HOUSTON -- Car salesmen say that seeing customers on the showroom floor is rare these days.

"In my 33 years in the business, I've never seen the business come to a dramatic halt as it has," said Jim Janke. He's the chairman of the Texas Auto Dealers Association.

But records show that sales haven't halted for the Smart Car.

The tiny vehicle is getting a lot of attention from buyers, said Kaitlynn Derner with Smart Car.

The latest auto numbers put it at the top of the heap with an 83 percent increase in sales over this time last year.

Smart Car sales just started up in the U.S. a year ago so dealers say the numbers could only go up.

In fact, you can get one of those tiny cars for $12,600, but it comes without a radio and without air conditioning.

Dealers say you can add a radio for $350 and AC for $600.

"It gets great gas mileage and that's one thing that our customers looking for. They're looking for fuel economy of over 40 miles a gallon," said Smart Car brand manager James Sparks.

Waving the number two banner in car sales is Hyundai. 

The company showed a 4.4 percent increase in sales. Their ads even promise to take back your new car if you lose your job.

Calvin Simon is a Hyundai salesman. He says none of his customers have brought cars back and he doesn't expect them to.     

"I don't. I don't. I don't unless we just have a loss of a flood of jobs," said Simon.

Records show that Sonatas or Smart Cars are the only things moving during this money crunch. The figures show that all other car sales numbers are in the red.