Cars That Refused To Disappear
The Great Depression hit the American automobile industry especially hard, with U.S. passenger-car production falling dramatically after the record-setting years of the late 1920s. Manufacturers responded by cutting prices, introducing more affordable models, and trying everything from new engines to radically different styling to attract buyers who had much less money to spend. Some cars disappeared completely, while others managed to stay on the market and helped their companies make it through the 1930s.
1. Ford Model A
One of the most important American cars to come about was the Ford Model A. It came out right around when the Depression hit our country and took off from there. Being made for the 1928 model year, it allowed people to experience a three-speed transmission and have four-wheel brakes.
2. Chevrolet Six
Coming out right before the Depression, Chevrolet's six-cylinder car seemed to fit perfectly with what was going on. Chevrolet made sure to advertise this car as a six-cylinder car but at the price of most four-cylinder cars. This allowed Chevrolet to rival Ford and kept them as one of the main cheap manufacturers during the Depression.
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3. Plymouth Model U
When the Depression started, Plymouth was still fairly new to the game. Their Model U came out in 1929 and provided cheaper-priced cars with Chrysler's engineering. They continued to improve on their models and became one of the Big Three cheap-priced makes by the early 1930s.
4. Ford V-8 Model 18
The replacement to the Model A was a Ford with a V-8 that you could buy at a low price. By putting out these cars, Ford could give consumers an eight-cylinder engine that cost less than some higher-end cars. The introduction came during the depths of the Depression, making the car one of the era's most notable attempts to combine performance with affordability.
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5. 1932 Chevrolet Confederate
Chevrolet was not sitting on their hands when Ford came out with their V-8. They stayed true to their six cylinders and added more features to their cars. Chevrolet's approach helped it remain competitive during a year when the entire American automobile market was struggling badly.
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6. Plymouth Model 30-U
Another car that came out when times got tough was the 1930 Plymouth Model 30-U. This gave them the opportunity to start selling more cars. Plymouth's sales performance was particularly notable because it was one of the few car brands able to increase its sales during portions of the Depression.
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7. Chrysler Airflow
With the Chrysler Airflow coming out in 1934, Chrysler decided to go with a different look. The Airflow was aerodynamic and looked like it had a futuristic style to it. The Airflow didn't become the commercial success Chrysler hoped for, but the company survived the decade and continued producing more conventionally styled cars alongside its experiments.
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8. Hudson Terraplane
Another car that was made during the Depression was the Hudson Terraplane. They started making this car to compete with cheaper prices but gave it the power that some might not have. The Terraplane remained in production until 1939, when Hudson dropped the name as economic conditions improved.
Don O'Brien from Piketon, Ohio, United States on Wikimedia
9. Buick Series 40
Another low-priced car that helped people get through the Depression was the Buick Series 40. They made this car available in 1930 and came back to it halfway through the decade. Buick was able to remain a significant manufacturer even as the Depression forced many smaller and more expensive competitors out of the market.
dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada on Wikimedia
10. Oldsmobile Eight
The Oldsmobile L-Series was another great vehicle made during the Depression. They continued to produce the L-Series from 1932 to 1938. Its continued presence through much of the Depression shows how established manufacturers could keep a broad range of vehicles available even when overall demand had fallen sharply.
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11. Pontiac Economy Eight
When the Depression was starting to take over our country, Pontiac decided to make more cars that were lower in price. They offered their customers many body styles on their Economy Eight in 1933. The result was a car designed to make an eight-cylinder automobile more attainable at a time when buyers were watching every dollar.
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12. Dodge Eight
Dodge also decided to come out with more cars during the Depression. In 1930, Dodge had their Brothers Eight-cylinder. They kept updating their cars to meet their customers' needs even when the Depression hit sales down in the U.S.
13. Willys 77
Willys decided to produce the 77 in 1933. They were having trouble keeping up with the costs of the Depression but still produced the Willys 77. Despite the company's financial difficulties and receivership around the time of its introduction, the 77 continued in various forms into the early 1940s.
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14. Graham Blue Streak
The Graham Blue Streak was made in 1932 and gave off a very futuristic look. It had skirted fenders and a sleeker body. Graham struggled to sell enough cars to become a major manufacturer, but the Blue Streak itself demonstrated how smaller companies were still experimenting and competing during the Depression.
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15. Packard 120
As most people know, Packard was an expensive make of car. Which may not have been a good idea during the Depression. So they came out with the Packard 120 in 1935. The 120 became a major production success and helped Packard remain in business when several other luxury manufacturers disappeared.
JOHN LLOYD from Concrete, Washington, United States on Wikimedia
16. Lincoln Zephyr
Lincoln was able to keep selling cars during the Depression by making their Zephyr, which was released in 1936 and was a step below their more expensive cars. The Zephyr helped bring more buyers into Lincoln dealerships and became an important part of the brand's sales during the late 1930s.
17. Nash 400
Nash was another car company that lasted during the Depression. They had the Nash 400 available to their customers and helped sell them at cheaper costs. Its existence illustrates how companies outside the huge GM, Ford, and Chrysler organizations could still compete by offering a broad selection of relatively affordable cars.
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18. DeSoto Airflow
Just like Chrysler had their Airflow, DeSoto had an Airflow as well. They continued to have their Airflows produced in 1934, which gave them another great-looking car to show off during the Depression. The Airflow concept lasted only a few years, but DeSoto itself continued as part of Chrysler's lineup and became one of the company's established divisions.
19. Chevrolet Master
By the mid-1930s, Chevrolet had many great vehicles to choose from. One was the Chevrolet Master. As Chevrolet was still providing cheaply priced cars, they stayed at the top during the 1930s.
20. Packard Senior
As we know, Packard produced some very expensive cars. But they did not stop making those when they started selling the Packard 120. They continued to sell these more expensive cars while selling the cheaper ones as well.
Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA on Wikimedia
