Today’s featured image was taken at the brick-paved intersection of South 7th and East Monroe Streets in Springfield, Illinois, and dated by the source to 1947. Buds on the tree on the far right in the park appear to indicate that it was springtime when the photo was taken.
Dating only one year after automobile production resumed after World War II in 1946, the majority of the vehicles in the picture are prewar cars that date back to as early as the 1937 model year. None of the buildings in this view has survived redevelopment.
Please share with us what you find of interest in this photograph from the Sangamon Valley Collection courtesy of the Lincoln Library.
In all three pictures, in the lower right corner, is a 1941 BUICK Special Sedanet.
In the last photo, there appears to be a ‘30 or ‘31 Ford Tudor behind the budding tree, to the right.
Definitely a beautiful looking car in my opinion, with a 1941 Dodge Luxury Liner sedan passing beside it followed by a post war Oldsmobile sedan.
In all three pictures, in the foreground center, is a four-door 1941 DODGE, possibly Luxury Liner Special Sedan.
Luxury Liners usually had fender-top lights; which were in Custom Equipment package.
hemmings.com/blog/article/affordable-luxury-1941-dodge-luxury-liner-deluxe/
Up front on the left, a ’35 Chevy. On the other side of the lamppost (with missing globe) beside a ’41 Buick Sedanet, likely a Special, a ’41 Dodge Luxury Liner or Six sedan followed by a ’47 or ’48 Olds…hard to tell the series but going by the proportions I’d say a ’76 or 78. Then a ’41 Buick Special Sedan and a ’35 Ford…can’t see whether it’s a Tudor or a Touring sedan with a built-in trunk. Finally, rounding the corner appears to be a ’41 Nash Ambassador
Parked on the far side of the cross street on the right, a ’46-’48 Plymouth 4-door sedan and likely a ’47 Nash 600. I can’t tell whether a Slipstream or Trunk Sedan, but it appears to have the broader upper grille of a ’47 or ’48 while having the sidetrim that reaches farther forward than the ’48.
I think it’s a 47 Olds, round hood emblem/badge on the 48’s
Regarding the Olds: It’s either a 1946 or 1947 with the shield-shaped badge on the hood. For 1948 the badge was circular. I believe that body, shared with Chevrolet, was only available as a Model 66.
John and Joel, it definitely couldn’t be a ’48 because of the hood emblem, and Joel, looking more carefully, the rear quarter window is clearly that of a 119” w/b Series 66 rather than the more extended rear quarter window of the 125” w/b Series 76 or 78 Dynamic Cruiser 4-door. Thanks to both of you for your corrections!
In all three pictures, on the far left turning the corner, is a 1941 NASH Ambassador 600, with the passenger side upper grille missing & with the most plain bumper available for ’41 models.
Minor correction. All ’41 Nashes used the same front bumpers. Standard and Deluxe were different in ’42.
I did not realize parking meters went that far back. A small town near me had meters all around the town square. A nickle an hour. The fine was one buck. All the taverns on the square had nickle jugs for the patrons. About ten years ago they removed them all, free parking!
LEINIEDUDE, I doubt the citizens of Springfield would pass up a chance to get at least a couple bucks out of the State Legislature…if only via their parking meters. More’s the wonder they didn’t uproot and steal the parking meters!
LOL Pat! Monroe Wisconsin is the small town I was talking about. A stone throw from Ill. I was told the meters were removed to increase tourism. It really worked, on any summer weekend the square is packed with Illinois vehicles. Maybe more revenue from the taxes. As a side note, regular unleaded fuel was $1.15 yesterday! Stay safe. Mike.
In our village the main reason for installing meters in 1947 was that business owners and downtown office people were “hogging” the parking spaces all day. The outcome of all this was the shopping center with all kinds of free parking.
Not a white-wall tire in sight! All must have been worn out and none available yet.
Looking at even the “new” post-war cars, I can see why the all new designs were eagerly anticipated.
Is the two-tone fastback in the lower right really a Buick?
Do many of that body style survive?I
Looks like a neat car (at least from this angle), it would be neat to restomod one if you wanted to do some serious travelling.
the News agency van is interesting as there is a chap with what looks a camera case on the far left. aftermath of a shunt?
Last trolley ran in 1938 in Springfield, and ten years later the rails and catenaries are gone (War drive removal?) but the trolley poles are still there, bereft of light globes.
It looks like the car that is directly behind the Springfield News Agency van is a 1941 Hudson sedan, possibly a Super-six model.