Chrysler Corporation's Early Thinking for Postwar Designs

American automobile production ceased in February 1942 on orders from the government due to the USA's entry in World War 2.  Before that time and even during the war years carmakers contemplated postwar offerings.

This post deals with Chrysler Corporation styling models from that era . The photos of styling studio models presented below suggest that Chrysler was thinking of offering a major facelift rather than a complete redesign once production could resume following hostilities.

Thanks to the postwar pent-up demand for new cars, most American car builders indeed marketed facelifted prewar designs until around the 1949 model year.

The images of styling models below are interspersed with production Chrysler Corporation cars so as to strongly suggest that the models were based on prewar rather than totally new bodies.

Gallery

Styling model from December 1941 that has a grille with some postwar Dodge detailing.  Compare the basic body with that shown in the following image.

1948 Chrysler New Yorker, Mecum Auctions photo.  This postwar car has a facelifted prewar body --  I selected this photo because it was taken from a viewpoint similar to that of the styling model in the previous photo.  The latter seems to feature a one-piece windshield, though probably does not.  The side windows, doors, etc. appear to be the same on both.

Rear quarter view of the December 1941 styling model.  Its right side features a flow-through fenderline, unlike the left side's fender design seen above.

A 1940 for-sale six-window Chrysler Royal sedan.  Again, the bodies excluding fenders and some lesser details seem about the same.

This possible Plymouth design from January 1944 is based on the models show above.  This windshield frame suggests one-piece glass.

A 1941 Dodge Custom Town Car Luxury Liner, RM Sotheby's auction photo.  Again, compare the side windows.

Rear view of the January 1944 model.  The fastback sculpting now deviates from prewar production shaping.  Also note that the fender line on this side is not the same as the left-side fender design in the above view.  The practice of full-scale styling models having differing side details was common then and perhaps even now.

According to Collectible Automobile magazine, this styling model photo is dated 18 July 1946.  Postwar facelifted Chrysler Corporation cars were already in production, so I think this was the January 1944 model, but updated before 1946.  Its front end and fenderline differ from 1944.  Another possibility is that this photo is indeed from 1946 and the model was being used to test possible grille designs for the 1949 Plymouth redesign (see following image).

1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe, for-sale photo showing the production grille design.

Side view of a 1941 Dodge Custom Town Sedan via Mecum.

A 1946 Chrysler Windsor four-door sedan for sale.  Although it has a longer wheelbase and front (forward of the cowling) than the '41 Dodge, this shows that the main postwar body differences on Chrysler cars (except Plymouths) had to do with front fenders extending over the front doors.  Grilles were also redesigned.