Model year 1941 saw even more new designs from both major and second-tier manufacturers. I wrote about the '41 General Motors B-body sedans here, and the redesigned 1941 Nashes here.
Today's post presents examples of redesigned 1941 sedans along with a few 1941 sedans that lagged behind the styling times because those bodies had been in production for a while.
Images below are of cars listed for sale unless otherise noted. All are of four-door sedans for comparison consistency.
The Century used GM's new B-body.
Nash's senior line styling was similar to that of GM's B-bodies, though notch-back bodies were also available.
Studebaker's lower body is in line with the above designs. However, the passenger compartment greenhouse carries a late-1930s aspect.
Here is the redesigned senior Ford for 1940. Mercurys shared this body, so aren't illustrated here.
Now for the laggards. Hudsons were redesigned for the 1936 model year, the basic body remaining in production through 1947. Over time, modifications were made in attempts to keep that body in line with styling fashions. Therefore, this '41 model looks different from the 1936. However, traces of the 1936 design can be seen on the doors and windows.
The 120's body was new for the 1938 model year, so it retains a 1930s cast. Packard's traditional tall grille and its details also differ from 1941's horizontal grille orientation fashion.
But in the spring of 1941 Packard introduced its new Clipper design, a very handsome one in line with the times, aside perhaps, from the vertical grille.
2 comments:
Great post as usual. I myself like the 1940 C body (four window?) Buicks, Pontiacs, LaSalle 52 etc. I have your book on the face of cars, and I think that the headlights in the, I think it is called the "catwalk" of the 1941 Chevrolet (I have a model of the convertible on my shelf) is just about "Peak GM"; that along with the 1938 Buick, particularly the Limited sedans.
The Studebaker is the only car with the obvious from the outside vertical cowl/firewall structure and also the little vent doors. Both anachronisms oddly continued on the new postwar 1947 body with the little doors moved to the fenders while no other new postwar cars were built that way.
The vent doors continued on the next one up to 1957 and on Hawks till the bitter end. A lot of engineering foot dragging in South Bend.
The difference between the newer and older 30's basic bodies seems to be sleeker greenhouses with more windshield slant and beginning of some tumblehome. Kind of subtle but noticeable once pointed out.
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