Crosley Hotshot (1949)Richardvining, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Crosley Hotshot

1949 — USA

Post-War (1946-1959)American
Engine724 cc
DrivetrainRWD

Crosley Hotshot

Powell Crosley's Hotshot brought sports car racing to affordable levels with its diminutive size and light weight. Despite only 26 horsepower from its tiny engine, the 1,200-pound car achieved competitive lap times and won the Index of Performance at Sebring. It was the first American production car with four-wheel disc brakes, though they were later replaced with drums due to corrosion issues. The Hotshot proved small displacement sports cars could be competitive against larger European machinery.