Crosley: the tiny car America forgot

The Crosley car was designed by Powell Crosley, Jr. He was owner of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team and built radios and appliances including the noted Crosley Shelvadore refrigerator.

Crosley began making cars with a 2-cylinder model in 1939. He came out with a revised version in 1946 that had a 4-cylinder engine. They could get 50 miles per gallon. The wheelbase was 80 inches and the total length was only twelve feet. Crosley cars had one notable innovation - they were the first cars to have disc brakes.

Powell Crosley, Jr.
A 1947 Life Magazine article said the price of a Crosley was only $500. Other sources have given the price at about $900 in 1950. The diminutive Crosley was made until 1952. The car was never highly popular during its time. Probably because most post war cars were big and glamorous and just what a car starved public wanted. However, they are very popular among collectors today.

1941 Crosley with two-cylinder engine
Click here for original picture

Three post-war 4-cylinder Crosley’s
Click here for original picture

The fuel economy of the Crosley was not a big attraction because gas was cheap and people wanted to take the family on trips in comfort. That couldn’t be done with the Crosley. It cost a little less than half as much as a Ford, Chevy or Plymouth. However, you got less than half the car. The Crosley was just too small for its time.

Comments

[Pam Moore]

I seen a Crosley this morning on the way to work On Rt 205 in Columbia City ,IN and it was a diesel. It was so tiny compared to an SUV that was in front of it. I had to call my husband and tell him about it and he said I really wish I could have seen it as he thought that there were no diesels at that time. A really cute car.

[Crosley Car Owners Club]

Just a note: there's only one L in Powel and only one E in Shelvador. The 300-member Crosley Car Owners Club is a great repository of Crosley photos, information and history, and the CCOC is dues-free.

[Perry Peterson (caveman)]

John, Thanks for your comment and the URL correction (which has been made). I get a “page cannot be displayed” message using the new URL. That usually means the web site is experiencing technical difficulties which are often temporary. If there are any further corrections, please let me know. The reason I used your URL is to give you credit for the very excellent picture. Perry Peterson (caveman)

[John MacDonald]

Hi I see you have a link to my web page on the Crosley. The url that you show has been changed. It now is http://oldcarandtruckpictures.com/Crosley Could ypou please change this. John