- Seller: James S (Contact)
- Location: Billings, Montana
- Mileage: 14,461 Shown
- Chassis #: 100378
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 4-Cylinder
- Transmission: Manual
This 1949 Crosley CD Sedan proves beyond doubt that the classic world caters to a wide variety of enthusiasts. The current owner purchased the car in 2014, planning the restoration that stalled at this point. However, the car is essentially complete and solid and comes with some desirable new parts to help the winning bidder return this gem to its former glory. If you have limited space and would love nothing better than to tackle a pint-sized hands-on restoration, the owner has listed the Crosley exclusively with us at Barn Finds Auctions.
Crosley introduced the CD range for the 1949 model year as the replacement for the previous CC that served it well from 1946 until 1948. It featured a major restyle compared to its predecessor, although the rear bodywork of the Station Wagon and Pickup remained largely unchanged. Sales in 1949 were disappointing, with only 2,231 buyers taking home a Sedan. The current owner purchased this beauty from the original owner’s grandson in 2014. It had spent years in dry storage in Montana after finding its way to that location from Wisconsin. The current owner commenced his build by stripping away most of the original Green paint to expose the predominantly healthy steel beneath. It has since developed surface corrosion, but the only genuine penetrating rust is confined to the battery tray. However, fabricating a replacement would be straightforward and would return the entire body to a rust-free state. The surface corrosion is heaviest on the floors, but they remain rock-solid. Therefore, a shot of media blasting would eliminate the problem cheaply and painlessly. Most of the trim, including the hubcaps, is present. The owner is unable to locate the hood ornament, but searching the usual online auction sites will almost certainly unearth one. The glass is extremely good, and the owner includes new seals to ensure that dust and moisture can’t find their way inside this classic. The original wheels have been stripped and powder-coated. They wear new tires, although they aren’t the correct size. Overall, there are no issues with this Crosley’s body that would pose a challenge to an enthusiast in a home workshop. If you crave a project but have a strict budget, it looks like a winner.
The biggest news with Crosley’s new 1949 CD range was hidden under the hood. Early cars received the CC’s CoBra four, and while this motor was light, it did suffer from reliability issues. That was one of the driving forces behind the company developing the CIBA engine found in our feature car. With a capacity of 724cc, this four-cylinder engine developed 26.5hp and 30 ft/lbs of torque in its prime. The power was fed to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual transmission, and with a curb weight of 1,360 lbs, these cars could wind their way to 70mph under favorable conditions. The owner confirms that this car’s four ran when he took delivery but that the car hasn’t moved under its own power. The factory air cleaner is missing, and the radiator is damaged. However, none of these issues are insurmountable, and with the elegantly simple engineering techniques utilized by Crosley, returning the car to a mechanically sound state shouldn’t be difficult.
Many people marvel at the packaging efficiency of the original Mini, but this Crosley deserves recognition. It is hardly spacious but is capable of accommodating four people. That makes it a viable proposition for enthusiasts with young families. The VIN and dash both confirm that this Sedan isn’t an early vehicle because those cars featured the same round gauge cluster as found on the previous CC. Although this may not appear to be the case from the photos, there is plenty of good news when we assess this interior. Vital components like the seat frames and gauges are intact. The headliner succumbed to a rodent infestation and has been discarded. However, the owner took a pattern from it, which will allow somebody to stitch a replacement. The winning bidder can follow the same process with the tired seatcovers. With those items replaced and the painted surfaces refreshed, this interior would look pretty nice.
One of the challenges when tackling a restoration project is that once dismantled, the classic in question can often consume an enormous amount of workshop space. That is less of a problem with this 1949 Crosley CD Sedan, courtesy of its tiny dimensions. The company’s construction techniques are not dissimilar to those found in most British sports cars from this era, and those are often touted as ideal project candidates. If you crave such a project but prefer a classic with a local flavor, this Crosley makes perfect sense.
Bid On This Auction
oskar bid $350.00 2025-02-18 10:23:49
SK bid $100.00 2025-02-15 15:25:59
The first time I ever saw a Crosley it looked so small I honestly thought some guy had assembled it in his garage and had given it to his kids to play with in the yard.
Be sure to let us or the seller know if you have any questions!
I think a pertinent question would be if the car sells, would the seller be willing to put the doors back on and carefully pack all the parts into the car so it could be shipped? I doubt if the winning bid would be in the same town where the car is.
The doors can be easily reinstalled and all parts packed inside.
This Crosley looks like a solid starting point. The sheetmetal looks very clean. In a way its nice that most of the paint on the body is removed, you can see there’s no surprises and you know what you’re working with. This really looks like a great project. Plus it has the better cast iron engine as well. I’d definitely keep it the original color.
Don’t know what the underside looks like but if you wanted a full restoration the bodies come off easily. Could be a fun project.
Nice project. Their is one beside the road for sale in Craigsville,W.Va. .Its light blue. Never stopped and looked at it up close.A guy I know has one. Him and his brother put a Chevy v-8 in it.
I’ve got a Cosworth/Vega motor that needs a home but the $500 transaction cost is gonna leave the engine sitting on the garage floor
A 60 hp flathead might be a cool swap or 1800 MG four or just get the existing engine running. GL withe auction !
The stock engines are easily modified to twice the hp and are very strong.
i hate body wrk so this’d B a gud’un. Smooth the bumpers 1949ish (never realized these had the filler panels). I see some glass (& like the sliders from my “50/60s Italian Daze”). I guess Josh is the writer (we never see names w/the auctions).
“…let us… know if you have any questions!…”
windshield? It sez every thing included ‘but hood emblem’ – hard to believe. If true more $ available to put into the rest. I’d ether die grind out a trunk lid (& place no walls in) or reinforce (metal band – full body circumference) inside/touching) at skin/sheet metal for hinges at top a la a hatch. Now I got a daily (we all gotta work round here). What tire does the wheel take (since these are “wrong”)? Thnx~
Standard tire for Crosley is 4.80×12. If one is flush, radials of either 135R12 or 145R12 should be considered.
windshield glass, rear glass, and side glass are present. one of the side glass panels is cracked. door glass is present one of the door glass panels is cracked.
I had V8 60 in my pickup with Corrolla wheels and 13 ” tires, Vega steering Custom spindles with Corrolla front discs. Dakota gauges bucket seats
hot rod crosley
If it’s true the seller “crushed” the doors, this wouldn’t be a valid auction, with the doors clearly pictured in the auction and as part of the deal. With no response from the seller as to carefully packing the parts in the car, and the door’s being missing, this auction is looking like a waste of time.
Again, that was a fake comment made by someone trying to cause problems. Please disregard.
Thanks for clearing that up, that comment looked official.. When will we hear from the seller if he’s willing to pack the car to aid in shipment?
Yes, The doors are easily reinstalled and all the parts can be fit inside.
“…pack the car…”
1) that’s all the goodies he mentions included (I think an obvious point);
2) assist w/transport load up ( many buy sight un-seen ).
These R 2 different (confused) questions @ times.
hope this is nota cross seas inquiry.
am I the only one who wants to put a 392 hemi in it and build a gasser out of it . with a dry weight of around 1600 lb’s it would be a monster a little monster but still a monster.
I hope so.
you’ll need to meet track requirements.
Our ’80 Starlet just did sub 8 sec. We had
the required parachute (last required/added item
when we were still above that). We wont B let back on
the raceway w/o a new chromoly cage. Squeaked by due
to another big co renting Lebanon (they just ran the tree, staffed
the staging area)? Or may B cuz those guys knew the car & had not
seen us do that in 7 yrs? dono~
A lot of high schoolers used to dream of these thinking they could somehow come up with this much cash and get into a new car. The Yugo of their day.
funny cuz initially (till after the ‘the teens’) cars were seen as ‘for the rich’, luxury items. That’s 20, 30 yrs in on production.
It just seems alota changes in 135 yrs.
For the carz / because of the carz. I often
wonder if there were futurists (some countries
have gov. bureaus to speculate/ask questions :
“how will this technical development effect society?”)
what would they answr abt having carz… the change in
cities, production facilities, forms of pollution, work/life balance,
international competition, wealth and equity, etc… Would the society
chose to go ahead? One thing foah shoah – the car saved the city as the horse manure was building up to create REAL problems~
My father bought a used Crosley powered forklift in the late 60’s. Finding engine parts was impossible so he started buying used cars. We had a go-cart and two Crosley station wagons. I chopped the roof off of a station wagon and made a fieldmobile out of it. The go-cart engine ended up in the forklift and one station wagon was set aside for a restoration. Unfortunately that car was lost in a barn fire. The other story is that Cobra didn’t come from a dream but years of working on Crosley Co Bra racing engines. Of the more than 50 cars I own the Crosley was one of the few I wish I had kept.
“…Co Bra racing engines…”
the copper motor was used to race?
I cant believe that as folks had trouble in regular traffic w/it~
I once looked at a VERY used Crosley to purchase. Sanity prevailed.
I was thinking of ways to repurpose this little car: Perhaps as a riding mower, golf cart or ATV – Nah! Probably all done already; How about as a Zamboni? Too ungainly; I know! Let’s make it a snow plow! Bulletproof that little 27HP motor, add a supercharger and transplant a HD ATV drive train under it. Put a seat in the back for Tyron Smith (6’5″ /325#) for ballast and extra oomph if it gets stuck, and don’t forget a snorkel kit for when it is in snow drifts higher than the car. I would have little use for it here in SC, where our occasional “blizzards” seldom accumulate more than 1″, but perhaps in NE, Colorado or the high Sierras.
My first introduction to Crosley was in the mid 1970s. My boss just returned from his annual cross country trip with 3 cars he picked up along the way. A Model T pickup, a wood grained Chrysler sedan (not a station wagon) and a Crosley Hot Shot. I did learn how to start and drive the Model T and I did drive the Hot Shot. It wasn’t a bad car to drive, and I believe one Hot Shot won a race in Sebring FL back in the 1950s
The bid increment has been reduced!
thnx Josh.
“…but the $500 transaction cost is…”
another “…a fake comment made by someone trying to cause problems…”?
/OR/
is that another cost placed in with the final bid/purchase price?
I did see the 5% buyers fee, with a $500 minimum. Maybe this can be cleared up.
ok, “gone” for total of 850$.
Add transport as nxt fee…
AND
then start adding up the costs from there.
The broken glass is easy, I use lami scraps from the local
glass guy (cut off of what he uses in making store front ‘windows’).
Being body-on-chassy this is a real good deal. Any drive line, durable,
a near pre-finished ‘skin’… As above if @ my house it might B comea hatch
and B re-powered w/Jap (or other) FWD/transaxel. Congrats on the smart buy !