1950 Crosley FarmORoad

Cincinnati radio and refrigerator magnate Powell Crosley, Jr. thought America needed a small, efficient, and inexpensive automobile. In 1939, he introduced his tiny, bare-bones 13.5 horsepower Series 1-A cars as either 2-place or 4-place models priced well below the competition.

At a base price of $325 for the 2-place model and $340 for the 4-place, 2,014 were sold that year to begin the Crosley legacy that lasted until 1952. After World War II, Crosley production soared; almost 5,000 in 1946, over 19,000 in 1947 with the addition of a wagon model, and nearly 29,000 in 1948 with a new Sport Utility sedan.

But rather than developing a dealer network, the cars were sold through Crosley's appliance and hardware stores and catalogs. Not having service capability became the death of the line. Eventually, an innovative 5-main bearing sheet metal and brazed copper engine proved more than troublesome. It was replaced in 1946 with a more robust 26.5 horsepower cast iron 4-cylinder engine in a much-improved line of vehicles, but the damage of unreliability had been done.

This example is the last gasp for Powell Crosley, Jr. in the automotive industry; a multipurpose utility vehicle with a range of farm implements that foreshadowed the huge 4-wheeler market of today.