World War II was an undeniable turning point in American history. Once we entered the war in 1941, production efforts for military purposes increased dramatically and helped to pull our country from the remnants of the Great Depression. The automobile industry was one of the largest and most important players in the war effort, and World War II affected the auto industry not only while the war was going on, but it had a lasting impact after the war as well.
When the United States entered WWII, large quantities of military supplies were needed in a hurry, and citizens and companies all over the country were making sacrifices to support the war effort. The automobile industry was one of the largest contributors to this effort and during the war, they collectively provided $29 billion worth of military supplies. This equated to almost 20% of the entire military material output of the country (Rae, 2015). This shift from creating automobiles to providing military supplies such as machine guns, tanks, and helmets, reduced the number and quality of automobiles produced during the war. Little progress was made in the way of improving the technology used in automobiles, and design and style were not considered. However, this opened the door for a boom in production and an expansion in the range of cars provided after the war was finished.
Once World War II ended, automakers began expanding and advancing their offerings to cater to the increase in consumer demand that began happening after the war and well into the 1950s. Cars became sleeker and more innovative, and this is when we began to see new automobile designs that became so iconic in the 1950s (like the one pictured here). Starting after the war and in the 50s, people began using their automobiles as an expression of their personal preferences, rather than just for practical uses. Cars were beginning to become engrained in the American culture and lifestyle—much the way we see it today—and much of this was due to the significant advancements made during the surge in production after World War II.
Citations:
Rae, John Bell. "Automotive Industry." Encyclopedia Britannica. 8 Apr. 2013. Web. 17 Mar. 2015.
Dreyer, Rachael. "Automotive History." Bentley Historical Library. University of Michigan, 1 July 2009. Web. 16 Feb. 2015.
When the United States entered WWII, large quantities of military supplies were needed in a hurry, and citizens and companies all over the country were making sacrifices to support the war effort. The automobile industry was one of the largest contributors to this effort and during the war, they collectively provided $29 billion worth of military supplies. This equated to almost 20% of the entire military material output of the country (Rae, 2015). This shift from creating automobiles to providing military supplies such as machine guns, tanks, and helmets, reduced the number and quality of automobiles produced during the war. Little progress was made in the way of improving the technology used in automobiles, and design and style were not considered. However, this opened the door for a boom in production and an expansion in the range of cars provided after the war was finished.
Once World War II ended, automakers began expanding and advancing their offerings to cater to the increase in consumer demand that began happening after the war and well into the 1950s. Cars became sleeker and more innovative, and this is when we began to see new automobile designs that became so iconic in the 1950s (like the one pictured here). Starting after the war and in the 50s, people began using their automobiles as an expression of their personal preferences, rather than just for practical uses. Cars were beginning to become engrained in the American culture and lifestyle—much the way we see it today—and much of this was due to the significant advancements made during the surge in production after World War II.
Citations:
Rae, John Bell. "Automotive Industry." Encyclopedia Britannica. 8 Apr. 2013. Web. 17 Mar. 2015.
Dreyer, Rachael. "Automotive History." Bentley Historical Library. University of Michigan, 1 July 2009. Web. 16 Feb. 2015.