Crossword Genius

Automobile in a crack-up! (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

car

'automobile' is the definition.
(I know that automobile can be written as car)

'in a crack-up' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'up' is a reversal indicator (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'rac' is hidden within 'crack'.
'rac' back-to-front is 'CAR'.

(Other definitions for car that I've seen before include "Road vehicle; rail coach" , "One for the road?" , "4-wheeled vehicle" , "Railway carriage; vehicle" , "Private vehicle" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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