1950 Crosley Gardner Special Roadster

In 1953, Chuck Gardner of Glendale, California, built this Crosley Special based on a 1950 Hotshot. The Crosley Hotshot was produced by Powel Crosley, who had made a considerable fortune in radios and refrigerators. He turned his attention to the automobile industry and built a series of cars that bore his name. The cars were small and appealed to racing enthusiasts. They had a 750cc overhead cam 'monoblock' iron block engine that was very reliable and advanced. A nearly-stock Crosley Hotshot was entered in the first six-hour endurance race in 1950 at Sebring, Florida, where it emerged victoriously. The engines were later used in other cars, including Siata, Bandini, and Nardi.

This racing Special has an 841cc engine with dual carburetors and a performance header. The available 47-horsepower produced by the engine is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual MGTD gearbox. There are a Crosley rear end and 12-inch Halibrand magnesium sprint car wheels. Disc brakes can also be found at all four corners. The entire package is clothed with a body comprised of steel and aluminum resting on a wheelbase that measures 85 inches.

This car raced in Southern California in 1953 and 1954 with much success. It ran in the G-Modified class driven by Gardner where it either won outright or won his class at almost every outing. In 1955, it was sold to Jim Shaw, who re-styled the front end and modified the dashboard. It was then put into his private museum, where it was a stagnate display. The car would later pass through four more owners before being offered for sale at the 2008 Automobiles of Amelia Island presented by RM Auctions. It was offered without reserve and expected to sell for $18,000 - $22,000. It was sold above those estimates at $27,500, including the buyer's premium.

This car has raced at the Monterey Historics and VSCCA events at Lim Rock Park, as well as the 2005 Fall Vintage Festival. There is modern safety equipment such as the electrical shutoff switch, six-point belts on the driver's seat, and a roll bar. In addition to its racing capabilities, it is also street-legal.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2008