July 3, 1945 – Ford starts postwar production

Ford got a jump on postwar production by, well, not waiting until the war was actually over. On this day in 1945 Ford began production on 1946 model cars, more than a month before World War II would actually come to an end. Ford was the first major American automaker to begin producing personal vehicles following the outbreak of the war and the jump pushed Ford ahead of Chevrolet and Chrysler in postwar America. It was Henry Ford II that pushed for production to begin as early as it did. It’s curious to note that the first new Ford, a 1946 white Super DeLuxe Tudor sedan, went to President Harry S. Truman. In 1945 34,440 Fords were produced, more than any other carmaker. The 1946 vehicles were more or less 1942 models, which was true for many major automakers as they were eager to get back in production and did not have time to revamp their previous models. Many manufacturers wouldn’t come out with a brand new model or body style until 1949. PhotosA postwar Ford production plant.A 1946 Ford Super DeLuxe Tudor, similar to the first one that came off the assembly line on this day in 1945. The first car went to President Truman.