Crosley — America’s First Successful Sports Car! “What?” say all Corvette, Stutz, Mercer, et. al. enthusiasts! Yeah, they are correct, but guess what sports car won the Index of Performance at the first Sebring 12-hour race? That’s right, it was a 1949 Crosley Hot Shot, very closely related to this adorable 1951 Super Sport that is listed for sale here on craigslist. The diminutive sports car is located in Contoocook, New Hampshire, and is priced at $12,000.
The Hot Shot and Super Sports should have been successful. At its launch in 1949, not only was the Hot Shot only $849, it came equipped with four-wheel disc brakes (later replaced with drums due to their propensity for corrosion on salty roads), and an overhead camshaft, five-main-bearing, four-cylinder engine! Pretty exotic for a wheelbase of 85 inches, don’t you think? And this particular Crosley is as gorgeous as a Super Sports gets! To be complete, the owner notes that it needs a convertible top (and I’m guessing, side curtains) but who would ever put the top up, anyway? Also of note; the seller says they need more room so they are selling the Crosley — I’m thinking I would have kicked the riding lawn mower to the curb, but hey, I’m not the seller.
I have not used the word “cute” and I’m not going to start now, but just look at the perfectly simple seats, carpet, and pleated door panels and try to think of another term! Fine design for 1951, and the condition of this car makes it look that much better. Trivia time; all Super Sports had red upholstery (and black tops with red trim, so you at least know what it should have).
Unfortunately, this car does not have the optional ashtray, radio, horn button, or speaker. So sad. The preceding two sentences are meant to be read in a completely deadpan voice dripping with sarcasm. This wasn’t a luxury car! Thank you, T. J. for sending in this really cool find!
That little engine produced 26-1/2 horsepower (mustn’t forget that 1/2!). I found various top speeds listed between 77 and 90 miles per hour; quite frankly, 50 would probably have me on the edge of that little seat. I’ve never ridden in or driven a Crosley, but I hope to some day, and this Super Sport would be my ideal Crosley to try one out! Have you ever driven a Crosley?
A trustful source says 36hp and 77 mph topspeed. So its a supercar in its time :-)
26.5 hp stock
Not sure I’d use the words “supercar” and “Crosley” in the same sentence (oh, wait, I just did) but these little beasts are an absolute blast to drive. Not only will they run off and hide from a stock mid-50s VW Beetle, but that 77 (or 90) mph feels like it’s just this side of cracking the sound barrier….
The only way this one could be better would be the inclusion of the original Crosley radio — hard to imagine you’d hear it over the engine, but it looks very cool — and maybe some period-correct Braje speed equipment.
Oh, and a pair of lap belts. I doubt they’d do much, safety-wise, but you’d want to be held in place.
The Radios for these were either made by Motorola, Zenith, or Philco. Crosley sold the radio business at the end of WWII.
A ’49 Crosley station wagon that we swapped a ’48 sedan body onto was my first car at the ripe old age of 14. Rebuilt the entire car to include engine, brakes, paint and interior. Only modification was a pair of ’39 Chevy taillights to augment the one puny light on the back. Really nice car here.
Had one just like this. I did some mods to the engine (Isky cam, SU carb, and exhaust header). With the 5.125 rear, it was peppy up to about 45mph. Biggest drawback was the 3 speed nonsynchro gearbox with a huge gap between 2nd and 3rd. Changed the “drop down gears in the trans to get closer ratio; it helped. Fun, simple car with good club support.
American sports cars were around long before the 50’s, does anyone recall cars like the Stutz or the Mercer?
As a 9/10 year old when these first came out, I was enthralled with the idea of an American sports car. At the time all we saw was the imported MG TF’s.
This car may be Hot Shot which had no rollup side windows. In 1951, the Super Sport came out with roll up door windows which made the car more livable.
This looks like an extremely nice car and would love to add it to my collection. Butttt, you can’t take it with you.
This is a Supersports. They had no roll up windows EVER. The Hotshot had no fixed doors.
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Crosley Automobile Club. http://www.crosleyautoclub.com
That “90 mph” top speedcomp is an often mis-quoted number. In the 1951 sales brochure, Crosley stated that a Hot Shot competed in the “Grand de la Suisse and had a top lap speed of 87 km/h. Not mph, km/h. Crosley was a master at marketing. Who would want a sports car with a top speed of 54 mph, but tell the masses it goes 87 kph, WOO-HOO! After 87 is faster than 54.
I’ve owned and driven Crosleys for 50 years. I’ve had mine up to 50 mph. My wife accused me of trying to blow the engine.
I just love these little cars. I own a Midget and this car would out Midget a Midget.
By that I mean I suspect it would be an absolute blast to drive. 50 MPH would feel like 150.
Unfortunately they are no longer the poor man’s sports car. I think that is what the world needs. Something light, economical to operate and simple to maintain for those of us who are not mechanics, but enjoy pretending we are.
4 wheel disc brakes?
Not likely, Crosley Discontinued them in 1950.