The Grice Community Museum of Clearfield is well known for its trophy big game displays, but it is also famous for it’s antique and classic car collection.

Crosley is a well-known name in appliances, but did you know they also were innovative  automobile manufacturers?

The Crosley Car Company manufactured a genuine “compact car,” which was travel hardy and fuel efficient, averaging close to 50 miles to the gallon. Not manufactured since 1952, Crosley cars have become valued collector items.

The Crosley Car Company was started by Powell Crosley Jr., who began his  millionaire career making  Crosley radios and refrigerators in the 1920's.

The car was a true compact. Twelve-inch wheels were standard; no Crosley was more than four feet wide with a 40-inch track. These tiny dimensions, coupled with primitive beam-axle suspensions and its lightweight, guaranteed a kidney-shattering ride. Dubbed by a road-tester as both a "mechanical roller skate" as well as ranking it among the ten best sports cars in the world, they were fun.

Crosley Motors Incorporatedhad its main office and engineering facility in Cincinnati Ohio, with assembly plants in Richmond Indiana (1939-1942) and Marion Indiana (1946-1952).

The first car was shown at the Indianapolis Speedway in May 1939. It was a two-door convertible that weighed less than  1000 lb and sold for $250. It wasn't an instant success, but in 1941 more body styles were introduced.

The chassis had an 80-inch (203 cm) wheelbase,  half elliptic springs with beam axle in front and quarter elliptics in the rear. The power came from a two-cylinder Waukesha air-cooled engine that had the fan as a part of the flywheel. The engine was connected with a three-speed transmission and then directly via a torque tube to the rear axle, thus eliminating the need for joints.

In 1941 the body styles available were expanded to include two- and four-passenger convertibles, a convertible sedan,  a station wagon, a panel truck,  a pickup, and two models called "Parkway Delivery" (a mini-panel with no roof over the front seat) and "Covered Wagon" (a convertible pickup truck with a removable back seat).

The Crosley Hot Shot was the first post-war sport car produced in the U.S. It was also the first U.S. car to have disc brakes.

With 24,871 cars sold, the best year was 1948. Although there were four models, including and a sporting one, sales continued to decline. In 1952, only 1522 Crosley cars were sold.

Thus ended the era of the Crosley compact car. However, visitors to Grice Museum have a chance to get a glimpse of motor history. Several Crosleys are  currently on display at the museum in downtown Clearfield.