The Crosley

            It was small, lightweight and inexpensive. Some even called it “cute.” But the Crosley was, if nothing else, somewhat ahead of its time.

            The brainchild of industrialist Powell Crosley, Jr., who, along with his engineer brother Lewis, created a subcompact car which was designed to be affordable for the masses, the first Crosley automobile was shown in May 1939 at the Indianapolis Speedway. It weighed in at less than 1000 pounds and had a retail price of $250.

            To drive this small, lightweight vehicle, Crosley used an air cooled, 44 cubic inch two cylinder engine. A three speed transmission was originally connected directly to the rear axle by using a torque tube but this design was quickly dropped in favor of more traditional universal joints.

            Powell Crosley, Jr. was use to success and innovation. His first successful venture was in developing and selling automobile accessories. From there he branched into various other consumer products including the fledgling field of radio. By 1924 Crosley Radio Corporation was the largest radio manufacturer in the world. It got there by building a reliable product at an affordable price. This became a kind of trademark for Crosley.

            Always thinking ahead, Crosley decided that the best way to sell more radios was to offer more programming for people to enjoy. With that he created a broadcast company and bought and expanded radio station WLW in Cincinnati. Within a few years it was the most powerful radio station in the country and played host to many of the top stars of the day, including Doris Day, Fats Waller, Red Skelton, the Mills Brothers and a young woman who was born not far away, Rosemary Clooney (yeah, that’s George’s aunt).

            Eventually he moved into other major appliances and even owned the Cincinnati Reds baseball team for a while. But it was always cars that kept his attention.

            By 1941 numerous body styles were available including a sedan, convertible, station wagon, a panel truck and a pick-up truck. In fact, among his many firsts was the fact that he was the first to use the term “sport utility vehicle.” Crosleys were the first to market a single overhead cam engine and sold the first car with four wheel disc brakes. In 1949 the Crosley Hotshot became America’s first sports car.

            Still, all the innovations and firsts didn’t bring in droves of buyers. By early July in 1952, with Detroit making larger, faster and sportier cars at all price points, Crosley closed its automobile plant leaving behind the kind of small affordable car that wouldn’t be seen in this country until the Germans made their inroads with the VW Beetle.