It takes a special kind of person to own a pre-1945 car. The sort of man who isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty because no mechanic will even try to touch your car. Enormous, mechanically complex engines for which no spares exist and that are woefully inefficient by modern standards. To own one, you either have to be the car whisperer or have a particularly insane mechanic at your side. Is all that worth it? If so, which one would you pick?
I’ve nothing but respect for the people valiant enough to actually keep that sort of car on the road. Thanks to the magic of online auctions and 3D printers, it’s now easier to keep 70+ year-old cars alive and kicking. But it is still equal parts simple and complex. Simple, because of the straightforward nature of the engines and the electronics in comparison to modern cars: no variable valve timing and miles upon miles of wiring here. However, when something goes wrong and the fix involves replacing parts, the simple things can become complex (or at least expensive) rather quickly.
Personally, there are a few vehicles from that era that pique my interest. The amazing and innovative Cord 812 sedan would be a delight to own. I am now contractually obligated to mention the pre-selector transmission, where you first selected the gear and then pushed the clutch pedal. Doing so made an array of electromagnets and valves made the gearshift by vacuum. Interestingly enough, a modified and reinforced version of this gearbox would go on to be fitted to the Tucker Torpedo.
If I were feeling more traditional it’d have to be either a Cadillac V-16 or a Lincoln Model K. The Cadillac V-16 was a one-year wonder for Cadillac. Launched in the midst of the Great Depression, it shifted 4,076 units before being sent to the history books. The Lincoln Model K lasted way longer (1931-1939), so there’d be more to choose from.
However, the one car from the pre-war I’d buy without a doubt is a 1934 Chrysler Airflow. I just find its streamlined design very pretty. Which is more than what was said about it by the American public at the time of its release. Was this the first love-it-or-hate-it design by an American manufacturer? I’m not sure, but it certainly was polarizing–so much so, that Chrysler had to “traditionalize” it through yearly revisions until the final 1937 model bore more than a passing resemblance to a Ford. The original one, however, was inspired by streamlined trains and looked like nothing else on the market. I absolutely love it for its boldness and its clever engineering, even if they hadn’t quite sorted it out when it hit the showrooms and there was a slim chance the engine would separate from its mounts if you went above 80.
What about you? Do you also think the Airflow was the most desirable car made before the war? Maybe one of the cars I mentioned above, or something else entirely?
I think it would be easier to list the prewar cars I wouldn’t want.
Realistically, a Model T or A would probably be the easiest/cheapest to keep on the road
I’d love to have a late 20s Packard dual cowl phaeton like the ones I saw as a kid at the Mt Kisco car show, or an Aston Martin Ulster.
I have a Model T and they are easy to work on with great parts availability. They’re really cheap too. Mine is a Depot Hack, but I’d really like a Roadster Pickup. Other choices if I won the lottery would be a Locomobile, pre-1916 Packard, or a Stutz Bearcat.
Duesenberg Model J, from when American cars were the best cars, an age killed by progressive politics.
Brilliant historical observation! The Great Depression had nothing to do with it, right? Never mind; don’t answer.
Not a small number of people believe the Great Depressions was caused, or at least acerbated by, wrong-headed politics. However, that being said, the decadence of the 20s was not going to last forever, stock market crash or not. The decadent cars of the period also were not going to last forever. Henry Ford and mass production of everything can’t coexist in a free market with such excess.
“Henry ford and mass production of everything can’t coexist in a free market with such excess.”
That doesn’t really make sense. The level of inequality in this country today is approaching 1920’s levels…and is there really that much of a difference, cost/excessiveness/exclusivity-wise, between some of the grand luxury cars of the 30’s and something like a Veyron, MP4-12c, or even a Phantom?
The existence of one does not preclude the existence of the other.
The prestige of owning a Duesenberg automobile is greatly diminished when a common man can buy a cheap Ford V8 that will do most everything the Duesenberg will do. When the prestige dies, so does the automobile, because at the price they need to get for one it is no longer worth it without the accompanying prestige.
Fast forward 50 years…when the prestige of owning an exquisitely crafted wood console Curtis Mathes color tv dissipates because anyone can buy a cheap plastic tabletop TV with just as good or nearly as good a picture, the Curtis Mathes TV ceases to exist. The prestige is eliminated and then the brand is eliminated.
and the list goes on…
I’d take an Airflow.
Boy, hard choice. The Cord is cool, as is the Airflow. But how about an early 30s Ford woody with a flathead?
The last of the 12 cylinder Packards…like say a creme colored 39 boat tail speedster…or just a plain black hardtop coupe.
I don’t know. maybe a 41 plymouth coupe
Agree about the Airflow.
make mine a coupe with the straight eight
not a fully restored one either, but one with 1930s paint and trim.
If I could have two, a V12 Packard coupe, in the same condition
both in black of course.
Its not asking too much is it ?
A pre WWII car that I could actually drive, and it would hold together long enough to get somewhere?
There could only be one: 40 Ford DeLuxe convert. Significant power, hydraulic brakes (finally) and one of the neatest sounding engines around. We “Leave it to Beaver” fans loved when Lumpy showed up in his 40 Ford with glasspacks. One of the most wicked sounding cars on TV.
This might be the same car. Better look at the outside and under the hood.
As Paul said above, it’s a trick question, but if someone twisted my arm, I’d have a Steyr Klausen Sport with the supercharged 5L engine and go vintage Bentley chasing…
.. a 33 Ford Model 40, rodded in 40s style…
… a Tatra 87 (but with a tied down suspension to avoid trepidatory moments)…
… a 1940 Chevrolet Woody as an everyday / family car
… and a streamlined Sterling truck (albeit not with the chain drive) fitted with the Hall-Scott 6 cyl. gasoline engine… Just because. I think I’ll stop now, this is getting out of control.
38 or 39 Chev coupe will do me I’d drop in a 214 cube Bedford truck motor for full pressure lubrication a set of headers and call it good.
How about the 300:)
Blower Bentley or Morris 8
Dream car would be a Cord 810 or 812.
Practical alternative would be getting back my 1937 Buick Special. Those were actually very simple cars. If you can work on a 1960 Falcon, you can work on one of those.
I have little experience with many cars from the pre-war era. Most of the ones I’ve been exposed to have been either full-on race cars or hot rods. That said, there are some of those I think I’d like as that kind of car. But I think the question is more about a totally unmodified car, which makes the decision especially difficult.
Having been accustomed to all sorts of wonderful advances in automobiling in the last several decades, to drive one of these old-timers would be a trip back in time.
I think if I were forced to make a choice, it would be heavily influenced by my recent trip to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum. I saw this car there, and was really charmed by it.
A 1939 Hupmobile Skylark.
Oh man.. This is a hard one! I love most of the cars from the ’30’s and ’40’s, for their beautiful styling and simple mechanics.. And I’ve come to really admire the convertible sedan body style. If I had to choose, I think my favorite would be a 1939 Plymouth convertible sedan….
…With one of these in tow!
This being a 1937 Covered Wagon travel trailer, of course.
Pretty strange choices for a 19 year old kid, huh?
I love the ’39 Plymouth! First car with square headlights?
And I got a book called “Cars of the ’30s” in second grade that warped me for life – you’re never too young to wander into the past.
I had a 1939 Dodge sedan in the 1970’s….
Good cars .
-Nate
A 1941 Packard Custom Super Eight 180 Sport Brougham by LeBaron, dark blue, no sidemounts and runningboards, with air conditioning……
……or maybe a 1940 Packard Custom Super Eight 180 Convertible Sedan by Darrin, also with air conditioning……
or…….
A Harley WLA.
I would take any Stutz with the DV32 engine. I would prefer a closed model though.
cc listing from 2012 the marmon 16. https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classic-1931-marmon-sixteen-death-with-dignity/