That's what makes Bonneville so special and the people who race there, they just want to go fast and if it means a Crosley that's cool too. The paint job is awesome...
Ryan, thanks for a great year at the Journal with you at the helm. The Crosley just demonstrates the Hot Rod culture of improvising and engineering in all shapes and sizes. Very happy to be one of the minutiae in the lifestyle. Merry Christmas to all!
By God, you're right; those lines are reminiscent of a beluga rear-ending an aardvark, but the paint...oh that paint.
If only the top, windshield and side windows had a more dramatic contour. Yes that paint design is way ahead of its time. Thanks for all your great posts. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Yes, dig the paint. Gotta love these cars that are all business. Thanks for another outstanding year of modern niche journalism. This ship of yours is riding high under your capable captaincy, and us sailors appreciate that! Aaarrggh! Merry Christmas Boss, enjoy these holidays while the kids are young, sure doesn't last long.
Here's the Hubbard & Palamides Crosley in "drag strip" trim: Jack Hagemann Sr. chopped the top and hand formed the nose and full belly pan. "Tommy the Greek" Hrones painted, scalloped, "flamed" & lettered the car.
awkward in 2014, but was it awkward in 1953? with successful records you would think the design would have been copied. or was it?
The nose and graphics remind me of pinewood derby days. But not in an amateurish way. I can see why you go back to it. It continues to have something to show us.
I think it's pretty cool and with the times the Crosley I'm sure there competitors stood up and took notice. HRP
Ryan, This is one of the reasons you impress me, as you are always thinking out of the box as were the builders of this hot rod. I liked it back in the day (I think it was the paint job) and I still think it is cool. Merry Christmas every one.
Wow, I have always just flat thought this was one of the coolest salt/strip cars ever! It never crossed my mind that it was "awkward". Still don't think it is! This would be hard to translate into a streetable version, but a Crosley more in the vein of the Batto Trucking drag car is definitely in my future at some point.
so it was copied. it looks almost like they used rear quarter panels from a coupe or roadster for the front fenders. i think i like the windshield slope on this one better.
I was a 12-year-old subscriber to HRM when this car was featured. I thought it was a cool looking competition coupe, and still do -- irrespective of the graphics, which I also like. Compared with a stock Crosley sedan, it's downright sleek!
I am also one of those guys that built and raced an "Ackward Looking " crosley sedan. This one is on a 34 ford chassis, early 8 3/4 chrysler rear, packard 3 speed and a 322 inch nailhead Buick engine.
Not really bad looking, but it's a wonder it didn't "fly" at speed, it's very wing shaped. But it has to be cool, January '53 is my birth date!
I actually like the lines of the car....it reminds me of one the cars in the old Disney cartoons I watched as a kid. And I agree, the paint, graphics and wheel colors are perfect for the car.