The 41st annual Chicago Auto Show was held October 26 through November 3, 1940. Illustrations of an early horseless carriage and a modern, streamlined motorcar appeared on the cover of the 64-page 1941 auto show program. This would be the final event before America entered World War II and the last one until 1950. A total of 18 manufacturers exhibited vehicles, with nearly 400,000 people attending the nine-day affair. A twice-daily stage pageant called, ‘Non-Stop America,’ dramatized the history of cars in two acts, with 20 neighborhood and suburban ‘queens’ participating in the extravaganza. Examples of the 41st Annual Chicago Auto Show tickets. Entry to the show cost one half-dollar, plus five-cent tax, for a total of 55-cents. Special Employees Pass Ticket was to be used between October 26 to November 3, 1940.

In addition to providing entertainment, the musical stage revue, "Non-Stop America," present the coming year's cars. Appearing on stage during the twice-daily stage show in the International Amphitheatre, was the 1941 Plymouth convertible. The '41 show was the last before the auto industry converted full time to national defense. Next Chicago show was held in 1950, which was the first in the United States after World War II.

On stage during the ‘Non-Stop America’ musical revue in late 1940, was the 1941 Pontiac four-door sedan. Held in the International Amphitheatre, the twice-daily shows provided entertainment along with previewing the coming year’s crop of vehicles. This was the final auto show before the manufacturers converted full time to national defense. The next Chicago Auto Show was held in 1950, which was the first in the United States after World War II.

GM's first dream car, which debut in 1938, was the Y-Job, seen on display during the 1941 Chicago show. Based on a Buick chassis with 320 cubic inch straight eight-cylinder engine, the Y-Job contained hidden headlights, no running boards, boat tail-like rearend, and a top that folded into a compartment behind the bench seat. When not on display, the car was the personal transportation of GM Styling boss Harley Earl.

With understandable excitement to get to the Chicago Auto Show and view the new Buick models, Mr. John Doe gets caught speeding by a fuming motorcycle cop. The simple cartoon advertisement for Buick and its Chicagoland dealers ran several times in the Tribune newspapers during the 1941 event. On the right, an ad for Ford cars listed the dates, Oct. 26 to Nov. 3, (1940) for the 41st edition Chicago Auto Show. The '41 Fords featured restyled bodies that were larger than previous models, and continued to offer the popular flathead V-8 engines, first offered for 1932.