<VV> Corvair Research - mech brakes

[Chris & Bill Strickland]

Mention of mechanical braked Corvairs of course brings up the name 
Crosley (we have a Crosley fridge working away on the back porch - same 
outfit (or name, at least)) -- anyway, this brings up the 50 mpg car in 
a time of rising fuel prices:

Crosley's  dream of an "ideal all-purpose" car actually made it to 
production for the 1940 model year. Called the Crosley Convertible, it 
was powered by a 2-cylinder, horizontally-opposed air cooled engine 
displacing 35.3 cubic inches. It produced 12 horsepower and could propel 
the 80-inch wheelbase car to 50 mph. The only major impact of this 
little car was its mileage capability - 50 mile per gallon. This kept 
Crosley's name alive during the war, since his tiny cars became 
sought-after due to gas rationing. Two thousand, seventeen Crosleys were 
produced in 1939 and an additional 3700 were produced through 1942. -- 
http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/211.cfm