inthefrey Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 This gem was near a cell site in Altoona, PA this week. Looks British but cannot find a match. Any ideas? THANKS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted January 5, 2022 Administrators Share Posted January 5, 2022 Could be a Crosley. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted January 5, 2022 Administrators Share Posted January 5, 2022 Probably is. Late forties/early fifties. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted January 5, 2022 Administrators Share Posted January 5, 2022 This one is close. It's a 1948. The blue/white one is a '51. I rode in one of these with my dad when I was twelve. They are TINY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted January 5, 2022 Administrators Share Posted January 5, 2022 BTW, Crosley was an American car company, although a small, obscure one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted January 5, 2022 Administrators Share Posted January 5, 2022 This Crosley was kind of their version of a British Mini Moke, or rather the Mini Moke was a version of this Crosley. The Crosley came out first, by more than a decade. Anyway, it was called the Farm-O-Road. It was also available with an optional dumpable cargo bed, PTOs on the front & the rear and a dually rearend. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted January 5, 2022 Administrators Share Posted January 5, 2022 This is a WWII-era prototype that Crossley built, called the Mule. Looks like fun. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted January 5, 2022 Administrators Share Posted January 5, 2022 Crosley was the first company to offer an affordable, mass-produced overhead-cam engine, the first to offer four-wheel disk type brakes and the first vehicle to be marketed as a 'Sport-Utility' vehicle. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted January 5, 2022 Administrators Share Posted January 5, 2022 20 minutes ago, Eric said: This Crosley was kind of their version of a British Mini Moke, or rather the Mini Moke was a version of this Crosley. The Crosley came out first, by more than a decade. Anyway, it was called the Farm-O-Road. It was also available with an option cargo bed and dually rearend. Here is a pic of a 1967 Austin Mini Moke, for comparison. I would be very surprised to learn that their design team had never seen a Crosley Farm-O-Road before making this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borg warner Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 41 minutes ago, Eric said: Crosley. Probably is. Late forties/early fifties. Yes, Crosley. That's probably what it is but it except for the tail lights on the tailgate look the same size as an early 60's Ford Cortina which is why I thought it might be an English Ford except that the steering wheel is on the right side. the tail light coue have bee added at another time but probably not, just a different year. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted January 5, 2022 Administrators Share Posted January 5, 2022 32 minutes ago, Borg warner said: That's probably what it is but it except for the tail lights on the tailgate look the same size as an early 60's Ford Cortina which is why I thought it might be an English Ford except that the steering wheel is on the right side. th etail light coue have bee added at another time. I can see where you would think that, but the Crosley is even smaller than the Cortina. It falls somewhere between sub-compact and microcar. When I rode in one when I was twelve and skinny as a rail, me and my dad's hips touched in the middle and both our outer hips touched the door panels. It's REALLY small. The Ford Cortinas were interesting rides. They were very popular cars for use in sedan class races in Europe, and to a lesser extent, in SCCA sedan class races here. I always liked their styling. I almost bought one back in the late 1980s, but the deal fell through. It was a fun little car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted January 5, 2022 Administrators Share Posted January 5, 2022 Other than the stupid LED light bar, I kind of like the look of this one. To put things in perspective, I think that drivetrain is from a Suzuki Samurai and they needed those fender flares for the wider track. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borg warner Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 17 minutes ago, Eric said: I can see where you would think that, but the Crosley is even smaller than the Cortina. It falls somewhere between sub-compact and microcar. When I rode in one when I was twelve and skinny as a rail, me and my dad's hips touched in the middle and both our outer hips touched the door panels. It's REALLY small. Anyway, the one in the OP is definitely a Crossley, probably a 1946-1948. The Ford Cortinas were interesting rides. They were very popular cars for use in sedan class races in Europe, and to a lesser extent, in SCCA sedan class races here. I always liked their styling. I almost bought one back in the late 1980s, but the deal fell through. It was a fun little car. I had a girlfriend who had a 65 Cortina GT back in 1967. it was a fun little car and nice looking, too. Red with black interior 4 on the floor and bucket seats. That same year they were available with a lotus engine 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted January 5, 2022 Administrators Share Posted January 5, 2022 Just now, Borg warner said: I had a girlfriend who had a 65 Cortina GT back in 1967. it was a fun little car and nice looking, too. Red with black interior 4 on the floor and bucket seats. That same year they were available with a lotus engine They were fun to drive. The cars were very rigid, which gave them great handling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batesmotel Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 1 hour ago, Eric said: This is a WWII-era prototype that Crossley built, called the Mule. Looks like fun. Mules were ammo carriers. I would loved to have driven one. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
railfancwb Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 One variation of Crosley engine was furnace brazed from steel parts. The concept has fascinated me since I first read about it. Don’t know if any other engines were made this way. https://crosleyautoclub.com/EngineTree/Crosley_Eng_Tree-1.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted January 5, 2022 Administrators Share Posted January 5, 2022 3 minutes ago, railfancwb said: One variation of Crosley engine was furnace brazed from steel parts. The concept has fascinated me since I first read about it. Don’t know if any other engines were made this way. https://crosleyautoclub.com/EngineTree/Crosley_Eng_Tree-1.html Yeah, that engine got a lot of play in WWII, in a variety of applications. I believe a version was used as a generator motor on B-17s. It was used in mobile generator and refrigeration units and other applications as well. Crosley was an innovative company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MO Fugga Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 The knowledge of such obscure things that you guys have, the Crosley in this case, never ceases to amaze me. Never heard of it or seen a pic. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Eric Posted January 5, 2022 Administrators Share Posted January 5, 2022 And Fiat’s version of the Farm-O-Road and/or Mini Moke. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borg warner Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 15 hours ago, Eric said: This is a WWII-era prototype that Crossley built, called the Mule. Looks like fun. I like those "Apehanger" handlebars. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfost11 Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 I'm leaning towards a 46-48 range Crosley with some added tail lights. The ones in the 50s I've seen have the small tail lights on the outer edges of the rear end. This '48 does not. And if you look closely you can see where the emblem used to be under the window. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipedreams Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 20 hours ago, Borg warner said: I like those "Apehanger" handlebars. Though those were to steer with but they look permanent, guess they steer with the foot pedals. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batesmotel Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 21 hours ago, Borg warner said: I like those "Apehanger" handlebars. I think the Apehangers are on the little tractor next to the Mule. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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