A Deluxe Decade

 It's well known that the automobile industry had taken a serious hit in the 1930s as the Great Depression rolled across the nation and the world. Things didn't get much better for car sales during the 1940s as World War II caused manufactures to turn their factories toward arming America's fighting forces (granted the companies made very good money during this time it just wasn't on civilian vehicles).

Chevrolet, being the "entry" level line of the General Motors empire, was able to maintain some fairly respectable, for the time, sales numbers. Much of that, during the 1940s, was due to the Chevy Deluxe.

Introduced in 1941 as a four door sedan, numerous other body styles and trims were added throughout its life span, the first being a two door coupe. The car was pure 1940s style with smooth, rounded curves and headlights mounted in the bulbous front fenders. This first generation had two trims, the Master and the Special Deluxe. In 1946, despite minuscule changes in the cars, the trim names were changed to Stylemaster and Fleetmaster.

The initial series, which ran through the 1948 model year, was powered by a 216 cubic inch inline six cylinder engine that generated 90 horse power. A three speed manual transmission was standard but a Power Glide automatic was optional. Interiors were, logically enough, spartan considering the lean economic years being seen by the entire nation. Still, there was chrome to be had.

1949 saw Chevy's first styling changes following the war. The Deluxe had become Chevy's top of the line model with a starting price of just under $1500. The biggest upgrades were the addition of 11 inch brake drums, a front suspension with stabilizers and a new, full instrument panel. The now improved Thriftmaster 216.5 cubic inch engine generated up to 92 horse power.

The following year saw the introduction of a new hardtop coupe trim that was dubbed the Bel Air. It featured such amenities as a full upgraded cord and leather-vinyl trim and full carpeting, options previously not available in a Chevrolet. Also, an optional 235 cubic inch inline six that pushed 106 horse power was available.

Following the 1952 model year the Deluxe line was halted. The Special and Deluxe names were replace with 150 and 210 and the Bel Air, as history will surly recall, became its own highly successful line.

The two cars seen here are a first generation 1948 Coupe and a second generation 1949 Coupe. Both are beautiful cars and even today you can see why they were in demand during the war and post war years.