Past Crosley of the Month Winners - Page 32

Time for some oldies from the archives. This is an advertising postcard for McCall Appliance of Indiana PA. One if the many Crosley appliance dealers that signed up to also sell Powel's car in 1939. Click to see the back side for a list of purchase possibilities.

Another Crosley dealer expanding in to the auto trade in 1939. This one in New Castle, PA. Note the Shelvadore Refrigerator with shelves in the doors. Crosley was the only company to offer shelves for years, the rest place a model housewife in front of the door so you couldn't see the blank space. Both images can be made bigger by clicking on them.

To kick off the build up to the Nationals in July where Modified Crosleys will be the Spotlight Class. This 51 Wagon at first glace doesn't look all that modified and might even make it into the stock class, that is till you hear it running. It is re-powered by a Harley Davidson air cooled twin. This was owned and shown back in 2008 at the Nationals by Barry Dennis of Michigan.  Not sure if Barry still owns it, if anyone knows send me a note.

The before history is also interesting, Ronnie Kaczmar, long time Crosley owner and member of CAC used it as his daily driver until his death in the mid 2000s. The car had over 200,000 actual miles on it and needed a lot of work. Will not guess how many engine swaps. One of the highest mileage Crosley in existence if not the highest. Here is a before picture.

Here is a list of some of the modification.

Start getting your Crosleys ready for July both modified, stock, race and other variations, we have classes for all of them.

Decided to show some past photos of volunteers from the Nationals. Above is Sara Sherman announcing door prize winners in 1986. She still makes it to the Nationals most years with her kids for at least one day. I can't place the two behind the counter if anyone recognizes them send me an eMail.

Working the Crosley store in 1987 is Lois Friday and Cathy Gormont. Lois and her family don't miss a year and now supplies us with her Crosley embroidered line of clothes. Kathy came with her brother Arnold for years and then with her son Richard.

Some more modifieds to get you ready for the Nationals and the spotlight class. Not all modifieds are Crosleys with some other make engine sometimes they are Crosley powered creations. Here are two that were shown at the 2003 Nationals. Above a nice custom roadster that probably has some Crosley body parts but they are hard to pick out. It is was reported as being owned by Chuck Dillon of Ohio but this is a similar but different car. Owner on known.

Here is a nice 3 wheel motorcycle with a Crosley engine. My good friend Dave looking it over but not ready to trade in his Harley Sportster yet.

If anyone knows who owned/owns the motorcycle let me know and I will add their name. If they are yours dust them off and bring them this year.

They all need to be saved but some are harder than others. These two shots are of a rescue Barry Smedley of Indiana made a few years ago.

Not sure if this is on Barry's list for a future restoration or just parts.

The meet bosses decided this belonged in the Auto Related class at the 2017 Nationals last month, I assume because Paul Gorrell of Iowa didn't have it running yet. I think it was the smallest Crosley Modified at the show. Paul says he just ran out of time to get it finished in time for the Nationals. He has most of the hard parts figured out/finished and says he will bring it back when it is running. He had to make the front fender which is impossible to find for a Doodle Bug. He welded together to pieces cut out of an eagle gas can (see next picture) then made what was left into a tool box.

Yes a V8 Crosley, Paul picked up an aluminum crankcase that someone else made in the hopes of  a future V8 and abandoned the project. Paul used a stock block and a Crofton block so all the plugs are on the outside and all the intake and exhaust is in the V. He had a Hiawatha Doodle Bug scouter, that has it's own story, and decided it needed a new engine. Paul says only a small notch in the frame was needed for clearance and otherwise is a stock frame. Power to the back wheel will be a jack-shaft chain drive with friction drive to the flywheel.

Here is Ohio member William DiMatteo's racer at 2017 Nationals. The most unique engine placement I have ever seen. With a very low center of gravity and near perfect weight distribution I bet it really does well on corners.

I wonder if the driver is tempted to do some fine tuning on the carbs in the middle of the race. You do have to be careful not to lean on the exhaust. Click here for a look from the rear.

Nicest complete Icyball setup I have ever seen. This was at the 2010 Crosley Nationals. If my memory is correct it belongs to Joe Kaczmar of MI. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Shot inside, just as nice inside as out. Compete with racks and stabilizer pan. If you want to know more about the Crosley Icyball check out our info page for more than you will probably want to know.

John Van Sickle of VA sent me these two photos. Here is his note - The local John Deere dealer closed the store-and called me about the attached photos he found in a filing cabinet. He worked for Shaheen motors at Montoursville, PA. The photos appear to be before they became a Crosley dealer.

I don't know when Shaheen officially became a dealer, these photos do look like they were just doing used cars at the time of the photos. Shaheen Motors eventually became a dealer for Willys, Crosley and Jeep. The dealership I have listed as being on Broad St. I don't have a street address.

Seb Fontana of CT sent me pictures of his nice 47 sedan. Here is the note he sent me. "My Crosley is a 47' CC late with big generator. Car is pretty stock restoration by previous owner except for the radial tires. After I corrected the brakes [there was nill], clutch [trans input ate the splines out of the disc do to severe bell housing misalignment], engine crank timing gear adjustment [wrong pulley/shims], welded up and re-machined the trans shiftier, replaced torque tube bushing and seal after weld repair of socket cup [retaining cover too tight], it has become a dependable little car! I also converted to 12v [nightmare!]."

"I got new Dietz light buckets to fit in, 50's Ford tail lights, 3rd brake light, made turn signals operational. And a small Tachometer. Car could use paint but its a driver. I use it for errands all around surrounding towns, cruise nights, car shows, Antique car and engine shows [Kent and Zagre Farm] and sometimes just for a ride which usually ends up being 25 miles or so which is all combined with taking the dog to parks and woods for walks. Wherever I take the Crosley the dog comes too! About 900 miles a year as long as no snow. I wish I had a dollar for every cell phone picture taken." Check out Seb's nice vanity Historic plates.

Crosley Super Sports getting ready for a race at an unknown location. Photo was on the H.A.M.B. web site with no extra info. Seb Fontana found the picture and thought the Pontiac had California plates. Anyone recognize the location?

 

This racing Hotshot hit the corner a little to fast at Torrey Pines in the San Diego area.  The caption read "Although Deane Patterson's Crosley Hot Shot turned turtle at high speed on one of the straights before a quick S-bend, he crawled out unhurt. Spectators rushed out to give a hand setting car in a more conventional position."