The decade of the 1930s was, of course, the decade of the Great Depression and during this time the number of automobile manufacturers decreased. In 1930, there were 2.8 million cars sold and in 1932, at the depth of the Depression, this had dropped to 1.1 million. Among the automobile brands that died during the 1930s were Chandler, Elcar, Jordan, Graham, Kissel, Gardner, Hupmobile, Moon, and Peerless.
The 1930s
In 1932, Ford introduced its V8 engine which soon earned a reputation for performance. In his book The American Automobile: A Centenary 1893-1993, Nick Georgano reports:
“The Ford V8 was the first low-priced eight-cylinder engine, and it was a long time before the competition caught up.”
Straight-eight engines were offered by brands such as Buick, Chrysler, Nash, Oldsmobile, Packard, Pontiac, and Studebaker.
Luxury cars continued to be made and sold during the Depression. Nick Georgano reports:
“It is ironical that some of the finest American cars of any age were made during the depths of the depression.”
Cadillac was the leader in the luxury car field and introduced its V16 engine in 1930. In its first year, more than 2,800 V16 Cadillacs were sold, but this fell to 364 the following year and to 300 in 1932. This was due in part from the Depression and in part to competition from the V12s offered by Lincoln, Packard, and Pierce-Arrow.
In the 1930s, closed cars (coupes and sedans) outsold open cars (roadsters and phaetons) by a ten to one margin. Hydraulic four-wheel brakes replaced mechanical brakes which provided a shorter stopping distances and improved safety.
With regard to the social impact of automobiles, the first drive-in movie theater open in New Jersey in 1933.
The LeMay Family Collections at Marymount in Tacoma, Washington is the Northwest’s largest automobile collection. There are more than 1,500 vehicles in the collection. The museum is on historic grounds of former Marymount Military Academy and vehicles are displayed and stored in three buildings. Shown below are some of the cars from 1930.
1930 Stutz 4-Door Sedan SV-16
This car sold new for $4,495 and fewer than 300 were produced. The SV-16 designates two valves per cylinder. This car has an inline 8-cylinder, 322 cubic inch, 113 horsepower engine.
1930 LaSalle Fleetwood 2/4 Roadster
This car sold new for $2,450 and 11,005 were produced. It has a V8, 340 cubic inch, 90 horsepower engine.
1930 Packard 740 4-Door Sedan
This car sold new for $3,585. It has a straight 8, 384 cubic inch, 106 horsepower engine.
1930 Pierce-Arrow 143 4-Door Sedan
The “143” referred to the wheelbase. A total of 9,700 were produced. It has a top speed of 85 mph and sold new for $3,750. It has a straight 8, 365 cubic inch, 125 horsepower engine.
More automobiles
LeMay Family Collection: Cars of the 1930s (Photo Diary)
America’s Car Museum: Some cars of the 1930s (photo diary)
America’s Car Museum: Cars from the 1930s in the LeMay Collection (photo diary)
Museums 101: A couple of Chryslers and a Plymouth from the 1930s
Car Show: Cars from the 1930s (Photo Diary)
WAAAM: Chevrolet Automobiles of the 1920s and 1930s (Photo Diary)
Packard Museum: Convertibles of the 1930s (photo diary)
Packard Museum: Sedans of the 1930s (photo diary)
Museums 201: Ford coupes of the 1930s (photo diary)
Museums 201: Luxury Cars of the 1930s
Museums 101: 1930s Fords in the Classic Auto Museum (photo diary)
Museums 101: Automobiles of the 1930s (Photo Diary)
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