Q: When do you feel the first true compact car in America appeared? I say Rambler gets the credit for doing so, as they were into compact cars back in the ’50s.
A: There are surely those who would agree that Rambler was the first manufacturer in America to promote compact cars. Beginning in 1958, Rambler sold its American and the actual Rambler model as smaller, economy cars.
However, most students of automotive history point to 1960 as the pivotal year for the compact car’s universal acceptance, when Ford’s Falcon, Chevy’s Corvair and Plymouth’s Valiant hit the showroom floors. Until then, Rambler was alone in promoting its smaller-car ideals. Even the 1954 through 1962 Nash/Hudson/Rambler Metropolitan, which was originally built in England for Nash by Austin Motors, was way ahead of its time, and could be classified as a subcompact. Nash and Hudson combined to form American Motors Corp. in 1958.
Now, to further confuse everyone, you mention “first compact car in America,” so I’d have to say Volkswagen receives credit for its 1949 Beetle introduction. Also, cars like the German Opel (sold at Buick dealers) and the British Vauxhall (sold at Pontiac dealers) showed up in the mid- to later ’50s and were considered compacts. Ditto for Renault, Volvo and Saab.
In ending, we can’t forget the first Asian import, a Toyota called the Toyopet, which came to the United States in late 1957. Although a best seller in Japan, it was ugly, slow and mechanically flawed, and Toyota sold just 287 Toyopets in its first year in America. Datsun, now Nissan, came aboard in 1958.