VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 1942 Blackout models

Hello,

Was just reading the posts from 11/05 about the Blackout models produced from mid Dec 41 to Feb 42 with painted grilles and trim and have a question. I understand the government's reasoning behind the discontinuance of bright work was because certain materials were deemed necessary for the war effort but was that the case specifically for chrome plate also? Was it because certain components that went into war machinery needed to be chrome plated and this was why it wasn't available for civilian auto production?

Darn it! Realized after I clicked "submit" I placed my question in wrong forum. Able to edit content but not move to different forum. Oh well. Guess it will work out alright.

Thanks, Ken

The chrome wasn't the main problem. The nickle and brass under the chrome was. Those materials came from areas in the world that were involved in the war.....along with rubber.

Gene,
Thanks for the info. I see now it wasn't because the materials used were being redirected to war manufacture but because those materials were just no longer available. From speaking with people I have learned two misconceptions people today have concerning these models.

1. Because cars were being produced for the military in all painted exteriors they just produced the same thing for civilians.

2. The cars were produced without exterior bright work in keeping with the blackout laws in effect for making it more difficult for the enemy to see our cities/movements.

How rare today is a 42 "blackout" model? I would have to guess pretty darn rare.

Ken

In George Dammann's 1972 book, "Sixty Years of Chevrolet", he has a photo of a 1942 "blackout" model. In the caption, he states that this was the only remaining example known to exist (at that time). I don't know if more have been "discovered" since then.

Black-out models were produced for almost two months. Probably at a slower pace than the early models. They are far from being rare. I would guess at least 10,000 were made. Most were "well used" during the war. After the war they were shunned by buyers.

Old George put several unsupported "facts" in his "60 years of Chevrolet". Corrected a few in "75 years of Chevrolet" but added even more. I recommend you not believe and "facts" in either book unless substantiated by at least two other books that do not reference his book(s).

this is one I purchased in the early 70s from the original owner. the only chrome was one door handle and the wiper arm. someone did a little detailing with some silver paint and a brush

Realized I didn't specify in my post that I was referring to a 42 Fleetline Aerosedan. If anything Aerosedans were probably the most produced blackout as they were the most produced 42 Chevy of all models.
The reason I started this post was because I think I have come across a 42 Aero blackout. Of course many things could have been done to the car in the last 67 years. The car was supposedly purchased 2 yrs ago from the original owner. Car has been repainted some time ago. All the trim is painted in a different shade but the grille is plated which doesn't fit with the blackout models.
The thing that really has me wondering is that the molding that ran just below the windows from the front edge of the door to the trunklid is missing. All 42-48 Aero information/picutres I have seen had this molding. When I pointed this out to the current owner his reply was that this is a stripped down model. Obviously he isn't "up" on these model Chevy's and I didn't try to explain that all Aeros had the molding as I understand it.
There are pictures of a 42 blackout Aero on the website howstuffworks that is owned by a gentleman is Minnesota. His also doesn't have the molding. I have read that blackouts may have been produced with some trim omitted.
I'll have to verify if other items on the car are also painted like the inside handles, dash trim, hubcaps etc. The original engine isn't still with the car so can't check production date using those numbers.

Ken

First off all 1942 trucks were "blackouts". If any chromed parts are now present they were replaced in the later years.
On the passenger cars black-outs had contrasting color painted parts that would have been chrome. Some moulding had stripes on them and some mouldings were deleted as production continued,
All 1942 GM cars had plastic (metal core) door handles with some chrome or stainless interior trim. If they are black-outs they had all painted trim.
Not uncommon to find a black-out with a chrome grille or some other originally painted part. These were parts that were replaced.
New parts (all were scarce during the war) were also painted and not chromed. This includes parts for 1941 and prior years.

I'm talking with the current owner because he has his 42 Aerosedan up for sale. I'm waiting for him to get some more pictures to me.
On one hand I think it would be neat to have a blackout and if I were to buy it I would feel obligated to keep it that way because that was the way it left the line when it was produced. But at the same time I also have these thoughts that maybe I wouldn't be as satisfied with the car because of the painted trim rather than having all of that bright work on the exterior which is what really sets these models off in my opinion.
I feel it wouldn't be the right thing to buy it and change it over to look like a pre-blackout model because I'm thinking these blackouts have to be pretty rare today.

Ken