| 1930 |
Willys |
Willys six introduced; (Graham-Paige becomes Graham).
|
| 1930 |
Hudson |
First Hudson 8.
|
| 1930 |
Dodge |
Dodge introduces straight 8. No more Graham Brothers trucks.
|
| 1930 |
Chrysler / Plymouth /
DeSoto
|
DeSoto and Dodge eights introduced.
|
| 1930 |
|
Safety Concerns, 1930s (pdf) -- Doug Fraser retired President, United Auto Workers, Oral History Interview.
|
| 1931 |
Willys |
Whippet discontinued in favor of Willys name.
|
| 1931 |
Chrysler / Plymouth /
DeSoto
|
Chrysler eights introduced; Floating power appears on ’32 model Plymouths.
|
| 1931 |
|
Floating Power, 1931 (pdf) -- In early July 1931, Plymouth introduced the Model PA, featuring a radically new system of mounting the engine, dubbed Floating Power by its inventor Fred Zeder.
|
| 1932 |
Hudson |
Essex becomes Essex Terraplane.
|
| 1932 |
Nash |
Only GM and Nash make money; Nash out earns GM.
|
| 1932 |
Chrysler / Plymouth /
DeSoto
|
Ads feature Walter P. and the slogan “Look at All Three!” as Plymouth reaches #3 production spot. All models have floating power. |
| 1933 |
Willys |
Willys Model 77 (small car with floating power) introduced—cheapest car in US except for Austin Bantam, and successful as a racing car; Willys-Knight discontinued.
|
|
1933
|
Hudson |
Essex name dropped, Terraplane gets the Hudson 8—the high power to weight ratio produces sensational performance and speed records.
|
| 1933 |
Dodge |
First Chrysler-engineered Dodge Trucks; Dodge Ram symbol appears.
|
| 1933 |
Chrysler / Plymouth /
DeSoto
|
Plymouth offers IFS and 6 cylinder. All cars have helical gear transmissions.
|
| 1934 |
Nash |
LaFayette name revived for low cost line.
|
|
1934
|
Chrysler / Plymouth /
DeSoto
|
Chrysler and DeSoto Airflows; Ray Dietrich becomes Chief Stylist.
|
|
1934
|
|
Chrysler Airtemp Division, 1934 (pdf) -- Beginning in 1934, Chrysler Corporation took a foray into a business far a field from its normal expertise — the manufacture of air-conditioning equipment.
|
|
1934
|
|
The 1934 Airflow: The First Modern Car? (pdf) -- Gene Weiss, retired Chrysler Engineer, Oral History Interview.
|
|
1934
|
Dodge |
Chapter Six — Trouble and Triumph in the Thirties (pdf)
|
|
1935
|
Willys |
John North Willys dies. |
| 1935 |
Dodge |
Dodge custom builds Airflow styled tank trucks (until 1940).
|
|
1935
|
Chrysler / Plymouth /
DeSoto
|
Airstream Chryslers introduced due to poor Airflow sales. |
| 1936 |
Hudson |
President Roy D. Chapin dies.
|
| 1936 |
Dodge |
Dodge revives the convertible sedan.
|
|
1936
|
Chrysler / Plymouth /
DeSoto
|
Half million Plymouths manufactured this year. K.T.Keller is President of Chrysler.
|
|
1936
|
|
Chrysler and The Major Bowes Amateur Hour 1936 - 1940 (pdf) -- In the mid-1930s, Chrysler had turned to commercial network radio as a cost-effective way to reach an affluent national audience.
|
|
1937
|
Hudson |
Terraplane phased out. |
|
1937
|
Nash |
Nash buys Kelvinator to secure services of its president, George W. Mason, who succeeded Charles Nash.
|
|
1937
|
|
Chrysler, Keller and the Union 1937 - 1951 (pdf) -- Doug Fraser retired President, United Auto Workers, Oral History Interview.
|
|
1938
|
Willys |
US Army RFP for light recon vehicle to replace motorcycle and sidecars commonly used.
|
|
1938
|
Dodge |
Last year for Dodge Brothers insignia.
|
| 1938 |
Chrysler / Plymouth /
DeSoto
|
Walter Chrysler is ill, retires from company Chairmanship. Fabricas Automex (Mexico) established; Chrysler offers “New York Special” for one year; Robert Cadwallader is new head stylist. |
|
1939
|
Willys |
Willys develops concept drawings; Overland name is revived. |
|
1939
|
Dodge |
“Job-rated” redesigned Dodge Trucks appear; Special Hayes bodied coupes appear.
|
|
1939
|
Chrysler / Plymouth /
DeSoto
|
Last Dietrich styled cars. Chrysler introduces Windsor, New Yorker, and Saratoga series. Bearings are superfinished. Safety Signal speedometers and column shifts introduced. |
|
1939
|
|
Get me Outta Here! (The Willys-Overland Plant in World War II) (pdf) -- John Rossbach, member Jeep design team, Willys-Overland, Oral History.
|