American Car Brands of the 1940s

American car brands active in the 1940s included Chevrolet, Ford, Plymouth, Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Pontiac, Chrysler, Dodge, DeSoto, Lincoln, Mercury, Packard, Hudson, Nash, Studebaker, Willys (with Jeep-branded products), Kaiser, Frazer, Crosley, Tucker, and Checker; early in the decade, LaSalle, Hupmobile, Graham, and American Bantam were still present but soon exited. The decade was defined by a wartime halt in civilian production from 1942 to 1945 and a postwar boom that brought both fresh designs and new marques.

The Big Three and Their Car Divisions

General Motors

General Motors entered the 1940s with a full ladder of car divisions, though one companion marque, LaSalle, was dropped after the 1940 model year.

• Chevrolet — Entry-level GM brand throughout the 1940s.
• Pontiac — Mid-priced division active across the decade.
• Oldsmobile — Mid-to-upper segment, continuous in the 1940s.
• Buick — Upper-middle to near-luxury, strong postwar presence.
• Cadillac — Luxury flagship, active through the decade.
• LaSalle — Cadillac companion marque; final model year 1940.

Together, GM’s divisions bookended the market from budget to luxury, with LaSalle a brief 1940s holdover before consolidation.

Ford Motor Company

Ford’s lineup spanned popular, mid-priced, and luxury segments, with Mercury still relatively new after its 1939 debut.

• Ford — Mass-market mainstay, resuming strong after the war.
• Mercury — Mid-priced brand launched in 1939, active throughout the 1940s.
• Lincoln — Luxury division, including Zephyr/Continental lineage early in the decade.

Ford’s three-tier structure persisted, helping the company rebound quickly in the postwar market.

Chrysler Corporation

Chrysler’s multi-brand strategy covered entry-level to near-luxury niches, with Imperial still a Chrysler model line rather than a standalone marque in this era.

• Plymouth — Entry-level brand, a volume pillar before and after WWII.
• Dodge — Midrange cars (in addition to trucks), strong 1946–49 offerings.
• DeSoto — Mid-to-upper segment brand, active across the decade.
• Chrysler — Upper-tier brand; Imperial was a Chrysler series, not a separate brand in the 1940s.

Chrysler’s brands helped fill key price segments, with Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, and Chrysler all returning to civilian cars after wartime production.

Independent Makers and Postwar Newcomers

Beyond Detroit’s Big Three, several independents were prominent before and after the war, and a handful of new brands appeared in the late 1940s to capitalize on pent-up demand.

• Packard — Prestige and luxury independent, continuous through the decade.
• Hudson — Independent known for engineering innovation; active throughout the 1940s.
• Nash — Pioneer of unitized construction (Nash 600), active all decade.
• Studebaker — Independent with distinctive postwar designs (notably 1947–49).
• Willys-Overland (Willys) — Built the Americar early in the decade; produced the wartime Jeep and late-1940s civilian Jeep, station wagon (1946), and Jeepster (1948). “Jeep” was widely used as a product name, though it was not yet a standalone marque separate from Willys.
• Kaiser — New postwar brand (first cars 1947) from Kaiser-Frazer.
• Frazer — Companion brand to Kaiser (first cars 1947).
• Crosley — Small, economical cars (1939–1952), resumed after the war.
• Tucker — Short-lived startup (Tucker 48, 1948) with advanced features.
• Checker — Taxi-focused manufacturer; limited civilian sales, resumed production postwar.

These independents broadened consumer choice, with some—like Packard, Hudson, Nash, and Studebaker—well established, and others—like Kaiser, Frazer, Crosley, and Tucker—reflecting the burst of postwar entrepreneurial energy.

Brands Present Only at the Start of the 1940s

A few American marques were still selling passenger cars at the decade’s outset but disappeared as the industry consolidated and war demands reshaped priorities.

• LaSalle — GM’s Cadillac companion marque, discontinued after 1940.
• Hupmobile — Final cars around 1940–1941 (including the Skylark built with Graham).
• Graham — Last passenger cars in 1941 (Graham Hollywood); exited car production afterward.
• American Bantam — Built small cars into 1941; shifted to military work (influential in Jeep development).

These brands mark the tail end of prewar diversity, their exits reflecting both economic pressures and the industry’s wartime pivot.

Wartime Pause and Postwar Restart

From early 1942 through 1945, U.S. automakers halted civilian car production to build military equipment. When civilian production resumed in late 1945 and especially for 1946 model years, most brands initially sold lightly updated prewar designs. By 1948–1949, new bodies and features arrived across the market, and startups like Kaiser, Frazer, and Tucker made their bids—some briefly—before the industry again consolidated in the 1950s.

What This Means for Identifying 1940s Brands

If you’re cataloging “American car brands in the 1940s,” include the Big Three divisions (Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Cadillac; Ford, Mercury, Lincoln; Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler), the independents that spanned the decade (Packard, Hudson, Nash, Studebaker, Willys), the late-1940s arrivals (Kaiser, Frazer, Crosley, Tucker, Checker), and note the early-decade departures (LaSalle, Hupmobile, Graham, American Bantam). Also remember that “Jeep” functioned primarily as a Willys product name in this period rather than a fully separate marque.

Summary

The American car landscape of the 1940s encompassed the Big Three’s full brand portfolios; stalwart independents like Packard, Hudson, Nash, Studebaker, and Willys; late-decade newcomers Kaiser, Frazer, Crosley, Tucker, and Checker; and early-decade holdovers LaSalle, Hupmobile, Graham, and American Bantam. Civilian production paused 1942–1945 for the war, then roared back with updated prewar designs followed by modern postwar models as the decade closed.

What are the old American car brands?

Old American car brands include both currently existing ones like Ford, Cadillac, and Chevrolet, which have been around for over a century, and defunct brands such as Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Studebaker, and Duesenberg. Other historical brands are Buick and Packard, while some smaller or more niche examples include Nash, Hudson, and Studebaker. 
Here’s a breakdown of some of these brands:
Major, Long-Standing Brands

• Ford Motor Company: Founded in 1903, known for the revolutionary Model T. 
• General Motors (GM): A holding company that owns several old brands like Buick, Cadillac, and Chevrolet. 
• Chrysler Corporation: The third of the “Big Three” American automakers. 

Well-Known Brands That No Longer Exist 

• Oldsmobile: . Opens in new tabThe oldest American car brand when it closed in 2004, founded in 1897 and later part of GM. 
• Pontiac: . Opens in new tabA defunct brand that was part of General Motors. 
• Dodge: . Opens in new tabA brand that began in 1900 and is still in use today, making it one of the older brands that remains in operation. 
• Studebaker: . Opens in new tabAn American icon, the company’s origins stretch back to the 19th century before it shifted to automobiles. 
• Packard: . Opens in new tabKnown for luxury vehicles, Packard was a significant manufacturer in its time before being absorbed into Studebaker. 

Other Notable Historical Brands

• Duesenberg: An era-defining luxury brand known for its high-performance vehicles. 
• Nash / Hudson: These independent brands merged to form American Motors Corporation (AMC) before eventually being absorbed. 
• Cord: A stylish, innovative brand from the 1930s, notable for its advanced front-wheel drive designs. 

What was a popular car in the 1940s?

The 1947 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan was Chevrolet’s most popular model in 1947. This car featured fastback styling which was in high demand in the 1940s. This led to increased sales. Learn all about the two-door 1947 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan.

What were the big four car companies in the 1950s?

Twenty-four years more, and we find in 1955 just five companies making cars — or at least accounting for 99.7 percent of all cars — General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, American Motors (Nash-Hudson), and Studebaker-Packard.

What were the American car companies in ww2?

These companies were Briggs, Chrysler, Firestone, Hudson, Goodrich, Goodyear, and Libby-Owens-Ford. Several Fisher Body Divisions, along with seventeen component divisions of GM, supplied parts. Dodge supplied the engines. For the complete story, please see the dedicated B-29 page above.