The car scene in 1942 was dominated by wartime shifts—civilian models, military adaptations and halted production created a mix of familiar designs and scarce editions. Regional differences mattered: some manufacturers kept limited civilian lines while others focused entirely on military needs.
There are 28 Popular Cars in 1942, ranging from Austin 10 to Willys Americar, illustrating the span from small European saloons to US military-influenced models. For each entry you’ll find below Manufacturer (country),Production 1942 (units),Notable features (max 15 words) so you can quickly compare origin, output and defining traits.
How did wartime restrictions change production numbers and availability in 1942?
Wartime priorities drastically reduced civilian output as factories retooled for military vehicles, parts shortages limited production, and some models continued only in small numbers or as military variants; national policies and access to materials caused major variation in the listed 1942 figures.
Which models from 1942 are most commonly preserved or seen today?
Vehicles with military service or large postwar surplus—like many Willys-derived models—and popular pre-war designs such as the Austin 10 are more often restored; rarity depends on region, parts availability and whether a model served in civilian or military roles.
Popular Cars in 1942
| Model | Manufacturer (country) | Production 1942 (units) | Notable features (max 15 words) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Super De Luxe | Ford Motor Company (USA) | 49,663 | Blackout model with painted trim, massive vertical grille, available new six-cylinder engine. |
| Chevrolet Special Deluxe | Chevrolet Division, GM (USA) | 258,795 (all models) | Blackout trim, Fleetline Aerosedan fastback body style, reliable “Victory Six” engine. |
| Plymouth De Luxe | Plymouth Division, Chrysler Corp. (USA) | 152,335 (all models) | Powermatic shifting, new full-width grille, concealed running boards, safety-rim wheels. |
| Buick Roadmaster | Buick Division, GM (USA) | 7,951 | Powerful Fireball straight-eight engine, fastback Sedanet styling, massive grille, luxury appointments. |
| Cadillac Series 62 | Cadillac Division, GM (USA) | 7,955 | Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, V8 engine, iconic “torpedo” body styling, luxury features. |
| Oldsmobile 98 Custom Cruiser | Oldsmobile Division, GM (USA) | 8,613 | Fully automatic Hydra-Matic Drive, B-44 “Bumper-to-Bumper” styling, powerful straight-eight engine. |
| Pontiac Streamliner Torpedo | Pontiac Division, GM (USA) | 42,126 | Distinctive fastback “streamliner” styling, straight-eight engine option, silver-streak chrome trim. |
| DeSoto De Luxe | DeSoto Division, Chrysler Corp. (USA) | 24,771 (all models) | Air-Foil hidden pop-up headlights, Fluid Drive semi-automatic transmission, waterfall grille. |
| Chrysler Windsor | Chrysler Division, Chrysler Corp. (USA) | 27,159 | Fluid Drive with Vacamatic transmission, six-cylinder Spitfire engine, elegant, conservative styling. |
| Packard Clipper | Packard Motor Car Company (USA) | 16,691 | Advanced streamlined styling, powerful straight-eight engines, luxurious ride, modern design. |
| Studebaker Champion | Studebaker Corporation (USA) | 27,046 | Exceptional fuel economy, lightweight design, available overdrive, affordable price point. |
| Nash Ambassador 600 | Nash-Kelvinator Corporation (USA) | 31,473 (all models) | Advanced unibody construction, excellent fuel economy (“600” for 600 miles per tank). |
| Hudson Commodore | Hudson Motor Car Company (USA) | 15,690 | Optional “Drive-Master” automatic clutch, luxurious interior, powerful straight-eight engine. |
| Willys Americar | Willys-Overland Motors (USA) | 2,689 | Small, highly economical “Go Devil” four-cylinder engine, simple and durable construction. |
| Ford De Luxe | Ford Motor Company (USA) | 69,634 | Stripped-down version of Super De Luxe, “blackout” model, reliable V8 or six-cylinder engine. |
| Chevrolet Master Deluxe | Chevrolet Division, GM (USA) | Included in total | Chevrolet’s lower-priced model range, solid construction, reliable and economical transportation. |
| Buick Special | Buick Division, GM (USA) | 55,941 | Buick’s entry-level model, Fireball straight-eight engine, shared body with Chevrolet. |
| Volkswagen KdF-Wagen | Volkswagenwerk GmbH (Germany) | Minimal (civilian) | Rear-mounted air-cooled engine, simple and rugged design for mass production. |
| Fiat 500 Topolino | Fiat S.p.A. (Italy) | Minimal (civilian) | Tiny two-seater body, excellent fuel economy, small four-cylinder engine. |
| Morris Ten | Morris Motors Limited (UK) | None | Saloon and tourer body styles, overhead-valve engine, popular pre-war family car. |
| Austin 10 | The Austin Motor Company (UK) | None | Dependable 1.2-litre engine, synchromesh gearbox, steel saloon body. |
| Citroën Traction Avant | Citroën S.A. (France) | None | Front-wheel drive, unibody construction, advanced pre-war design. |
| Mercedes-Benz 170 V | Daimler-Benz AG (Germany) | Minimal (civilian) | Robust four-cylinder engine, independent suspension, pre-war design from 1936. |
| Opel Kapitän | Adam Opel AG (Germany) | None | Unibody construction, 2.5-liter six-cylinder engine, pre-war streamlined styling. |
| Ford Prefect E93A | Ford of Britain (UK) | None | Side-valve engine, simple mechanicals, transverse leaf spring suspension, upright styling. |
| Lincoln Zephyr | Lincoln Division, Ford (USA) | 1,351 | V12 engine, streamlined unibody design, luxurious appointments. |
| Lincoln Continental | Lincoln Division, Ford (USA) | 136 | Iconic “continental” spare tire, V12 engine, hand-built luxury convertible/coupe. |
| Crosley CB42 | Crosley Radio Corporation (USA) | approx. 1,000 | Tiny air-cooled two-cylinder engine, extremely high fuel economy, basic transportation. |
Images and Descriptions
Ford Super De Luxe
As Ford’s top-trim model, the Super De Luxe was a popular family car. The 1942 models are highly collectible due to the short, war-interrupted production run, identifiable by their painted trim instead of chrome and a newly available six-cylinder engine.
Chevrolet Special Deluxe
Chevrolet was America’s sales leader, and the Special Deluxe was its most popular line. The 1942 model year was cut short by war, making these cars, with their distinctive fastback “Aerosedan” option and painted trim, symbols of the end of an era.
Plymouth De Luxe
Plymouth was known for offering strong value and safety features. The 1942 model featured a handsome redesign and engineering improvements, but production was halted in January 1942, making it a rare find from the last days of pre-war civilian car manufacturing.
Buick Roadmaster
The Roadmaster was one of Buick’s premium offerings, blending performance and luxury. The 1942 models, built for only a few months, are distinguished by their bold styling and are among the last powerful, luxurious civilian cars built before wartime conversion.
Cadillac Series 62
Representing the pinnacle of pre-war American luxury, the 1942 Series 62 combined elegant styling with advanced features like the Hydra-Matic transmission. Its short production run makes it a sought-after classic, a final statement of opulence before wartime austerity.
Oldsmobile 98 Custom Cruiser
The top-of-the-line Oldsmobile was a technological leader, most famous for its pioneering four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. The 1942 model showcased advanced engineering and styling right before the factory switched over to producing military hardware for the war.
Pontiac Streamliner Torpedo
The Streamliner Torpedo was known for its sleek fastback design, offering a touch of custom style to the mass market. The 1942 models were the last to feature Pontiac’s signature “Silver Streak” chrome trim before production was suspended for the war effort.
DeSoto De Luxe
DeSoto’s most memorable feature in 1942 was its “Air-Foil” hidden headlights, a futuristic touch that set it apart. This innovative design, combined with the smooth Fluid Drive, made it a distinctive car from the very brief pre-war production year.
Chrysler Windsor
The Windsor was Chrysler’s mainstream, mid-range offering, known for its solid engineering and comfortable ride. The 1942 models offered advanced drivetrain options, but their production was cut short, representing the brand’s final civilian contribution before focusing on war production.
Packard Clipper
The Packard Clipper’s modern, streamlined design was ahead of its time and influenced post-war styling. Introduced just before the war, the 1942 model was a stunning, luxurious car whose brief production run cemented its status as a highly desirable classic.
Studebaker Champion
The Champion was Studebaker’s successful economy model, praised for its impressive gas mileage. The 1942 version continued this tradition of efficiency, a valuable trait as the nation prepared for rationing, until production was halted for military manufacturing.
Nash Ambassador 600
The Nash 600 was a pioneer in unibody construction, making it lighter and more efficient than its rivals. Its aerodynamic design and reputation for getting 30 miles per gallon were key selling points in its final, shortened model year of 1942.
Hudson Commodore
The Commodore was Hudson’s top-tier model, offering luxury, style, and innovative features like the “Drive-Master” vacuum-assisted clutch. The 1942 cars were the last of their kind before Hudson’s factories were fully committed to the war effort.
Willys Americar
The Willys Americar was a small, no-frills economy car. While civilian production was minimal in 1942, its rugged “Go Devil” engine became the heart of the famous military Jeep, making the Americar a crucial part of automotive and military history.
Ford De Luxe
The De Luxe offered the solid engineering of the Super De Luxe with less trim for a lower price. It was a workhorse for American families and businesses, with the 1942 version being a rare “blackout” model from the abbreviated production year.
Chevrolet Master Deluxe
Serving as Chevrolet’s entry-level car, the Master Deluxe provided dependable, no-frills transportation for millions. The 1942 model upheld this reputation, though very few were built before the shutdown, making it a rare example of a pre-war American economy car.
Buick Special
The Special was the most affordable way to own a Buick, offering the brand’s powerful straight-eight engine in a smaller package. Its high production volume for the short 1942 model year made it one of the most common “last” pre-war cars.
Volkswagen KdF-Wagen
Known post-war as the Beetle, the “People’s Car” saw almost no civilian production in 1942. The factory produced military variants instead. However, the car was culturally notable as a symbol of a promise of mass motorization that was deferred by war.
Fiat 500 Topolino
The “Topolino” (little mouse) was one of Europe’s most popular pre-war microcars. By 1942, civilian production had virtually ceased in favor of military needs, but the thousands already on the road made it a familiar and important vehicle in wartime Italy.
Morris Ten
Although production of the Morris Ten stopped before 1942, it remained one of Britain’s most popular and common family cars on the road during the war. Its reliability made it a crucial vehicle for essential civilian use in a country on a total war footing.
Austin 10
Similar to its Morris rival, the Austin 10 was no longer being produced in 1942, but it was a ubiquitous sight on British roads. These simple, robust cars were vital for doctors, factory managers, and other essential personnel supporting the war effort at home.
Citroën Traction Avant
An automotive pioneer, production of the Traction Avant was halted by the German occupation of France. Despite this, it was a culturally notable car, famously used by both the French Resistance and the Gestapo, making it an icon of wartime France.
Mercedes-Benz 170 V
The 170 V was a pre-war German staple. By 1942, any production was almost exclusively for military, police, or government official use. It was a common sight in Germany but unavailable to the general public, representing the shift to a total war economy.
Opel Kapitän
A popular and modern pre-war German car, Kapitän production was halted in 1940. The cars remained in use throughout Germany in 1942, but the GM-owned factory had been converted to produce military equipment like truck parts and aircraft components.
Ford Prefect E93A
The Ford Prefect was a common sight in the UK during the war, serving as basic family transportation. Like other British cars, new models were not being built in 1942, but existing ones were kept running to provide essential mobility on the home front.
Lincoln Zephyr
The Zephyr was a stylish and advanced luxury car, notable for being one of the few V12-powered cars of its era. The 1942 model was the final year for the Zephyr name, with its very limited production run marking the end of a design legend.
Lincoln Continental
Considered one of the most beautiful pre-war American designs, the 1942 Continental was a handmade icon of style and luxury. With only 136 coupes built before the shutdown, it is an exceptionally rare and valuable automotive masterpiece from the era.
Crosley CB42
The Crosley was an eccentric American microcar built for maximum economy. As the nation faced gas rationing, the Crosley’s 50 MPG capability was highly relevant. Production was very limited before the factory shifted to making war materials, including mini-vehicles.
