Why don’t car years match the calendar year?
Car Model Years Don’t Match the Calendar…Why?
There are a lot of systems in place that don’t immediately make sense. For instance, why do price tags not include tax? Another one is why are car model years usually ahead of the actual year?
That’s what we’ll be taking a look at today. Here’s why car years don’t match the calendar year.
Car Years Don’t Match Because…
American President FDR signed an executive order in the 1930s that moved the new model year release forward (from winter to autumn) to keep factory workers employed and boost their spending capabilities during the holidays. Before that, the car model years matched the calendar year, but resulted in a huge lull while the factories were outfitted to produce new models. It’s also been theorized that this change opened up the automotive market to farmers, as they get most of their money during harvest time, right as the new model years came out.
The golden age of television in the 50s and 60s was also a boon for cars, specifically for advertising. New seasons of shows came out at the same time that new model years were being released, resulting in a huge amount of people seeing, and subsequently wanting, the new model year cars. Especially in post-war America, when G.I.s returned home to well-paying jobs and suburban homes, they needed a car. It just so happened that they were able to get the nicest, newest ones that they saw on television.
Looking to Save Money on a Newer Car?
When the new model year comes in, the old ones often find their way to used sales lots. This is great for anyone looking to get a low-mileage, recently-produced vehicle at a more affordable cost. If that sounds good to you, check out our big selection of used vehicles! Not only that, but many of our vehicles also come with a free lifetime powertrain warranty.
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