1951 Crosley Super Sport Roadster

For Powell Crosley, it was a personal and challenging quest to build a practical, efficient, and affordable car. Along the way, however, he also built a unique performance car. Though only powered by a 26.5 horsepower cast-iron four-cylinder engine, it gave the little Super Sport enough grunt to make it a joy to drive.

While many often regard the Corvette as the first American Sports Car, it was the Crosley with its two doors, two seats, overhead cam engine with disc brakes that was raced as a production model in many races of the era long before the corvette appeared.

Though many are familiar with the doorless Hot Shot, the Super Sport model (scripted in chrome on the front fenders) came with hinged doors, allowing the ease of everyday use. Made for just a few years before Crosley would finally cease manufacture, the Super Sport remains one of the most economical and novel American cars ever built in volume production.