1945–1960 Economy car

1948 crosley station wagon

in anticipation of repeat of post first world war economic recession, gm started chevrolet cadet project (a compact car intended sell less us$1,000), ran 1945 1947, extend chevrolet range downwards in u.s. new car market. chevrolet head of engineering earle s. macpherson in charge of development. had unibody structure, over-square on head valve engine, strut-type front suspension, small-diameter road wheels, three-speed gearbox, brake , clutch pedals suspended bulkhead rather floor-mounted, , integrated fender/body styling. light , technically advanced, gm s management cancelled it, stating not economically viable. anticipated post second world war u.s. car market recession hadn t materialised. macpherson strut, world s common form of independent suspension, evolved in gm cadet project combining long tubular shock absorbers external coil springs, , locating them in tall towers directed vertical travel of wheels , formed king pin or swivel pin axis around front wheels turn. elegantly simple, 3 links holding wheel in place - strut itself, single-piece transverse lower arm, , anti-roll bar doubled drag link wheel hub. macpherson took ideas ford instead. first used in french 1948 ford vedette. next in 1950 british ford consul , zephyr (british mid-size cars, same size cadet), owed more cadet macpherson strut suspension, , caused sensation when launched. in 1953, miniaturised economy car version, anglia 100e launched in britain.

renault 4cv



ford anglia 101e



first generation ripple bonnet citroën 2cv built 1949–1960



saab 92 1949

as europe , japan rebuilt war, growing economies led steady increase in demand cheap cars motorise masses . emerging technology allowed economy cars become more sophisticated. post-war economy cars vw beetle, citroën 2cv, renault 4cv, , saab 92 looked extremely minimal; however, technologically more advanced conventional cars of time.

the 4cv designed covertly renault engineers during world war ii german occupation of france, when under strict orders design , produce commercial , military vehicles. between 1941 , 1944, renault under technical directorship of francophile german installed former daimler benz engineer called wilhelm von urach turned blind eye small, economy car project suitable period of post war austerity. design team went against wishes of louis renault in 1940 believed post-war renault should concentrate on mid-range cars. after row in may 1941 did louis renault approve project. in october 1944 after liberation, louis renault imprisoned on charges of collaboration, died in suspicious circumstances. in january 1945, newly nationalised renault had officially acquired new boss, former resistance hero pierre lefaucheux, (he had been acting administrator since september 1944). lefaucheux had been arrested gestapo in june 1944, , deported buchenwald concentration camp. gestapo transferred him metz interrogation, city deserted because of advancing allied front, germans abandoned prisoner. in november 1945 french government invited ferdinand porsche france looking relocate volkswagen project part of war reparations. on 15 december 1945, porsche invited consult renault renault 4cv. lefaucheux enraged should think production-ready renault 4cv in way inspired german volkswagen, , politicians should presume send porsche advise on it. government insisted on 9 meetings porsche took place in rapid succession. lefaucheux insisted meetings have absolutely no influence on design of renault 4cv, , porsche cautiously went on record saying car ready large scale production in year. lefaucheux man contacts, 4cv project meetings had taken place, porsche arrested in connection war crimes allegations involving use of forced labour including french in volkswagen plant in germany. ferdinand porsche, despite never facing sort of trial, spent next twenty months in dijon jail. 760 cc rear-mounted four-cylinder engine, three-speed manual transmission 4cv launched @ 1946 paris motor show , went on sale year later. volume production of marshall plan aid money, said have commenced @ company s parisian boulogne-billancourt plant few weeks before paris motor show of october 1947, although cars in short supply next year or so. on 4cv s launch, nicknamed la motte de beurre (the lump of butter); due combination of shape , use of surplus paint german army vehicles of rommel s afrika korps, sand-yellow color.

the vw featured 1.1-litre, air-cooled flat four, rear engine rear-wheel drive, round independent suspension, semi monocoque construction , ability cruise on autobahn long periods reliably. cruising ability , engine durability gained high top gearing, , restricting engine breathing , performance below maximum capability. production restarted after war british army royal electrical , mechanical engineers, under major ivan hirst after dismissed valueless war reparations western allies. in 1948 hirst recruited heinrich nordhoff run volkswagen gmbh , in 1949 ownership handed on west german government. volkswagen type 1 beetle become popular single design in history. production surpassed ford model t on february 17, 1972. withdrawn european market in 1978.

the 375 cc citroën 2cv had interconnected round independent suspension, rack , pinion steering, radial tyres , front-wheel drive air-cooled flat twin engine , four-speed gearbox. 10 15 mpg (imperial) more fuel efficient other economy car of time – restricted performance match. designed motorise rural communities speed not requirement. original design brief had been issued before second world war in mid-1930s. had been redesigned 3 times, market , materials costs had changed drastically during development period. engine size increased on time; 1970 still tiny 602 cc. in production until 1990.

the saab 92 had transversely mounted, water-cooled two-cylinder, two-stroke based on dkw design, driving front wheels. had aircraft derived monocoque construction, aerodynamic (drag coefficient) value of 0.30 – not bettered until 1980s. later developed saab 93, saab 95, , saab 96. produced until 1980, switching v4 4 stroke engine in 1960s. mechanicals used in saab sonett sports cars.

also in immediate postwar period, monocoque fr layout morris minor launched in 1948. reduce costs reused pre-war side-valve 918 cubic centimetres (56.0 cu in) morris 8 engine instead of intended flat-four. later, after 1952 formation of british motor corporation had austin designed 948cc , later 1098cc ohv bmc a-series engine. had strong emphasis on packaging , roadholding, independent front suspension , rack , pinion steering, , american influenced styling. produced in different body styles including 2-door , 4-door saloon, 2-door convertible, woody estate car / station wagon, van rear box , pick-up truck. 1.3 million had been built end of production in 1971. designed alec issigonis.

1953 morris minor



1947 toyota toyopet model sa

the 1947 fr layout toyota sa toyota s first true post war design. although permission begin full production of passenger cars in japan not granted until 1949, limited numbers of cars permitted built 1947, , toyota sa 1 such car. had 4-cylinder engine, 4-wheel independent suspension , smaller, aerodynamic body. project driven kiichiro toyoda, of design work done kazuo kumabe. two-door body aerodynamic in style similar volkswagen beetle. doors hinged @ rear (often called suicide doors). front window single pane of flat glass single wiper mounted above driver. right hand drive offered. toyota engineers (including dr kumabe) had visited germany before world war ii , had studied porsche , volkswagen designs (independent suspension, aerodynamic bodies, backbone chassis, rear-mounted air-cooled engines, economical production cost). many japanese companies had ties germany during war years. unlike other japanese car firms toyota did not partner western companies after war, free use german designs. many features of prototype beetle subsequently put sa, although beetle s rear-mounted air-cooled engine feature not used. later on, toyota revisited economic principles exemplified beetle when designing 1950s successors sa , later publica , corolla.

in post war austerity of late 1940s, when of japanese population not afford car, afford motorcycle, japanese codified legal standard extremely economical small cars, known keicar. aim promote growth of car industry, offer alternative delivery method small business , shop owners. limited mere 150 cc (100 cc two-strokes) in 1949, dimensions , engine size limitations gradually increased (in 1950, 1951, , 1955) tempt more manufacturers produce kei cars. wasn t until 1955 change 360 cc upper limit two-strokes four-strokes class began taking off, cars suzuki suzulight (front-wheel drive based on german lloyd dkw type engine) , subaru 360, able fill people s need basic transportation without being severely compromised. generation keicars on market rear-engined, rear drive rr layout cars. end of 1960s keicars switched front-engined, front-wheel-drive ff layout. market has thrived ever since, cars increasing in size , engine capacity, including sports cars such honda beat , suzuki cappuccino, , miniaturised mpvs.

in 1953, in japan hino entered private car market, manufacturing renault 4cv under licence. also, in 1953 fiat 1100 in italy redesigned compact four-door sedan, modern monocoque bodywork , integrated front lights.

1951 nash rambler 2-door hardtop



nash metropolitan



restored original fiat 500 in street race in sicily, italy



1967 subaru 360

while economy cars flourished in europe , later japan, booming postwar american economy combined emergence of suburban , interstate highways in country led slow acceptance of small cars. brief economic recessions saw interest in economical cars wax , wane. during 1950s, independent lower volume american auto manufacturers launched new small cars. designed smaller contemporary american cars, still have mainstream appeal, because still accommodate 5 passengers comfortably conventional engineering , fr layout, establishing american sized compact car . nash motors launched nash rambler , kaiser-frazer introduced henry j in 1950. willys-overland (the designers of second world war jeep mb) willys aero in 1952, , hudson 1953 hudson jet. niche market avoiding competition big 3 of gm, ford , chrysler not large enough sustain these competing models. priced near cost of base model full sized car big three, in 1950s had price war. fuel prices during period low , maintenance costs of compacts as full sized cars, total running cost not cheaper. nash rambler made second generation. losses caused other car makers initiated succession of mergers resulted in american motors corporation (amc). nash contracted british motor corporation build american designed metropolitan using existing bmc mechanical components, (the 1.5 liter engine bmc b-series engine used in larger sizes in mg mga , mg mgb). imported cars began appear on u.s. market during time satisfy demands true economy cars. initial late 1940s–early 1950s success in small way, monocoque morris minor launched in 1948, miniaturized chevrolet styling. underpowered long distance roads of u.s. , freeways starting spread across country in 1950s. first british motorway did not open until 1959. bmc preferred develop higher profit margin mgs american market , worked nash , passed on opportunity. mid-1950s volkswagen beetle using clever , innovative advertising , capitalising on high build quality, durability , reliability, spectacular success. having been designed cruising autobahns, freeways no problem it. disproved scepticism of american buyers usefulness of, standards, such small cars. in 1955 vw launched beetle-based italian styled karmann ghia coupé, developed 1953 concept car. production doubled after introduction, becoming car imported u.s. more 445,000 stylish renault dauphine derived renault 4cv, looked follow vws footsteps, failure due mechanical breakdowns , body corrosion. failure on u.s. market in late 1950s, may have harmed acceptance of small cars in america.

in 1955, japanese ministry of international trade , industry set goal japanese makers create called national car larger kei car. influenced japanese automobile manufacturers focus product development efforts smaller kei cars, or larger national cars . concept stipulated vehicle able maintain maximum speed on 100 km/h (62 mph), weigh below 400 kg (882 lbs), fuel consumption @ 30 km/l (85 mpg‑imp; 71 mpg‑us) or more, @ average speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) on level road, , not require maintenance or significant service @ least 100,000 km (62,000 mi). established compact car class, far popular in japan due tax benefits stipulated japanese government regulations. 1 of first compact cars met requirements fr layout toyota publica flat twin engine, , rr layout mitsubishi 500. publica , mitsubishi 500 kei cars engines larger regulations permitted @ time.

in late 1950s ddr german democratic republic produced peoples car . trabant sold 3 million vehicles in thirty years due communist captive market. had transverse two-cylinder air-cooled two-stroke engine , front-wheel drive, using dkw technology.

in 1957, fiat in italy launched 479 cc nuovo fiat 500 designed dante giacosa. first real city car. had rear-mounted air-cooled vertical twin engine, , round independent suspension. target market italian scooter riders had settled down , had young family, , needed first car. produced in austria puch 500. fiat had launched larger 1955 fiat 600 similar layout water-cooled in-line four-cylinder engine, had six-seater people carrier / mpv / mini-van version called multipla , though same size modern supermini.

car body corrosion particular problem 1950s 1980s when cars moved monocoque or uni-body construction (starting 1930s), separate body-on-frame chassis made thick steel. relied on shaped body panels , box sections, sills/rockers, providing integrity of body-shell rather separate frame (vehicle) strength. light car fast and/or economical car. introduction of newly available computers structural analysis 1960s, computers ibm 360, thickness of sheet metal in bodyshells reduced minimum needed structural integrity. however, corrosion prevention / rustproofing, had not been significant because of thickness of metal , separate chassis, had not kept pace new construction technology. lightest monocoque economy cars affected structural corrosion.