Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present an absolutely exceptional
and rare mostly all original example of the diminutive, classically
styled two-seat 1949 Crosley Hot Shot Roadster, the rare and most
desirable version of the very successful entrepreneur Powel Crosley
Jr's economy car and one of the outstanding early postwar sports
cars. It was capable of about 85 mph despite its little 44 CID cast
iron four, which was more than adequate for the tiny 1300 lbs
weight. Semi elliptic coil front and quarter elliptic rear
suspension gave very nimble handling. Set up for racing it was even
better; a Hot Shot won the Index of Performance at Sebring in 1951
and fared well in many road races in its day. Eventually the car
would be overwhelmed in the market place in the early fifties and
quit the car business in 1952. Regardless of its short life and
small size, the Hotshot is remembered as an impressive sports car
within its class. A Hotshot won the Sam Collier Memorial Endurance
Grand Prix, averaging 52 mph, as well as the "index of performance"
an award which took speed and engine size into account at the 1950
Six Hours of Sebring; and a Siata 300 fitted with Crosley power won
the SCCA's 12 hour Vero Beach race. Throughout the 1950s, Crosley
engines dominated 750 cc sports car racing, winning 10 out of 12
SCCA west-coast races aloneThis is a vastly underrated 'Milestone
Car" with outstanding performance and handling. With only 752 built
in 1949, 742 in 1950, 646 in 1951 amp; only 358 in its last year of
production in 1952 the few remaining can be ensured of collector
status for years to come. This extraordinarily charming and
obviously exceptionally well preserved and stock Crosley Hot Shot
Roadster presents beautifully inside and out. It is apparent that
some high-quality restoration work was performed in the past, while
many original factory finishes remain intact. In summary this
example would not be out of place in the most discerning of
collections, it would be hard to find a finer example available
anywhere else.