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- 1951 Crosley Hotshot Roadster - Rich from building radios and refrigerators, Powel Crosley thought a small, affordable car might appeal to Americans. His sporty $924 roadster had an overhead cam engine and removable doors. Although it won races against foreign sports cars, it lost the U.S. sales race to big American machines. After losing $3 million, Crosley finally abandoned his dream in 1952.
- 1951
- Collections - Artifact
1951 Crosley Hotshot Roadster
Rich from building radios and refrigerators, Powel Crosley thought a small, affordable car might appeal to Americans. His sporty $924 roadster had an overhead cam engine and removable doors. Although it won races against foreign sports cars, it lost the U.S. sales race to big American machines. After losing $3 million, Crosley finally abandoned his dream in 1952.
- Crosley Automobile Emblem, circa 1950 - Rich from building radios and refrigerators, Powel Crosley thought a small, affordable car might appeal to Americans. He introduced his new line of vehicles in 1939. Sales were encouraging after World War II, but they fell off once Detroit's Big Three debuted their own redesigned postwar models for 1949. After losing $3 million, Crosley finally abandoned his dream in 1952.
- circa 1950
- Collections - Artifact
Crosley Automobile Emblem, circa 1950
Rich from building radios and refrigerators, Powel Crosley thought a small, affordable car might appeal to Americans. He introduced his new line of vehicles in 1939. Sales were encouraging after World War II, but they fell off once Detroit's Big Three debuted their own redesigned postwar models for 1949. After losing $3 million, Crosley finally abandoned his dream in 1952.
- 1951 Crosley Sales Brochure, "America's Most Needed Car!" - This sales brochure touted the 1951 Crosley as "America's Most Needed Car." Unfortunately for Powel Crosley, head of Crosley Motors Inc., not enough Americans thought they needed his car. Crosley ceased automobile production in 1952.
- 1951
- Collections - Artifact
1951 Crosley Sales Brochure, "America's Most Needed Car!"
This sales brochure touted the 1951 Crosley as "America's Most Needed Car." Unfortunately for Powel Crosley, head of Crosley Motors Inc., not enough Americans thought they needed his car. Crosley ceased automobile production in 1952.
- 4-Cylinder In-Line Crosley Automobile Engine, 1948 - Appliance manufacturer Powel Crosley's small economy cars enjoyed a brief sales boost following World War II. At that time, they were powered by unusual copper-brazed engines assembled from pressed-steel parts. The little 44-cubic-inch, 26.5-horsepower engines weighed just 133 pounds. But the sheet-metal engines were prone to corrosion, and Crosley switched to heavier cast-iron engine blocks in 1949.
- 1948
- Collections - Artifact
4-Cylinder In-Line Crosley Automobile Engine, 1948
Appliance manufacturer Powel Crosley's small economy cars enjoyed a brief sales boost following World War II. At that time, they were powered by unusual copper-brazed engines assembled from pressed-steel parts. The little 44-cubic-inch, 26.5-horsepower engines weighed just 133 pounds. But the sheet-metal engines were prone to corrosion, and Crosley switched to heavier cast-iron engine blocks in 1949.