1951 Crosley CD Super Station Wagon
In 1948, Crosley built more station wagons than any other American manufacturer, though its entire model year output totaled just under 29,000 cars.
The figure captures both the wagon’s outsized popularity within the lineup and the modest scale on which Powel Crosley Jr. operated when he set out to build the smallest and least expensive car in the American market.
In May 1939, the first Crosley was shown at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, riding an 80-inch wheelbase it would keep throughout production.
The CD series, introduced for 1949, brought restyled front-end sheet metal with headlights integrated into the fenders. That same year, Crosley became the first American automaker to offer four-wheel disc brakes on a production passenger car, though corrosion issues (particularly in regions using road salt) led to a return to hydraulic drum brakes during 1950 production.
The overhead-cam four-cylinder displaced 44 cubic inches and produced 26.5 horsepower through a three-speed manual transmission with synchromesh on second and high. Wood-grain side trim was standard on the station wagon body. Crosley sold approximately 84,000 cars in total before production ended on July 3, 1952.
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