Small Cars

Many experts, including Henry J. Kaiser, whose Kaiser-Frazer had burst upon the automotive scene and quickly established itself as the leading independent maker, believed there was a vast market for a small, economical car in the United States. This 1951 Henry J was one of the first post-war attempts to make and market a small car. First year production of 82,000 seemed a strong portent, but output dipped to 26,531 in 1952, then to 17,505 in '53 and in 1954, when Henry J production ceased, just 1,113 units were sold. This '61 six-cylinder Henry J was used in a thrill car show and was a better car than its short life would indicate.

This '53 Willys Aero was another example of an American small car introduced with great hopes but with a short life. Willys-Overland had built small cars before World War II, but got the rights to make and market the Jeep after the war. In 1952, it decided to offer a small automobile too and introduced the Aero. It expanded Aero offerings in 1953 and 1954. In 1954, Willys-Overland was acquired by Kaiser and the Aero was dropped. Kaiser left the U.S. auto market and moved to Brazil.

Perhaps the most famous of all the small cars was the Chevrolet Corvair. In 1960, the Big Three finally followed the lead of Kaiser, Willys and Ameircan Motors and got into the small car market as import sales soared. General Motor's entry was the Chevrolet Corvair, a rear-engine, air-cooled car obviously designed with the Volkswagen Beetle in mind. Ralph Nader attacked the safety of its design in a book, "Unsafe at Any Speed." GM denied the car was unsafe, but a number of executives privately wanted to change it or drop it. Production was canceled in 1969. This 1960 coupe was one of the first year's model run.

The unusually styled Pacer was introduced by American Motors in 1975. It was subcompact in length but as wide as a Cadillac. It featured a huge expanse of glass, a longer door on the passenger side, and a sloping hood that was ahead of its time. The Pacer's design was one of Richard Teague's most brilliant, but the car was virtually stillborn. AMC had planned to use a Wankel rotary engine and front-wheel drive, but was forced to use an inefficient conventional drivetrain. Sales were strong at first but then plummeted and the Pacer was killed after the 1980 model year. This 1977 Pacer station wagon was part of that body style's first year.