April 28
SMALL CAR DAY
Small cars were offered for sale in the U.S. for the first time on this day in 1939. The car sold for $325, was 10-feet long, had an 80-inch wheelbase and a four-gallon gas tank. We just described the Crosley which became fairly popular back in 1939 -- but wouldn’t survive.
Once the war effort got underway, auto manufacturing was cut back for defense needs. After World War II, people wanted luxury and size in their automobiles; considered better for family needs. The little Crosley fought an uphill battle and was replaced less than 15 years later by the popular German Volkswagen Beetle. Remember? It was more affectionately called the Bug. Every now and then we see one of these little cars (with their engines in the trunk) still chugging around. (The Bug’s newest relative is the version with bug-eyed headlights and the engine located in the front.)
Today’s really small cars are the electric ones ... and, they are very small ... hardly bigger than a roller skate.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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