In a message dated 97-08-21 07:01:37 EDT, mgbob@juno.com (ROBERT G. HOWARD)
writes:
<<
On Wed, 20 Aug 1997 19:21:14 -0400 Bud Krueger <bkrueger@ici.net> writes:
>Sorry folks,
> The Crosley and Henry's J were latecomers. Before WWII
>there was a compact car made in Butler PA (if I recall correctly)
>called
>the American Bantam. They still show up in Hemmings on occassion. My
>slipping OF memory wants to somehow think that Bantam was a
>branch/division/piece of Austin.
>
>Bud Krueger, OF
>52TD
>
Bud, I believe you are right. At one time it was the American Austin. My
mother had one. This is the little convertible that's often depicted in
cartoons of the 40s and 50s, driven by Bugs Bunny and other notables.
Bob
>Spook37211@aol.com wrote:
>
>> In a message dated 97-08-19 23:27:49 EDT, CJOINER@toltec.astate.edu
>> (CHARLES
>> JOINER) writes:
>>
>> <<
>> The first compact cars were made by Crosley, an american who made
>> two fortunes, one in radio ie the Crosley radio and the other in
>the
>> crosley refrigerator. He lost both of them trying to produce a
>> compact car. He died broke. America was not ready for a compact
>> car. Another compact car was the Henry J manufactured by Kiaser.
>> same problem America loved big cars.
>>
>>
>> >>
>> Quite true!!!!
>>
>> I'm not certain that the Henry J was a compact, though, although
>> compared to
>> some of the iron out there then I suppose you could call it one.....
>>
>> Ray
>
>
>
>
>>
Guys,
I dug through my books and came to the conclusion that the 'compact' aka
'baby' , 'midget' has been around almost from the beginning of the car design
game. I found stuff that would qualify back before WW1!
Ray
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