Crosley and Crosley Motors: "An Illustrated History of America's First Compact Car and the Company That Built It" by Michael Banks Crosley: A Very Fine Car is an in-depth illustrated history of America's first compact car, from its beginnings as a rough, back-of-the-napkin sketch in 1937, to its life beyond production and into the 21st Century. The Crosley introduced such revolutionary innovations as disc brakes, the first SUV, a do-it-all farm vehicle, the Cobra engine with its sheet-metal block, surprising styling tricks, retail-store marketing, fuel economy that Detroit still hasn't equaled. Includes some never before published facts and photos.