1940 Chevrolet Commercial: “The Trip” (1939) Chevrolet Motor Co; 1940 Chevy in Technicolor04:33

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Published on January 26, 2017

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“Screen ad, in Technicolor, for the 1940 Chevrolet models.”

Reupload of a previously uploaded film with improved video & sound.

Public domain film from the Library of Congress Prelinger Archives, slightly cropped to remove uneven edges, with the aspect ratio corrected, and one-pass brightness-contrast-color correction & mild video noise reduction applied.
The soundtrack was also processed with volume normalization, noise reduction, clipping reduction, and/or equalization (the resulting sound, though not perfect, is far less noisy than the original).

Chevrolet (pron.: /ʃɛvrəˈleɪ/), also known as Chevy, is an American brand of vehicle produced by General Motors (GM). Chevrolet was founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted General Motors founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911. In 1918 it was acquired by General Motors.

Chevrolet was positioned by Alfred Sloan to sell mainstream vehicles to compete with Henry Ford’s Model T in the 1920s, with “Chevrolet” or “Chevy” being synonymous with GM. In North America, Chevrolet produces and sells a wide range of vehicles, from subcompact automobiles to medium-duty commercial trucks, whereas in Europe, the brand name is used mainly for automobiles produced in Korea by General Motors…

Dubonnet suspension was a system of independent front suspension and steering popular mainly in the 1930s and 1940s. Not very durable unless exactingly maintained, it was soon replaced by other versions. It consisted of a rigidly mounted axle beam in which the sprung steering and suspension arms pivoted aound kingpins mounted of the ends of the axle. The wheels themselves were mounted onto stub axles, suspended from the kingpins. The system featured an encased coil spring and shock absorber, which sealed in the oil needed to lubricate and protect the suspension parts. This was also the weakness of the layout, as any leaks would have negative effects on ride and durability.

The system was invented by French engineer and designer André Dubonnet (heir to the Dubonnet vermouth fortune), and built into his Hispano-Suiza based special of 1933. He sold it to General Motors who adapted it as their “Knee-action ride”, but the system was also used by many others including Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Simca…

The 1940 Chevrolet Master and Special were completely redesigned from the 1939 Chevrolets.

The 1940 Chevrolet Master and Special were advertised with the slogan “Royal Clipper Styling.” Lines were more flowing, an “alligator” hood was used, and the grille bore a strong resemblance to that of the higher-priced Buick…

Wheelbase was extended to 113 inches, while overall length grew two inches to 1921/4 inches. A palate of 14 attractive colors was offered.

There were three series this time. The Master 85, Chevy’s price leader, retained the I-beam front axle and was characterized by a relatively spartan level of trim. Next up was the Master DeLuxe, featuring independent front suspension and better trim.

The third series, new this year, was the Special Deluxe. More sumptuously appointed than any previous Chevrolet, it was distinguished by stainless steel hood and beltline trim along with such amenities as dual wipers, dual air horns, a 30-hour dashboard clock, and a deluxe steering wheel with horn ring. Perhaps surprisingly, the newcomer proved to be, by a wide margin, Chevy’s best-seller.

Prices of the 1940 Chevrolet Master and Special were increased by about 4 percent over comparable 1939 models, but the nation’s economy had improved substantially, and calendar year production increased by 38 percent…

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