Popular Cars in the 1930s

by Alexander SamUpdated July 05, 2023
itstillruns article image
Heidi Patricola/iStock/GettyImages

The american 1930s were an important time for cars in the United States with the introduction of four-wheel hydraulic brakes, radio and heaters. New car models began being characterized as more aerodynamic and taking on a smoother shape. This decade of car ingenuity also marked the beginning of V-8, the V-12, and the V-16 engines. Despite the great depression of the 1930s and the decline of auto purchases, there were a few car designs and automakers that were quite popular such as cadillacs, chevrolet, audi, and chrysler as well as luxury car and sports car brands such as mercedes-benz, bmw, lincoln, jaguar, porsche, and bugatti

Buick Series 40

The Series 40 car produced by Buick in the 1930s was one of the company's most successful 1930s car. The company released new models of the Series 40 in 1934, 1936, 1937, 1939 and 1940. One of the most popular models of the Series 40 was the 1934 model, which was powered by a rear-wheel drive and an eight-cylinder engine, with a max horsepower of 87. The 1934 model was quite large weighing 3,700 lb. The popularity of the vehicle was its styling and eight-cylinder engine performance.

1932 Ford V-8 Cabriolet

The 1932 Ford model V-8 Cabriolet was made famous for its one-piece V-8 engine (65 hp), which improved on the previous V4 engine. The V-8 engine was fabricated from one piece and containing a down draft carburetor, which allowed the vehicle to outperform all other popular car competitors in 1932, states The Henry Ford Organization. The car was differently styled with improved proportions compared to the classic car, reflecting Edsel Ford's unique design sense. The 1932 model of V-8 Cabriolet weighed around 2,400 lb. This deluxe car was popular because it was smaller than other cars and had unique exterior styling. It also had a powerful engine and airflow for its size, making it quite the speedster in the auto industry.

Plymouth Model 30U

The Plymouth Model 30U made its debut in 1930, replacing the Plymouth U. The vehicle enjoyed one of the most successful production runs in the company's history lasting for 14 months. Unlike many of the other cars in the 1930s, the Plymouth was only four-cylinders and 48 hp. It came in a number of styles including a four-door sedan model, a business coupe and a true convertible coupe. The car also came with a unique Klaxon 16 horn, which the car became characterized by.

Video: Most Beautiful and Fastest Cars of the 1930s

More Articles

article divider
×