Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Dog 'N' Suds Which-Way Crosley

I've seen a LOT of custom Crosleys, but this Push-Me-Pull-Me version takes the cake!  Photographer Jim Hammer posted some shots of the car(s) on his flickr page and says it was parked behind the Dog 'n' Suds Root Beer Stand on Sagamore Parkway (US 52) in Lafayette, Indiana.   From the bullet nose front it looks like it started out as a pair of late of late 1948s. According to the folks that commented on his pictures, the car used to be a driver and was built by the former owner of the restaurant.  Miller's pictures were taken nearly three years ago... anyone know if it's still there?

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Powell Would be Proud: the Hiriko Car

The tiny Spanish Hiriko car (Basque for 'urban') prototype was just unveiled, getting a lot of press for its bizarre/genius design.  Imagine something smaller than a Fiat 500, that's electric, that folds nearly in half when you park it, and has independent all wheel drive.  !

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Crosley Trucks at Barrett-Jackson

Another Barrett-Jackson auction has come and gone and this time a couple of Crosley trucks crossed the block.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Crosley Postcards

I'm a total OCD collector/hoarder type, but I do my best NOT to collect everything with a picture of a Crosley car on it.  I do pretty well when it comes to newer stuff, but I can't seem to stop buying old magazines with the occasional Crosley photo.  I do manage to pass up most postcards for the simple reason that I can save scans that look almost as good as the originals.  I thought I'd share a batch of stuff I've saved up... enjoy!
A Fine Car parked in front of a Superb Motor Hotel.


Crazy 'Art Car' that started out as a '51 or '52 Crosley.


Promo postcard for the 'Dashing' Crosley HotShot.
Prewar Pickup.
 A portholed super Sports... and then of course you need a stamp:

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Ebay Watch: Gasser Heaven - Dual Draggin' Wagons

While Crosleys never achieved the must-have gasser status of Willys or Fiat Topolinos,  there was no shortage of Crosleys (well, bodies) on the track back in the heyday of drag racing.  One look at a Crosley sedan told the early drag racers all they needed to know: that thing was smaller, lighter and more aerodynamic than whatever '20s/'30s/'40s body they had in place.  If Crosley wagons weren't quite as light, they were easier to find, so many of them made their way to the track and the salt flats.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

His First Car: '39 Crosley

This may be old news for some of you, but I just came across this great short feature about Glenn Klein's first car from the Orange County Register of July 21st, 2010.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Frank Dominianni and the Nardi 'Boby Sport'

Reading through the new issue of Vintage Motorsport I came across an obituary for Frank Dominianni who passed in November.  In 1947 Dominianni opened Hi-Speed Power Equipment, one of the first speed shops on the East Coast, and he was soon taking every opportunity to test his products out on the track, most famously with a string of racing Corvettes.  Even though he was on a shoestring budget, he ran - and often won - against greats like Roger Penske, Dick Thompson and Don Yenko at high profile events like Sebring and Daytona in the late fifties and sixties.