Economy Models of the Post-Depression Era

The Great Depression that struck the United States in 1929 and spread around the world hit car sales hard. Some people still wanted cars, though their aspirations were lower. Upmarket car makers introduced smaller, more affordable versions for the new decade, and manufacturers of small cars made improvements to their models. The new low-price cars were mostly very usable four-seat sedans, much better equipped than earlier economy vehicles.

Singer Junior 8HP, 1927

 

Origin	UK
Engine	848 cc, straight-four
Top speed	55 mph (89 km/h)

Cars such as this one with its lively but economical overhead-camshaft engine made Singer one of the best-selling British manufacturers in the 1920s. In the 1930s, sales declined due to lack of development.

DKW FA, 1931

 

Origin	Germany
Engine	490 cc, straight-two
Top speed	47 mph (76 km/h)

DKW turned its little two-stroke engine sideways and mounted it behind a transverse gearbox to drive the front wheels. This achieved a much lighter and more compact powertrain.

Goliath Pionier, 1931

 

Origin	Germany
Engine	198 cc, one-cylinder
Top speed	28 mph (45 km/h)

From 1924 Carl Borgward made small commercial vehicles. During the economic crisis, he adapted the designs to make this small fabric-bodied car, 4,000 of which were sold.

Ford Model Y, 1932

 

Origin	UK
Engine	933 cc, straight-four
Top speed	57 mph (92 km/h)

Built in the UK, France, and Germany, the Model Y was perfect for the European market, and cheap enough to give Ford market leadership, a position it held for decades.

Adler Trumpf Junior, 1934

 

Origin	Germany
Engine	995 cc, straight-four
Top speed	57 mph (92 km/h)

This front-wheel-drive “people’s car” sold over 100,000 before the war. In two-seat sports form it achieved many successes, including second in class at the Le Mans race in 1937.

Austin Seven Ruby, 1934

 

Origin	UK
Engine	747 cc, straight-four
Top speed	50 mph (80 km/h)

Austin kept the Seven modern with synchromesh on the top three gears, effective four-wheel brakes, shock absorbers, and a sturdy body. However, the extra weight slowed it down.

Hansa 500, 1934

 

Origin	Germany
Engine	465 cc, straight-two
Top speed	40 mph (64 km/h)

Carl Borgward liked small cars; after the Goliath he designed the four-seat Hansa 400 and 500. However, as the economic crisis receded, larger cars were back in demand.

Fiat Topolino 500, 1936

 

Origin	Italy
Engine	569 cc, straight-four
Top speed	53 mph (85 km/h)

Dante Giacosa designed this “Fiat for the people” with a proper water-cooled engine up front and seats for two-though often more people were crammed in.

Hillman Minx Magnificent, 1936

 

Origin	UK
Engine	1,185 cc, straight-four
Top speed	62 mph (100 km/h)

Hillman’s affordable Minx sedan series began in 1932. In 1936 Hillman offered a better-equipped model with a much improved interior space compared with rival 10HP sedans.

Opel P4, 1936

 

Origin	Germany
Engine	1,074 cc, straight-four
Top speed	55 mph (89 km/h)

The P4 was developed from Opel’s earlier “Laubfrosch.” Conventional in both styling and engineering, it was well constructed and reliable, and popular for those reasons.

Morris Eight, 1936

 

Origin	UK
Engine	918 cc, straight-four
Top speed	58 mph (93 km/h)

The Eight saved Morris when Austin and Ford had knocked it into third place in the UK. In terms of layout, size, and mechanical specification, it copied the Ford Eight, but it sold well.

Vauxhall H-type Ten-Four, 1937

 

Origin	UK
Engine	1,203 cc, straight-four
Top speed	60 mph (97 km/h)

Vauxhall’s entry-level car was a little bigger than its rivals’ and boasted monocoque construction, independent front suspension, and hydraulic brakes. Sales reached 42,245.

American Bantam 60, 1937

 

Origin	USA
Engine	747 cc, straight-four
Top speed	55 mph (89 km/h)

Production of Austin Sevens under license in the United States had a spotty record from 1929. This restyle by Alexis de Sakhnoffsky looked American, but was too tiny to sell well.

Skoda Popular, 1938

 

Origin	Czechoslovakia
Engine	995 cc, straight-four
Top speed	62 mph (100 km/h)

Skoda produced innovative small cars in the 1930s. This model featured a wet-liner engine, single-tube backbone chassis, and swing-axle, independent rear suspension.

Lancia Aprilia, 1937

 

Origin	Italy
Engine	1,352 cc, V4
Top speed	80 mph (129 km/h)

Probably the most advanced prewar sedan, the monocoque Aprilia had all-independent suspension, a narrow-angle V4 engine with overhead cam, hydraulic brakes, and pillarless doors.

 

It is a quote. The Definitive Visual History Of The Automobile 2011