What was the first car to be advertised as a compact car?

What, you mean normal ?

My guess is it was the Volkswagen Beetle.(Which isn't normal by any standards of design but is probably 'compact' )

I don't know how the Beetle was advertisd in any place other than the US, but, in any case, my question should have read "What was the first American car to be advertised as a compact car?"

Hi Dorian,
I was looking on Wikipedia, and although I dont specifically see the word "advertised" there, it looks like it might have been the Nash Rambler which was introduced in 1950.

If it wasn't, then it was still a beautiful looking car. Certainly more stylish than the compacts that came after it!

quote:

Originally posted by FredPuli:
What, you mean normal ?
)

Yes Fred, in European terms that would mean a normal sized car!
hey but did you know we have Smart Cars here in Canada now!

The Rambler it is, although I never saw them as stylish. By the late 50s, Ramblers were refered to as "Grandpa's car". (The front seats did recline, though. )

Nash also came out with a truly small car in 1954, the Metropolitan, with a 12'3" overall length. I wish I had one now.

quote:

Originally posted by dance girl: but did you know we have Smart Cars here in Canada now!

My dear dancegirl, but Smart Cars are so 2004 ! (We sold ours and got a rickshaw instead: so good and it gives employment to one of those poor unfortunate children who are too old to be adopted (this season,anyway) and the only 'carbon footprints' are if the boy's sandals have blacked soles !)

quote:

My dear dancegirl, but Smart Cars are so 2004 ! (We sold ours and got a rickshaw instead: so good and it gives employment to one of those poor unfortunate children who are too old to be adopted (this season,anyway) and the only 'carbon footprints' are if the boy's sandals have blacked soles !)

But Fred Darling, here in the Colonies we are so far behind you fashionable Europeans.

But now we also have the Yaris and the Mini too!

No 2CVs yet..don't think they still make them do they? News has been scarce from the homeland these last few years!
Could you spare your rickshaw boy for a few months in the winter to pull me into town on my sled? There's a dreadful shortage of orphans here since Madge and Angelina started their charitable endeavours?
I would even offer to buy snowboots for him, except that I might need the cash for new snow goggles for myself!

And Dorian how could you even think that the Rambler isn't stylish? It oozes class and style..at least more so than the compacts of the 60s. Yes, I can just see myself in one of those, when my little helper that Fred is going to send me has the day off!