Powel and Lewis Crosley were not only consummate inventors, they perfectly complemented each other in business skill. Lewis was more the corporate strategist and long-term thinker, while Powel was the innovator, continually tinkering to improve existing products. Powel got his start under the mentorship of Carl G. Fisher, of the Fisher Automobile company, and moved up working in sales for various other car and car parts manufacturers. Then he and his brother put their heads together to create a completely new kind of car.

On this day, April 28, 1939 the Crosleys debuted their new economy car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the center for automotive development of that time. Even by today’s the standards the models were incredibly cheap — $325 for a couple and $350 for a sedan — slightly more than $5,000 in today’s money.

In dimensions the Crosley was slightly smaller than the Fiat 500 of this day. It was 10 foot long (the Fiat is around 11½ ) with an 80-inch wheelbase (the Fiat has 90). With gas being rationed for the war effort, the car was a hit, but the postwar boom expanded American appetites for luxury, and the Crosley gave way to much larger models.