1949 Crosley Hot Shot Roadster

Powel Crosley, Jr., of Cincinnati, Ohio, was a successful entrepreneur and owner of a broadcasting corporation bearing his name and the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. He would later build a sub-compact car with the assistance of his younger brother, engineer Lewis Crosley. Their first car was a two-door convertible that weighed less than 1,000 pounds and sold for just $250. This new car made its introduction at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1939. 1941 saw the range expand to include two- and four-passenger convertibles, a convertible sedan, a station wagon, a panel truck, and a pickup, among other variations.

With gasoline rationing, sales for the 50 miles per gallon Crosley continued to climb, helping to keep the company afloat. Among the 'firsts' for the Company, they were the first to use the term Sport Utility, the first mass-market single overhead camshaft engine and first American car to be fitted with four-wheel disc brakes.

In 1949, the company introduced its Hotshot sports model which became the basis for countless Crosley-powered road racing specials. The Hotshot won outright in the 1950 Sebring Six Hours.

This particular car is a competition-proven Hotshot Roadster. It has no doors and no roof. It is finished in a maroon color with cream-colored wheels and a tan interior. It has been given a thorough restoration in recent times.

The car has a Crosley radio, chrome bumpers and a rear mounted spare wheel. The engine is a 44 cubic-inch overhead valve four-cylinder engine fitted with a Single Tillotson Carburetor. There is a three-speed manual transmission and four-wheel drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2014