Comparing a 1947 Studebaker to a Crosley

[JRoberts]

Crosely Super Sport racing with the ECTA at Maxton, NC. Runs a Crosley engine. At one time it ran Hilborn fuel injection.

[Milaca]

Crosleys built for export were called 'Crosmobile" and had badging that said so. The reason for different badging was to avoid confusion with Great Britain's Crossley automobile. (per Wikipedia)
Four-wheel disc brakes were only offered in 1950. These had a problem with corrosion making the pistons freeze. Crosleys also had a overhead cam engine.

[63t-cab]

They don't look exactly the same to Me, though that might not stop Some One from interchanging them

Interchangeable front and rear fenders! How novel!

[voxnut]

Me, too! A '48 panel delivery in red and white.

I also have vintage racing karts, and I thought I saw an old post here where you mentioned having a vintage kart. If you also are into old British motorcycles, and/or vintage Vespas and Lambrettas, we're brothers from another mother.

[voxnut]

The 722cc Crosley engine is a neat little engine. SOHC, no separate head. The original one had a furnace brazed sheet metal block. Worked great on generators in WWII, but not so hot in cars. The joints would suffer from electrolytic corrosion and leak. But they came out with a cast iron block in early 1949. They actually did really well in a lot of different small bore racing endeavors. Class C boat racing, 3/4 midgets, H-mod sports cars among them. When Crosley motors ceased operations in 1952, Aerojet General bought the motor and produced them for a couple years with intended government use. In the mid-50's Fageol bought the rights to produce the motor for an outboard boat motor, Crofton bought out the rights and remaining inventory from Fageol around 1961 and sold a version of the old Crosley Farm-O-Road jeep called the Crofton Bug, in very limited numbers. In late '61 Homelite bought the rights from Crofton, and made a "big block" version for their Bearcat 55 outboard motor. This was built through 1972. Along the way Thermo King also used the engines to run the refrigeration units on semi trucks. Super cool little jewel of an engine.

[TWChamp]

Thanks guys, I'm learning some interesting things here.
In 1961 my neighbor had a 2 cylinder Homelite chainsaw that I could have bought for $10.
I wanted to use it on a go kart, but I didn't have the $10 to pay him.
That's the only 2 cylinder chainsaw I've ever seen.
I didn't know that Homelite make outboard motors.

[t walgamuth]

The Crosleys had some advanced engines. there is a small hydroplane in the lobby at the Clifty Falls Inn in Madison In. with a crosley engine in it. Wonderfully back yard built look to the whole thing.

The Crosley cars had styling that could be described as unfortunate. Maybe one could say it looks like a car built by a refrigerator company.

That pickup will likely go for a big price as pickups are very hot now and little cars too.

[TWChamp]

That hydroplane does sound like a neat boat. About 5 years ago I bought a small Fiat engine and tranny, thinking I'd install it in an older Cub Cadet, but after buying a Honda HT3813 lawn mower, there is no need to build something different. The Honda is 13 HP, water cooled, and 2 cylinder, so it's a very nice power plant for the mower.

[kmul221]

In order to get a safety one has to have windshield wipers,where the devil would you get a set-up for this thing ?

[56H-Y6]

Generally the prevailing attitude toward the Crosley was it was a silly curiosity, driven by skinflints, eccentrics or used as a toy by the well-healed. It made more sense to buy a good used car for the $900-$1000 a new Crosley cost. In mid-1948, that money bought a good used '41 Champion or a '40 Commander or President, a much more serviceable car for most folks.

Had the Crosley been sized fifty percent larger with a robust, reliable powertrain from the start, it might well have been taken seriously. It might even have become a springboard to a successful compact car line into the 1950's when those gained wider-spread acceptance.

[t walgamuth]

That hydroplane does sound like a neat boat. About 5 years ago I bought a small Fiat engine and tranny, thinking I'd install it in an older Cub Cadet, but after buying a Honda HT3813 lawn mower, there is no need to build something different. The Honda is 13 HP, water cooled, and 2 cylinder, so it's a very nice power plant for the mower.

I thought you were going to say you wanted to put the fiat into a crosley!

[t walgamuth]

In order to get a safety one has to have windshield wipers,where the devil would you get a set-up for this thing ?

There are generic kits available from various street rod vendors....manual, electric etc.

[gordr]

My Crosley has windshield wipers, and I think they were standard equipment.

[voxnut]

So does mine - the good ol' vacuum wiper setup.

[TWChamp]

I thought you were going to say you wanted to put the fiat into a crosley!

Actually I should just sell it.
I have too may other things to work on.
Someone want a nice engine for a lawn tractor pulling engine and tranny?