MarkO’s topic of cars from the year you were born is a great one. Being a 1945 model, I rather hastily dismissed the idea of anything more exotic than a Chev Blitz Truck being available, even though I have a weakness for these tough old warriors. They saw gallant service in the bush on farms and particularly rural fire brigades. The subject got me thinking as there were limited numbers of cars produced in ‘45 as the world’s motor industry changed over from a war footing. The French and Italian makers were almost decimated, with just a handful of Peugeot 202s coming from bombed out factories. Surprisingly of all the German makers, Volkswagen managed to produce 2490 vehicles out of the rubble. The rest of Europe such as Renault, Opel, Mercedes Benz and Fiat were either restricted or were trying to rebuild. Only Volvo in neutral Sweden was able to knock out a few PV444s. The Russians presented the Pobeda (Victory) in late 1945 which preceded the Standard Vanguard in styling, but it took another 3 or 4 years before it saw production. This leaves the US and Britain. Most US makers dusted off their 1942 models and with the help of new grilles and rearranged chrome got under way by October ‘45 and presented them as brand-new 1946 models. Radical ideas abounded and the rumours of rear engines combined with streamlining were strong, but only Preston Tucker’s ill-fated attempt saw light of day in 1948. The Kaiser and Frazer were never front-wheel-drive as intended. In spite of damaged factories and severe shortages of just about everything, the following three British makers introduced and produced enough totally new cars by the end of the year. Armstrong Siddeley with the Lancaster and Hurricane, Riley’s One and Half Litre was all new, and so was the Lanchester LD10. Jowett showed the Javelin in November, but it didn’t go into production until 1947. Others such as the MG TC and Jaguar’s range had been announced in 1939 and were relaunched by the end of ‘45. New engines included Austin’s 4-cylinder 2.2 litre ohv unit which eventually found fame in the Austin Healey. WO Bentley had a prototype Lagonda twin cam 2.6 litre six running by September. Like the US, most 1939 models were resurrected and it wasn’t until 1947 that all-new cars such as the Austin A40 and Standard Vanguard and 1948’s Morris Minor, Jaguar XK120 and P4 Rover 75 went into serious production. Now, what would I have? In a 2-car garage, a Packard Clipper and a VW sedan or even a Kubelwagen….