Re: Ask the Man Who Owns One:1942

Posted by JWL On 2013/3/23 11:21:40

Thank you all for an interesting discussion. Here is something more on it.

I had heard that gas rationing in the U.S. during WW-II had as much to do with saving wear on tires as it did with maintaining the fuel supply for war efforts. Also, the national speed limit was reduced to 35 mph, again more to save tires than gas.

Vehicles were allowed to carry only one spare tire. There was discussion in Packard service letters to dealers talking about how to preserve the appearance of the 6-wheel equipped cars with sidemounts. My dad drove a 1936 120B Club Sedan with side mounts during the war, and I think he had tires in them. At least all the photos of the car that we have show the sidemounts in place. Maybe the law was not enforced equally across the nation.

(o{}o)