This car does look better than this opening photo would make you believe. Small cars can be big restoration projects, despite their size. It may seem quick and easy to plug away at a car like this 1949 Crosley Convertible, and then in a few weekends, you’re rolling it across the lawn at Pebble Beach. It’s listed here on eBay in Hymera, Indiana and the seller has a $2,000 buy-it-now price listed.
Maybe the Pebble Beach lawn idea was a bit of a stretch unless you have your own TV reality show. They always seem to have unrealistically tight deadlines and then somehow, between throwing wrenches at each other and having endless contests and challenges to see who’s the best or fastest at riding tricycles across burning embers, they always get them done on time. That cross-shaped badge on the front of the hood may be a replacement. I believe the correct one would have been a Crosley shield, not a cross, which is typically seen on the rear of the car.
There are a couple of cues to know that this is a 1949 Crosley, known as a CD model, which replaced the – yes – CC model. This one appears to have something different going on with the newly-designed grille and I don’t mean the deer guard, but that center insert piece. 1949 models had serial numbers in the 100,001 to 108,628 range and this one is a CD102439, according to the seller’s info. Aside from the new grille (sans centerpiece), the 1949 cars had sliding side windows compared to roll-up windows.
The seller has this one listed as a “Super” for some reason, but there was no Super model in 1949, just the base model and Delux. I think this car looks very restorable. As almost always, it would be disassembled and each part and piece would be restored as a person had time and money and in the end, you’d have a great little 12-foot-long, 4-foot-wide car. Hagerty’s values range from $6,100 for a #4 fair-condition car to $25,900 for a #1 Concours car, so you aren’t going to drop it off at a restoration shop and expect to stay under that Concours number. The convertible model is really unique, though, and it would draw a huge crowd at any car show.
The engine should be Crosley’s CIBA (Cast-Iron Block Assembly) 44-cu.in. inline-four, which had 26.5 horsepower and 32.5 lb-ft of torque when new. It’s currently not running or turning over, but most Barn Finds readers could most likely have it humming again. The seller says that it’s been hidden in a barn for four decades and they have a very compelling story as to why it’s now for sale. I hope someone can save this great little Crosley!
Waiting for the “make it an EV” crowd to chime in on this one.
Or the LS bunch…lol
If a 1949 model I believe it should have 4-wheel disk brakes if original.
Yep just like my 49 wagon
Sedans and station wagons did not have disc brakes. Later hot Shots did. My ’49 had drums all around.
Well I’ll be dipped! It still has an engine under the hood! There ain’t nothing happening on the instrument panel…no gauges or anything. Unlike a 1950s era car from one of the big three. That era had some of the nicest looking dashboards ever!
Well, it’s early, but nobody has yet lamented the LS swap possibility
This ad is full if red flags. Right after telling you there are no seats or the top it’s claims to be 99% complete. $35.00 tires. Going to mark it up on Monday. Sob story.
It does seem like a decent price but these kind of ads make me very wary.
And those missing parts are probably going to be expensive if you can find them.
Nice $12k car after you spend $15k. I just had 6 small pieces on my ’58 Chris Craft boat rechromed and it cost $1000.
Transmission is not synchronized, so you need to learn how to double clutch. I would be cautious about the motor. Missing radiator cap makes me wonder if the block is cracked after setting so long.
Still could be a good project for a younger person or father/son. Crosley Cub has a lot of members and most parts are available new or used.
Maybe seats and top represent just 1% of the total?
Auction update: someone grabbed it at an unknown price.
If the running gear was serviceable for a reasonable price; you could pick away at other things.
You can get more HP out of that little motor. The used to modify these motors to run in TQ Midgets
I’m 70, but what young kid would be caught dead in a clown car like this. I had a ’57 Corvette in high school.
Someone who appreciates automotive history, the Crosley legend, the fun of driving one while shunning cookie-cutter identity politics, and who doesn’t need to do “look-at-me” burnouts when leaving meets?
The Crosley Car Owners Club: http://www.facebook.com/CrosleyCarClub .