Oddball Creation: 1948 Crosley Custom

1948-crosley-custom

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I love the little Crosley Hotshot, it’s a great little sports car. They aren’t powerful or terribly quick, but they handle great for their age and have some really awesome racing history. My only real complaint about them are their unusual looks. I don’t know if I’d say this customized Crosley is a huge improvement over the Hotshots looks, but it’s definitely different. Finished up, it might actually look good and would get you tons of attention! Plus you’d have one fun little driver. You can find this odd creation here on eBay in Orlando, Florida with an opening bid of $2k.

1948-crosley-custom-engine

The seller doesn’t offer any of the car’s history or really any details about it’s construction. They state that it has a Toyota 1200 with a 4 speed and that the rear quarters are from a Studebaker. If this really is a 1948, it could have originally had the CoBra engine which didn’t last very long. It could have also received the CIBA engine, which was introduced in ’49 and quickly became quite popular with small bore racers. It doesn’t really matter what this one might have had though, because right now it has a Toyota engine. Power wise, it’s definitely an upgrade from either Crosley engines. It’s also probably heavier, which might have a negative impact on handling. It looks to be a 3k, which is a solid engine and was rated at between 68 and 77 depending on configuration.

1948-crosley-hotshot-custom

I have to admit, I’m not a huge fan of the nose job. Between the grille and side pipes, it just looks a bit over the top. I’d get rid of the fake exhaust pipes, exhaust holes in the fenders and rework the grille opening to give it a cleaner look. Given how small and basic Crosleys are, I don’t imagine it will take much to get it back on the road. Getting it looking good on the other hand, might be more of a challenge. So what do you think of this oddball creation? Do you like the looks?

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Comments

  1. Dave Suton

    If it has a toyota engine, then it will surely break a camshaft and burn oil.

    Like 0
  2. DrinkinGasoline

    Looks like one of those cars on the carousel at Kiddie Park….
    beep,beep,beep,beep,beep. Some metal flake lime green paint, a lot of multi-colored flashing lights, two steering wheels and you’ve got your own amusement park ride !

    Like 0
  3. JCW Jr.

    If you undid the ugly and put a different nose on it (don’t know what right now) It would fit right in with my other cars. type 1 and 3 King Midgets and Nash Metropolitan Conv. and Cushman Eagle. Had to sell my 4 Eshelmans would like to get another. so the Crosley would be right at home.

    Like 0
  4. stillrunners

    wait…..there was a yellow car that looked just like this one…..with the low cut doors…

    Like 0
  5. GOPAR

    I think it’s kind of cool. Definitely different. If it were mine and I had some very disposable income, I would clean up the body lines, do the bodywork and interior, do something with the grill, but I would leave the port holes alone!

    Like 0
  6. Tom S.

    You could haul it around in the back of that Cadillac station wagon. Fugly is as fugly does.

    Like 0

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