1950 Crosley FarmORoad

The purpose of the Farm-O-Road, per Crosley, was 'To do big jobs on small farms, and smaller jobs on big farms.' Styled similarly to a small Jeep, the Farm-O-Road was intended for rural customers who required a utility vehicle for doing chores around the farm and could also be driven on the roads and taken to town. The street-legal Farm-O-Road had an estimated top speed of approximately 40 mph on the highway.

Powell Crosley, Jr.
Powell Crosley, Jr. of Cincinnati, Ohio, was a successful supplier of automotive parts and accessories. Later, his company manufactured other consumer products, and by 1925, Crosley was the largest manufacturer of radios in the world. His business interests grew to include the Crosley Broadcasting Corporation, owner of the Cincinnati Reds Major League Baseball team, and automobile manufacturer.

The Crosley was not Powell's introduction into automobile manufacture; he reportedly built his first automobile at the age of twelve. Fourteen years later (in 1907), he formed Marathon Six Automotive in Connersville, Indiana. His career would include work for several auto manufacturers in Indianapolis and Muncie, Indiana, and he made several valiant attempts to manufacture his own cars. In 1916, he co-founded the American Automobile Accessory Company with Ira J. Cooper. The success of this business allowed him to explore other business interests, including inexpensive radios.

Crosley Automobile
The Crosley automobile was a low-priced compact car that was introduced on April 28, 1939, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The diminutive two-door coupe was priced at $325, and the four-passenger sedan was $25 higher; these were the cheapest automobiles on the market, selling for approximately $100 less than the American Austin Car Company's American Bantam.

The Crosley was powered by an air-cooled Waukesha two-cylinder boxer engine fed by a four-gallon fuel tank. The fuel economy was impressive at an estimated 50 miles per U.S. gallon. It had a three-speed transmission, a torque tube, beam axles, and leaf-spring suspension. Sales were positive in its inaugural year, at 2,017 units, but slipped to 422 units in 1940. A wider range of body styles for 1941 helped boost production to nearly 2,300 units. By the onset of World War II, Crosley had produced a total of 5,757 cars.

World War II
In support of the war effort, the Crosley Corporation produced a variety of war-related products during the war years, including radio transceivers, proximity fuzes, trailers, field kitchens, and gun turrets. Their background in automobile production was utilized via a number of experimental vehicles for the U.S. government. This included experimental tricycles, motorcycles, amphibious models, continuous track vehicles, and four-wheel-drive military light utility vehicles. Each of these vehicles was equipped with the company's surplus of 2-cylinder boxer engines.

The Crosley CT-3 'Pup' was a single-passenger four-wheel-drive vehicle was air-droppable from a C-47 Skytrain. At least 36 examples were built and six and deployed overseas. The project was discontinued due to mechanical issues and componentry that was unable to cope with the rigors of war use.

Crosley Farm-O-Road
All-terrain and 4x4 vehicle experimentation during World War II provided Crosley the opportunity to broaden its line-up in the post-World War II era. Like the wartime 'Pup,' the Farm-O-Road had a minimalist body, a short 63-inch wheelbase, and weighed approximately 1,100 lbs. It had a payload capacity of around 500 lbs. Like other Crosley vehicles, it was equipped with a 44.2 cubic-inch CIBA engine that produced 26.5 horsepower. It was paired with a three-speed Warner T-92 transmission with a two-ratio, PTO-capable range box. Along with normal gearing, it offered a 4:1 low reduction. The axles were rigid all around, with a 5.38:1 ratio Spicer 23 in the rear.

The front-engine, rear-wheel drive vehicle was spartan, with one windshield wiper being the sole amenity. Its vast list of optional equipment, however, made it customizable for numerous projects and purposes. Among the list of options were dual rear wheels, a rear seat, a soft-top, side window curtains, and a detachable pickup bed which could come with a hydraulic dump. For farm duties, it could be ordered with a cutter-bar mower, sickle-bar mower, a rolling coulter, disc harrow, cultivator, hay rake, a 10-inch single bottom plow, a moldboard plow, snow plow, row guide, velocity governor, hand throttle, radiator chaff screen, row crop seeders, fertilizer unit, spring blocks, and a post-hole digger.

For those buyers residing in cold climates, Crosley offered steel front snow skis. The skis could be attached to the front tires, transforming the Farm-O-Road into a snowmobile.

It is estimated that fewer than 600 examples of the Farm-O-Road were built at the Marion, Indiana, assembly plant between 1950 and 1952.


by Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2024

1950 Crosley FarmORoad Vehicle Profiles

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Related Automotive News

A Slogan with History: Audi marks 50 Years of 'Vorsprung durch Technik'

A Slogan with History: Audi marks 50 Years of 'Vorsprung durch Technik'

Advancement is in Audis DNA – a look at the milestones of the past five decades demonstrates this clearly Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development Oliver Hoffmann Our aim has always been to drive change Member of the Board o...
Smartest And Most Productive Ford Transit Makes Global Debut At Hannover CV Show

Smartest And Most Productive Ford Transit Makes Global Debut At Hannover CV Show

New 2-tonne Transit improves productivity for businesses with fuel efficiency improved by up to 7 per cent and advanced new connectivity features Segment-first diesel mild hybrid (mHEV) powertrain option further improves fuel efficiency by up to 8...
PORSCHE FEVER AS RM SOTHEBY'S ANNOUNCES NO RESERVE, SINGLE-OWNER PORSCHE COLLECTION

PORSCHE FEVER AS RM SOTHEBY'S ANNOUNCES NO RESERVE, SINGLE-OWNER PORSCHE COLLECTION

RM Sothebys secures private collection of 42 Porsches, to be sold without reserve across select global sales in 2017 Upcoming Paris auction features 13 vehicles from the group, highlighted by a one-of-29 Porsche 959 S, a delivery mileage 996 G...
CHEVROLET INTRODUCES 2016 SILVERADO WITH EASSIST

CHEVROLET INTRODUCES 2016 SILVERADO WITH EASSIST

New mild-hybrid system delivers 13 percent improvement in fuel efficiency, based on EPA city estimates DETROIT – Chevrolet announced today that a select number of 2016 Chevrolet Silverados will be offered with eAssist technology. The new...
BMW CONCEPT NINETY

BMW CONCEPT NINETY

Cernobbio. 90 years of BMW Motorrad, 90 years of two-wheeled history – hardly another motorcycle manufacturer can boast such a longstanding and successful heritage as BMW. The BMW R 90 S likewise has cause to celebrate the BMW Motorrad design icon turns...

Vehicle information, history, and specifications from concept to production.