What Was the Cheapest Car in the 1940s?

In the United States, the cheapest new car of the 1940s was the Crosley, advertised before World War II at roughly $325–$350 and, after the war, typically listing under $1,000—well below mainstream makes. Elsewhere, the most affordable choices late in the decade included the Citroën 2CV in France and the Volkswagen Beetle in postwar Germany, though war-time disruptions meant availability and pricing varied widely by country and year.

Why “Cheapest” Depends on Where—and When—in the 1940s

The 1940s straddle a unique period in automotive history: early-decade production fell or stopped due to World War II, and postwar inflation, rationing, and material shortages shaped design and pricing. “Cheapest” can mean different things depending on whether you look at prewar, wartime (when civilian car sales were largely suspended in many countries), or postwar years, and whether you’re considering mainstream production cars, microcars, or kit-built vehicles.

United States: Crosley Led the Low-Price Field

In America, Crosley offered the least expensive mass-produced new cars both before and after WWII. The tiny, lightweight models prioritized basic transportation and fuel economy at prices far below Detroit’s full-size sedans.

Prewar Crosley Prices (1939–1941)

When Powel Crosley Jr. introduced his namesake car in 1939, the goal was a truly low-cost automobile. Depending on body style and equipment, early Crosleys were advertised in the ballpark of the mid-$300s—astonishingly low compared with contemporary Fords and Chevrolets that typically cost more than $700–$800 even before options and delivery.

The following list highlights representative prewar prices and context for Crosley’s affordability.

• 1939–1941 Crosley models: commonly advertised around $325–$350, depending on body style and trim.
• Configuration: minimal features, small two-cylinder engines, and very light weight to keep costs—and running expenses—down.
• Market position: priced hundreds of dollars below mainstream U.S. cars of the period.

Taken together, those figures illustrate why the Crosley was widely considered America’s least expensive new car as the 1940s began.

Postwar Crosley Prices (1946–1949)

After wartime production pauses, Crosley returned with compact sedans and coupes that remained the lowest-price new cars in the U.S. despite postwar inflation. Typical sticker prices ranged roughly from the high-$800s to the mid-$900s, with sporty variants introduced at strikingly low prices by the end of the decade.

Here are notable postwar price touchpoints that kept Crosley on top of the value charts.

• Mid-to-late 1940s Crosley sedans/coupes: generally about $870–$950, depending on year and trim.
• 1949 Crosley Hotshot roadster: listed around $849, making even a sports-oriented model one of the era’s cheapest new cars.
• Context: by comparison, mainstream 1946–1949 Chevrolets and Fords often started in the $1,300–$1,500 range; even utilitarian vehicles like the Willys CJ-2A were typically above $1,000.

These numbers underscore that no mass-produced American car undercut Crosley’s pricing in the late 1940s.

Edge Case: The King Midget (Kit Microcar)

One wrinkle: the King Midget, launched in 1946, was sold initially as a kit for about $270, with assembled versions costing more. As a tiny, single-cylinder microcar, it undercut Crosley’s price but occupied a different niche—more akin to a kit-built cyclecar than a mainstream production automobile. If you include kits and microcars, the King Midget can claim the “cheapest” label; if you limit the field to fully built, mass-produced cars, Crosley retains the title in the U.S.

Outside the U.S.: The Cheapest Options by Market Late in the Decade

Because postwar recovery unfolded differently across countries, the lowest-priced cars varied by market. Below are widely recognized examples of budget leaders circa 1948–1949, acknowledging that taxes, currency reforms, and equipment could move real-world prices.

• France: Citroën 2CV — introduced in 1948 and sold in 1949 at roughly 200,000–230,000 francs, it was designed explicitly to be the nation’s most affordable new car.
• West Germany: Volkswagen Type 1 (Beetle) — by 1949, priced around 5,000 DM and positioned as an economical family car during the country’s reconstruction.
• United Kingdom: Bond Minicar — launched in 1949 from about £262 including purchase tax, undercutting conventional cars like the Morris Minor; technically a three-wheeler microcar.
• Italy: Fiat 500 “Topolino” — among the most affordable conventional cars available, though not always the absolute cheapest as microcars were emerging elsewhere.

These examples show that while the specific nameplate differs by country, late-1940s buyers across Europe also gravitated to ultra-frugal designs aimed at basic mobility.

The Bottom Line

For the 1940s overall, the cheapest new, fully built production car in the United States was the Crosley—first at roughly mid-$300s before the war and then under $1,000 afterward, a position it held through the decade’s end. In other markets recovering from WWII, cars like the Citroën 2CV, Volkswagen Beetle, and Bond Minicar defined the low-price end, reflecting local economic conditions and tax structures. If kit microcars are included, the King Midget undercuts them all on sticker price, but it falls outside conventional mass-production categories.

Summary

Cheapest car of the 1940s: in the U.S., Crosley was the least expensive mass-produced new car, prewar at about $325–$350 and postwar typically under $1,000. In Europe near decade’s end, the Citroën 2CV (France), Volkswagen Beetle (West Germany), and Bond Minicar (UK) were the standout budget choices in their respective markets. Kit-built microcars like the King Midget cost even less but weren’t mainstream production automobiles.

What car was popular in the 1940s?

Cadillac Series 62 was the quintessential ’40s car, alongside the Buick Super, the Roadmaster and the Oldsmobile 98.

How much did a car cost in the 1940s?

In 1940, the average price for a new car was around $850, though prices varied by manufacturer and model, with some low-cost models like the Willys starting as low as $495 and a 1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe beginning around $599 for a base model. 
Here’s a breakdown of car prices in 1940:

• Average Price: Approximately $850. 
• Lower-Cost Models: A Willys automobile started at about $495. A standard 1940 Ford Coupe cost $599. 
• Specific Models: A 1940 Plymouth 2-door sedan cost $739, and a 1940 Pontiac DeLuxe Torpedo Six was priced at $828. 

What is the most cheapest car in history?

Tata Nano
For many years, the Tata Nano was the world’s cheapest car ever. Back in the day, the Indian manufactured motor experienced high demand for the 625cc, twin-cylinder engine, £1700 priced tagged Nano. The back-to-basics bargain car entered production in 2008 and ceased in 2017.

How much was a cheap car in 1950?

Cars & Clothing
In 1950 the average cost of a new car was $1,510.00 and by 1959 was $2,200. Now, it is nearly $14,000.