Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Sports Utility Vehicle

Crosley Motors advertisement from a 1948 issue of Popular Science 
The vehicle at bottom left is labeled "Sports-Utility; Rear seat obtainable. Lowest priced Crosley – $130 less than station wagon."

My first thought at seeing a Crosley in person was "Wow, that's small!" As a comparison :


Model 1949 Crosley CD
station wagon 
1949 Ford
Custom 2-door
station wagon
1949 Chrysler
Royal 4-door
station wagon
1949 Chevrolet
DeLuxe Styleline
4-door steel
station wagon 
Wheelbase 80 inches 114 inches 125.5 inches 115 inches
Length 145 inches 208 inches 206.5 inches 198 inches
Width 49 inches 71.7 inches 73.5 inches 74 inches
Height 57 inches 62.8 inches 65.5 inches 65.8 inches
Weight 1403 lbs 3523 lbs 4060 lbs 3465 lbs

Except for the height, the dimensions of a Crosley are about 70% of the others. And the weight difference is amazing.