Crosley cars were American-built vehicles produced from 1939-52. In the last year of production, 1952, Hardee’s mom, a teacher, purchased a new sedan. Calling it “the car that started it all,” Ernie Hardee later drove that car, along with several others, to school.
Now, Hardee owns 44 Crosley models ranging from the convertible Hotshot, the first American sports car, to the Farm-O-Road, a precursor to the modern-day John Deere Gator and other utility vehicles. Only 1,500 of the Farm-O-Road models were produced and Hardee has four of them.
