DrJohn's excellent survey had me thinking about what I would have liked during my birth year, 1945. The pickings were slim to say the least. Europe and Japan were in shambles, with a dribble of Peugeot 202s and I think a few Traction Avant Citroens but nothing out of Japan. That leaves the US and Britain. Most US factories were back in business with warmed over 1942 models; but it wasn't until 1946 when any Chrysler product became available, along with Lincoln. All of GM's divisions turned a handful out in 1945, along with Ford and the odd Mercury and the independents such as Packard and Studebaker. The British got going fairly early with most Austins, Morris 8s and 10s, Ford Anglia and Prefects and Rootes Group all producing scarcely changed cars from 1939 by the end of October. A couple of new-comers were Armstrong Siddeley and Riley One and a Half Litre; some of these were announced during 1945, but didn't actually get going until '46. About 17,000 British cars were made during '45, the majority being exported. The Russians surprisingly showed off their Vanguard-like Pobeda in 1945, but it didn't see the light of day for a least 2 or 3 years. There may be some more from very small makers, but a world-wide shortage of materials made it hard for even the big companies to manage. The amazing feat in this period was Volkswagen - a trickle of Beetles, Kubelwagen and Schwimwagens emerged from the ruins of Wolfsburg, first under US army occupation and then British led by Major Ivan Hirst. My pick of a 1945 produced car? Not much choice, but a toss-up between Buick and Packard and I think I would go for the latter. However, who couldn't resist one of the original Beetles?