Кросли: История американского автопроизводителя

Defunct American motor vehicle manufacturer
an American automobile manufacturer

Crosley was a small, independent American manufacturer of subcompact cars, bordering on microcars. At first called the Crosley Corporation and later Crosley Motors Incorporated, the Cincinnati, Ohio, firm was active from 1939 to 1952, interrupted by World War II production. Their station wagons were the most popular model, but also offered were sedans, pickups, convertibles, a sports car, and even a tiny jeep like vehicle. For export, the cars were badged Crosmobile. Crosley introduced several "firsts" in American automotive history, including the first affordable, mass market car with an overhead camshaft engine in 1946; the first use of the term 'Sport(s ) Utility' in 1947, for a 1948 model year convertible wagon; and the first American cars to be fitted with 4 wheel caliper type disc brakes, as well as America's first post war sports car, the Hotshot, in the 1949 model year. All of Crosley's models were lightweight body on frame cars with rigid axles front and rear, and engines with less than displacement. With exception of the late introduced Hotshot and Farm O Road models, the vast majority of all Crosleys were built on an wheelbase, and with leaf springs.

Powel Crosley Jr. made his fortune in the automotive parts and accessories business, before diversifying into manufacturing other consumer products and Crosley automobiles in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1925 his company became the largest manufacturer of radios in the world. The financial success of his manufacturing and radio broadcasting businesses provided the funds for Crosley to pursue his lifelong interest in manufacturing automobiles. He introduced the first Crosley compact car in 1939. During World War II the Crosley company discontinued civilian automobile manufacturing and began production of war time materials, including development of experimental vehicles. In 1946 Crosley resumed production of compact and subcompact vehicles at its facility in Marion, Indiana, in addition to introducing new models and innovations to its offerings. After gas rationing was discontinued and the Big Three car makers began producing larger cars, consumer interest in Crosley's compact cars declined. The last Crosley car rolled off the assembly line on July 3, 1952, and the company focused on its other, more successful business ventures.

Industrialist Powel Crosley Jr. of Cincinnati, Ohio, owner of Crosley Broadcasting Corporation and the Cincinnati Reds baseball team, among other business interests, had ambitious plans to build subcompact cars. Crosley had built his first automobile at the age of twelve, and in 1907, at the age of twenty one, formed Marathon Six Automotive in Connersville, Indiana. Crosley built a prototype of the "Marathon Six," a six cylinder automobile priced at US$1,700, which was at the low end of the luxury car market, but failed to fund its production. After working for several auto manufacturers in Indianapolis and Muncie, Indiana, and several more failed attempts to manufacture his own cars, including a cycle car model, Crosley found success in manufacturing automobile accessories as cofounder with Ira J. Cooper of the American Automobile Accessory Company in 1916, and bought out Cooper’s interest in the company. By 1919, Crosley and his younger brother and business partner, Lewis M. Crosley, had sold more than $1 million in parts and were diversifying into other consumer products. Crosley increased his fortune in the 1920s and 1930s by developing, manufacturing, and selling inexpensive radios, such as the "Harko", the Crosley "Pup" and the "Roamio" models. The Crosley Radio Corporation became the world's largest radio manufacturer in 1925. It expanded operations at Camp Washington, a Cincinnati neighborhood, and began commercial radio broadcasting with WLW radio, considered "the Nation's Station." Crosley's company also introduced new consumer products and home appliances in the 1930s, including the "Shelvador," a refrigerator that had shelves in the doors, and other product innovations. The wealth that Crosley amassed from sales of these products provided the funds to diversify into other areas, including automobile manufacturing.

Beginning in the late 1930s Crosley developed low priced compact cars and other pint size vehicles. On April 28, 1939, the first Crosley production car debuted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to mixed reviews. the Crosley cars were cheaper than the nearest competition, the American Austin Car Company's American Bantam, which sold for $449 to $565. and had a fan as an integral part of the flywheel. The engine was connected to a three speed transmission that provided power directly via a torque tube to the rear axle, eliminating the need for joints. This arrangement was judged unreliable, and conventional universal joints were fitted starting in 1941. For 1941 a range of new, body style variations of the wide Crosley built nearly 2,300 cars in 1941. Crosley was the last company to cease production of civilian vehicles in 1942, after building another 1,000 units that year.

Crosley had produced different products for the war effort, including the 'Pup' 4x4 prototype, a tiny air portable 4WD. The Farm O Road took its cues from the Jeep and the wartime Pup. It had a boxy, minimalist body, riding on a wheelbase, and it weighed The Farm O Road was powered by the same 26.5 HP CIBA engine as the other Crosley models at the time, mated to a three speed Warner T 92 transmission with a two ratio, PTO capable range box mounted behind it. The base price was $795, or $939 with a hydraulic system including a hydraulically operated drawbar. built by Waukesha Engines of Waukesha, Wisconsin, and used from 1939 through 1942. The engine was originally designed to power orchard sprayers. However, many of the over 12,000 built between 1938–44, were used in the pre war (1939–42) Crosley mini cars and the military during WWII, some of which were also used for Auxiliary Power Units (APU). It was America's first overhead camshaft automobile engine to be produced in five figure numbers, The unitary block and cylinder head weighed only dry; complete with all accessories (including the flywheel) weighing only The engine displaced and produced at 5,400 rpm and @ 1200 rpm. Because of its remarkable power to weight ratio, and super efficiency for its time, the CoBra engine has been compared to Ford's 1.0 litre inline 3 EcoBoost engine. Longevity was measured in hours and was strictly controlled by equipment maintenance schedules for the wartime duties, but corrosion became a problem for these engines in civilian service. This problem with these automotive powerplants had tarnished Crosley's reputation by 1948.