaker offered three ranges of cars for 1942, the economical Champion, the Commander and the luxurious President 8. The latter two were offered with Turbomatic Drive (fluid coupling with controlled gear selection and automatic overdrive) as optional extra but few seem to have been delivered with this transmission. |
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Studebaker Commander Land Cruiser |
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Also see: Studebaker Road Tests and Reviews |
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Studebaker body styling was known as Skyway. Shown is the attractive and fashionable four-door four-window Land Cruiser bodywork on the Commander chassis. |
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