War is bad for business, unless you're an arms dealer. It puts the economy into decline, makes people not spend, and can affect supply lines. When World War Two broke out, the US was in one of the better positions compared to the rest of the world to weather the storm. While there was a huge industrial effort to produce as much equipment, weapons, and vehicles for the army as possible, people back home had to get around and still needed new cars. General Motors was one of the most popular automotive companies at this time - with the onslaught of Japanese and Korean brands not even being a twinkle in the eye of their CEO's eyes at the time - and they had some of the most impressive industrial capabilities, too.So what did you get for your money in the world of 1940s Chevys? How did 1940s Chevrolet evolve its designs at this time? And have any of those models survived to this day? Well, in this article, we will seek to answer each of those questions, looking at five different new models from the time period, before finishing up with the model that is still going strong over 60 years later. The AK Series Pickup The Classic 40s Truck Bring A TrailerThe first in this list of 1940s Chevy cars isn't a car at all. The Chevrolet AK Series was the 1940s equivalent of a Silverado, and launched in 1941. It was a light-duty truck and was sold until 1947. The AK was developed alongside a vehicle we will see next on this list, the Deluxe, and used that car's base engine, a 216 cubic-inch/3.5-liter six cylinder making 90 horsepower. If you wanted some more muscle, the optional 'Load Master' 235.5-cid six-cylinder offered a tiny bit more power but made a lot more torque for towing.Although the AK Series was only around for a few years, not even seeing the end of the decade, it did make an impact on how General Motors truck design would change going forward. Before the AK Series, Chevrolet trucks were very similar in styling and design to their sedan counterparts. The AK Series was the first to give the Chevrolet truck its own design with its distinctive grille. The Deluxe The Bread And Butter Sedan Bring A TrailerThe Deluxe was the big ticket 1940 Chevy sedan. It was a market leader and spawned multiple bodies, two spin-off models, and even lasted into the 1950s with tweaks and improvements. But, was it all just hype, or did Chevrolet make the Deluxe a genuine good offering?Developed alongside the AK Series Truck, the Deluxe also launched in 1941. By its end, it had a starting price of $1,492, or $33,515.50 in today's economy. The Deluxe was a reasonably priced sedan with modern features and lots of customization. Early cars used a 216 cu-in/3.5-liter inline-six 'Victory Six' engine that made 85 horsepower at 3,300 rpm, being improved later in the decade to a dizzying 90 hp. This engine was attached to a "three-on-the-tree" manual column shifter with manual synchromesh. It had a vacuum-assisted shift that allowed drivers to easily change gears with a flick of a finger. To stop the Deluxe, the brakes were hydraulic with all-wheel drums. The interior was of a different era with cloth bench seats, a metal dash, and a single speaker radio, critical for listening for updates about the war across the pond. The Deluxe was such a success for Chevrolet that it had two spin-off models, but what made them different? The Fleetline/Fleetmaster A Cost-conscious Cadillac Bring A TrailerThe Fleetline/Fleetmaster is a confusing line of different models and sublines, but we will make sense of it all. Originally, the Chevrolet Special Deluxe Series AH Fleetline was a spin-off of the Deluxe model for the first two years of the 1940s. It was sold exclusively as a sedan for the 1941 model year and then as both a 'Sport Master' sedan and 'Aerosedan' two-door coupe. When the US entered the War, Fleetline production was put on hold at the end of 1942. This version of the Fleetline sold 110,000 units when all was said and done.Fast-forward to 1946 and Chevrolet introduced the Fleetmaster model. The Series DK Fleetmaster was the flagship model for the Chevrolet brand, replacing the pre-war Chevrolet Special Deluxe. It was available in two-door town sedan, four-door sport sedan, two-door sports coupe, two-door convertible, and four-door station wagon body styles and, even more confusingly, included the previously mentioned Fleetline sedan and coupe variants as a lower-cost subline. It used the same 3.5-liter six-cylinder and saw various updates and revisions till the end of the 1940s, when the whole model line was absorbed into the new 1949 2100 GK Series Chevrolet Deluxe, as a trim level. The Stylemaster An Affordable Offering Bring A TrailerOn the other end of the spectrum from the Fleetmaster was the Stylemaster. This was the cheapest model in the Chevrolet range and was also available in a dizzying number of body styles, although these were catered to a younger audience, so it lacks any wagons in the lineup. A two-door town sedan, four-door sport sedan, two-door business coupe, and two-door five-passenger coupe were all available for the two years it was in production from 1946 to 1948. These American cars from the 40s were constantly changing. Design language was moving very, very quickly at this time and manufacturers were constantly improving their lineups, and then replacing them entirely for a fresher look just to keep up with competition. The Stylemaster was one such model that suffered this fate, being updated every year just like the Fleetmaster, and then being integrated into the same 1949 2100 GK Series Chevrolet Deluxe, also just like the Fleetmaster. The Advance Design A New Era In Design Bring A TrailerThe last model to launch during the 1940s, the Advance Design Pickup is an icon in design and did a lot to improve on the AK Series that came before it. It had a range of engines throughout its production, from the humble 3.5-liter six-cylinder, up to more powerful and torque offerings in the form of a 3.9-liter and 4.2-liter straight-six. It came with either a three- or four-speed manual, with an automatic coming at the very end of production. It was a bigger, stronger, more capable offering than the AK Series that came before it and had various improvements in its life. Some key changes included a new shock absorber design in 1950, the end of the 3.5-liter in 1953, and a complete facelift and automatic transmission offering on heavy-duty models in 1954. This new Advance Design was so good that it was the best-selling truck in America from 1947 until its successor arrived in 1955. What Model Survives Into The Modern Day? 1946 Chevrolet Suburban exterior One model that Chevrolet still produces is now nearing its 100th birthday soon. The Suburban has seen it all, being first produced in 1934, and going strong ever since. It is an underrated American icon, and is older than the Corvette and Mustang. During the 1940s, the Suburban was basically a panal version of whatever truck series was in production, first starting with the AK Series in 1941, with seating for eight - it could also be had as a panel van. In 1947, it would be updated to coincide with the release of the Advance Design Series of trucks, gaining an automatic transmission, better engines and a smarter interior layout allowing for more seating and storage options. This version of the Suburban was so iconic that it was the basis for the Chevrolet HHR - an early 2000s retro-designed crossover.The Suburban is still going strong today, being the basis for the Cadillac Escalade and used by government agencies all over the US. FAQs What cars did Chevy make in the 40s? During the 1940s, Chevrolet released the Deluxe, Stylemaster, and Fleetmaster in various body styles and designs. What was a popular car in the 40s? The most popular Chevrolet during this time was the Deluxe, a mid-trim sedan that offered luxury at an affordable price. What are some old Chevrolet models? Before the 1940s, Chevrolet offered the economy-focused Standard Six and mid-tier Master.Sources: Chevrolet