There were two different types of automobile box cars issued by Lionel during the Post War Era. The first smaller 9-1/2 inch cars were a carryover from the pre-war period. These had stamped-metal body with die-cast ends and a black metal ladder attached to the each side. Underbody details consisted of an air brake cylinder and reservoir, along with a triple air control valve.

The second and larger car was a mold change in the 6464 cars that would allow for a second side door. These began production in 1953 with the "dark blue" 6468 Baltimore and Ohio.

We have separated these cars by type and have listed them in numerical order.

No. X2458 Pennsylvania Automobile Boxcar was in production from the beginning of the Post War Era in 1946 until 1948. This car had a "right" and "left" metal doors, and was painted brown with white lettering. There are three variations:

(A) 1946, Type 3a trucks, rivet below the "8" in "X2458."
(B) 1947, Type 3b late trucks, rivet below the "8" in "X2458."
(C) 1947-48, same as (B), but with no rivet below the "8" in "X2458."

No. X2758 Pennsylvania Automobile Boxcar is actually a Pre-war piece. As with many other items, Lionel had a few of these pre-war production cars left over after the war, and though they were produced in 1941, they were released in the first two years of the postwar era. Lionel may also have just used the pre-war heat stamp with the number "X2758" on new production units until a new post-war stamp was produced. With a new post-war box which had the number "2458" on it, these cars are difficult to find today. The following variations exist:

(A) Type 1a trucks.
(B) Type 1b trucks.
(C) Type 2 trucks. This may be a post-factory repair.

No. X2954 Pennsylvania Automobile Boxcar is a Pre-war car that is made out of Bakelite and painted tuscan. Never made during the post-war era, it is most likely that dealers or individuals have removed the pre-war trucks and substituted them with post-war.

No. 6468 Baltimore & Ohio was in production from 1953 until 1955 and came in three variations:

(A) Shiny blue-painted black plastic body and doors.
(B) Flat blue-painted clear plastic body, with a flat blue-painted black plastic door.
(C) Manufactured 1955 only, this rare tuscan brown-painted variation came only in set No. 1535W. The box had a rubber stamped "X" placed after the number "6468" on the end flaps. This car replaced the No. 6464-50 as was pictured in the 1955 advance catalog.