This would be the last new body style for this car maker before World War II..But they would re-use it after WWII till 1949.The CEO of this inovative car company wanted to have a low price model to compete with Chevy and Ford. Forging into the low price field would prove to be a good idea but would never have as much sales success as its cross town rivals.Unlike the offerings from GM,Ford and Chrysler this frugal hulk was produced with unitized or uni-body contruction. 
A first in the low price field. in the USA.Uni-body construction was considered stronger and lighter than traditional body on frame construction but was never used due to high construction costs and Detroit car makers refusing to change to new and radical ideas This company was known for building high quality mid priced cars and its large car was a style and trend leader. Not to be done in the low price field its interiors were considered more plush and uptown then other offereing in the low price segment. 
For your money you got alot of car. Four body types were available. A sporty two door convertible.A stoggy four door sedan and a two door coupe. You could also get a two door fastback that would inspire GM’s Harley Earl to create a similar design for GM.Oddly no official station wagons were ever offered but a few factory were repoted to of been built.One carry over was the “flathead” six cylinder engine. Rated at 115 horsepower it was no drag racer but proved to be frugal and reliable. After WWII this automaker would make some of the USA’s more interesting cars but would eventualy become part of the automotive quagmire known as AMC. What Auto is This??
Tag Archive: World War II
May
02
What Auto is This?? An Independant Make Enters The Low Price Field
Apr
06
From The Great Depression To The Dawn Of War It’s 1930′s Week On Carlisle Johnny
The 1930′s was a crucial decade in history. As we said good buy to Prohibition we ushered in The Great Deprssion. In some people opinions Franklin D Roosevelt was our greatest president as his New Deal gave hope to a starving nation. FDR’s New Deal provided jobs that helped America expand. Roads were built. Bridges and Dams were built that changed the landscape forever. People were able to travel in perhaps the only possesion they had. Their automobile. The 1930′s was the era of some of the grandest classic’s of all time. the rise of Packard. The rise and fall of Pierce Arrow and Peerless. The V16 Cadillac. We said goodbye to many a car company and watched as GM became a powerhouse. The 1930′s was the very worst and the very best that the auto industry had to offer. Take a trip back to the 30′s with Carlisle Johnny and C.A.R.S.Classic Auto Appraisals to a simpler time. Using great old ads, trivia and photos from Great Depression icon Dorothea Lange we will show you the blight and delight of one of the grandest decades in automotive history.
Mar
19
What Auto is This?? This First Post WWII Model Is Driven “Automatically”
This was the first offering from this historic car maker following WWII. Its proven transmission was introduced in 1940 but would gain true fame as the transmission of choice for the US Army tanks.Founded in 1897 this maker would go on to produced some of the USA’s most memorable vehicles.In its 107 year history it would produce 35.2 million vehicles. Following WWII the models would have two number designation.
You could get two engines. A 238 cubic inch flathead 6 cylinder rated at 100 horsepower in the lower priced models. In the upper class models a 257 cubic inch flathead 8 rated at 120 horsepower. Not known as a performance car this makers image would change dramatically in 1949 when they introduced a “high compression” V8 for mid price cars. That engine and car would be the first true star of early NASCAR. The engine would be the choice of Hotrodders for over a dacade.
The Harley Earl styled bodies were available in many types and wheelbase lengths. You could opt for any number of two door or four door “Grand-pa Mobile” sedans. One swoopy choice was the “Aero” body with a semi fastback that could be purchased in either two or four door models. Rounding off the choices was a very rare Station Wagon and a Convertible with optional power/hydraulic top.This first choice after WWII were in fact warmed over pre-war cars. What Auto is This??
Feb
07
What Auto Is This?? Delivering The Milk With Gas/Electric Power
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This boxy milk truck was first made by a Chicago based manufacturer in 1938. Only two are known to exsist today. Of the two only one is in running condition. Production would run from 1938 to 1942 when the factory was converted to World War II vehicle production. This vehicle maker had been known for making electric power vehicles only. In 1938 they produced their first Gas/Electric powered truck. The truck were very popular in urban and city 
areas because they were short and high. The short wheelbase would let the little box truck easily navigate tight city streets. This 1938 model was powered by a Continental made four cylinder engine. this was mated to a Chrysler Amplex power generator.There was no transmission. No clutch or gear shift assemblies. Instead the power generator was mounted inside a special designed axle housing. This would drive the rear wheel mounted ring and pinion. This semi hybrid system would prove to reliable but costly to repair. After WWII this maker would go back to making conventionaly powered trucks. This very bulldog looking truck would become almost iconic in the USA as symbol of another long gone American icon…The Milk Man. What Auto Is This??
Jan
18
What Auto is This?? When The Automobile Meets Art
This French car maker started producing vehicles in 1894. The first cars were belt driven with single or twin cylinder engines. In 1900 the founder left the company. In 1901 they constructed a grand factory in Paris France. In 1908 they produced four cylinder engines in sizes ranging from 1.5 and 2.1 liters and a 2.6 liter V6.
By the end of World War I most of the companies income came from building trucks. In 1934 they introduced two new models. One powered by a 2.5 liter four cylinder and the other with a 3.2 liter six cylinder. Both engines derived from the truck line. by the mid 1930s both the car and truck manufacturing were thriving.
In 1938 they would prepare a car for the 1939 New York Worlds Fair. Only one of two built it featured custom coach work by Figoni & Falaschi. The engine is a 4.5 liter 12 Cylinder with triple overhead cams. It featured all aluminum construction fed thru (3) Solex Carbs. But thats only the start of the story..
When World War II broke out the car became stranded in New York US Customs for eight years. In 1947 it was purchased by a Beverly Hills car dealer. He then re-sold it for at the time staggering amount of $12,000. From there it was returned to New York and a Cadillac v8 was installed. The car was re-discovered in Fresno California in 1981. It would begin an 8 year restoration that would re-join it with its original 12 cylinder engine.. What Auto is This??
Dec
31
What Auto is This?? Being Frumpy And Frugal Can Be Cool
In car starved post World War II the public wanted new cars..any new car.This car company was founded in 1946 by an former Packard dealer, a former Pontiac engineer and a talented garage mechanic. 
The intension for this smallish car was as a “second” family car for running local in town errands. Its price was planned to be under $1000.00. This semi sporty car featured the first “retractable”roof offered on an American car..Almost 10 years before Fords famous retractable. Riding on a tiny 90 inch wheelbase it was powered by an “outsourced” 2.2 Liter 4 cylinder engine producing a turtle like 48 horsepower. The only transmission was the Warner 3 speed with no first gear syncro. 
All this performance was riding on Go-cart like 12 inch wheels. Like another great automotive idea The Tucker this car would never reach production. A total of 97 pre-production models were made. Also like the Tucker these cars would get heavy media and press time. Some were even shipped to Europe in hopes of getting captial. In an odd twist of fate the stock offering would fail due to fears from the Tucker scandal and the company would fail in 1949. Henry Kaiser of “Kaiser Automobile” fame would try to bring the company back to life in 1950 but failed due to lack of interest and funding. Of the 97 made 40 are still known to of survived. What Auto is This??
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