Postwar Chrysler Corporation 4-Door Sedans - Profile Comparisons

Years ago I wrote a post titled "Postwar Chrysler: Four Brands, One Body."  I was referring to Chrysler Corporation's policy of economizing product development by having all four of its brands using the same body platform.  This was the case in the late 1930s, though a few 1934-vintage Airflows also continued to be marketed as late as 1937.  It was largely true for 1949-1952, aside from some slow-selling, shorter-wheelbase fastback and long-wheelbase limousine variations on the basic body platform.

The platform featured in the linked post and the present one was in production model years 1940- early 1949, with a hiatus during World War 2.  Aside from limousines, sedans used the same basic body structure abaft of the firewall. with minor variations  The main difference between brands was in wheelbase length, and that mostly affected the parts of the body forward of the cowling.  This is illustrated in the images below, clarifying points made in the earlier post.

Photos below are of cars listed for sale.

Gallery

1948 Plymouth: Wheelbase = 117.5 inches (1985 mm)
Plymouth's postwar facelift did not include the extended front fenders found on the other brands.  Aside from that, the body from the cowling aft is essentially that seen on the cars below.  But not exactly.  Plymouth was Chrysler's best-selling brand, competing against Ford and Chevrolet.  So it needed to be more in line with those in terms of weight and price.  Furthermore, Chrysler could afford to invest in the needed tooling adjustments. The result was that Plymouths were slightly modified abaft of the B-pillar: narrower rear passenger doors, shorter quarter window, slightly shorter trunk.  This seems to have been accomplished a minimal amount of totally new tooling.

1947 Dodge: Wheelbase = 119.5 inches (3035 mm)
The extension of the front fender onto the front door is seen here.  That extension alters the door's forward cutline required by the fender reshaping - door hinging relationship.  The added wheelbase length results in a longer hood.  From here on up the Chrysler line, bodies appear to be the same from the cowling to the rear.

1948 DeSoto: Wheelbase = 121.5 inches (3086 mm)
Next up in the Chrysler Corporation brand hierarchy is DeSoto.  Again, longer wheelbase. longer hood.

1948 Chrysler New Yorker: Wheelbase = 127.5 inches (3238 mm)
New Yorkers and Saratogas had the longest wheelbases.  The added frontal length reached the point where the overall design became unbalanced.  The front of the car seems too heavy, not well related to the rest.

1948 Chrysler Windsor
Chrysler Windsors and Royals shared the same wheelbase as DeSoto.  Here the hood is long, yet better integrated with the rest of the design.  I rate this as the best configuration of those shown here, though the Dodge design also works fairly well.