Past Crosley of the Month Winners - Page 37

Tater the early years??? The Buick portholes used to be a popular addition to Crosley.

To the right is Tater owned by Martha Straube of Oregon. Click on the link for the front view.

Richard Campbell post these pictures and the question anyone know where the Little Digger is today? "Over the course of three years (1957-1959), the Little Digger was unbeaten in the HM class on the west coast. Built by Chalmers Hall of Phoenix, Arizona, the little Crosley-powered special took first in class honors in ten of its twelve races. (It failed to finish in the other two events.) The engine delivered 55 bhp at 8500 rpm. Transmission was a modified MG TC unit with a Morris pressure plate. The body was assumed to be a home-made aluminum shell. Weighing a mere 760 pounds (wet), the Little Digger’s weight was evenly distributed, with 48% front and 52% rear with driver. Wheelbase 84-inches, overall length 121-inches, width 50-inches, track 44-inches, and height 33-inches. Speed at the quarter mile was clocked at 84.6 mph, and top speed was 114 mph."

Above photo Copyright by Art Still,  The Digger was last heard of when it was trailered to Mexico where Hall competed in a road race. One report says Hall transplanted the engine from Digger to a Giaur that he also took to Mexico after blowing the Giaur engine.  If anyone knows what happen to  Digger after it got to Mexico let me know and I will pass it on the Richard.

Our only Alaska memeber, Bob Picard, sent this photo and story of his Gasporter, still in use. "Here is a recent picture of my 1948 Crosley Gasporter refueling my 1948 Stinson Flying Station Wagon."

"I acquired the gasporter several years ago to be able to refuel my 1948 Stinson and my 1943 WWII Army spotter airplane. It was previously used for many years to refuel airplanes at the Lake Hood Seaplane base in Anchorage. As you may know, the gasporter was designed for refueling small aircraft with the driver/refueler standing up to drive. It is claimed to have a 200 gallon tank but I can only get about 190 gallons in it if I allow for expansion space. It was designed with a reinforced walkway atop the engine so that some high wing airplanes can be refueled without the need of a ladder. The fuel pump is powered by a PTO driven by a belt run from a double crankshaft pulley."

"The engine uses gas from the big tank which means that this Crosley has the biggest gas tank in the world. There is a scupper at the bottom of the tank that holds about 3 gallons in reserve for the engine that can't be pumped out when refueling the airplanes. It works very well for what it was designed to do. I remember seeing these trucks occasionally when I was learning to fly in 1964 and I immediately recognized what it was when I saw this one in Anchorage. I just had to have it and now I'm glad I do."

Just a reminder that this years Spotlight Class is Commercial. These two nice examples were at the 2021 Nationals.

Brad Johnson(IN) is the owner of this motorcycle hauling 47 Roundside Pickup. The  little Indian appears to have been originally a real minibike with most the engine parts there just no internals. It was on a carnival ride.

Tim & Lorilee King(FL) are the owner/restorers of Willie a beautiful 49 Panel Delivery.

If all the trucks that are being talked about online, as Winter projects show, it may be the biggest Commercial class ever.

These two nice Crosleys belong to John Roeser(IL). John didn't say what the event was where these photos were taken but the policeman is taking a careful look above to see if he needs to write a ticket. The 47 Convert and 52 Sedan Delivery are in parade ready shape. John writes "The 47’ was bought new by my grandfather's secretary, then he from her and me from him. When she owned it she drove it to Florida and back from Elgin Illinois"

Ran across these two photos and couldn't resist making them my choice this month for CotM. I wonder how two Chevrolet dealers thought it was a good idea to use a Crosley to advertise their dealerships. Above I would guess was in Texas based on the dealer name and web search. A nice 51-52 CD Pickup.

Strong Bros Chevrolet was in Syracuse New York and from the looks of the other cars in the background this 48 1/2 Crosley wagon was fairly new when it was used to promote Chevrolet. Nicely shows off the white wheels they switched to in 1948. Maybe the dealers were showing that you could upgrade from a Crosley to a Chevy.

 It was for sale at 1999 Crosley Nationals, not sure if it sold or where it is but wouldn't it look great in the commercial spot light class this year. What little I could fine shows they also made fork lifts and hand operated pallet movers. Later they merged with Hyster. Looks like it would be a beast to drive with handlebar steering to a single wheel and solid rubber wheels.