1948 Other Makes

Pickup truck

4 - Cyl.

Manual

CC 42268

Gasoline

1948 Crosley ¼ Ton Pickup Chassis #CC 42268 Engine# R209900 We are offering this beautiful little jewel for sale by only its second owner since new! He has driven it very sparingly over the past thirty years, and indeed it still wears the 1983 dealer plates he attached after completing a cosmetic restoration. This little trucklet has been carefully stored in a heated home garage, not run on the road in recent years at all. The fluids have been carefully changed semi-annually and the motor has been started and warmed every few months just to keep things free and lubricated. The odometer presently registers a bit over 9600 miles. Based on the vehicle’s exceptional overall condition, particularly in the detailing and in the smallest crevices and corners inside and out, we have no problem accepting the owner’s belief in the veracity of that figure. The vehicle makes a stunning initial impression. Even aside from its diminutive “arcade ride” appearance, it is very impressive looking judged in context against other Crosleys. There is a real mix here of factory stock and carefully modified features. The most enjoyable change is the addition of the thickly padded extra seats in the back, affording a couple of friends the chance to enjoy a careful joy ride in town (these, and the backrest, can be removed, leaving barely a trace of their mountings). The flame red paint has a subtle metallic flake (we’re told it came from George Barris’ studio!), which fairly glows in the sun, and the matching velvet & shag interior looks like it’s straight from that bordello you visited in Tijuana back in college days. In total, these three minor modifications are quite well-matched to the general fun-factor of the Crosley. Each can be altered back to stock form without much work. The original parts are impressive: The hubcaps, nice glass, original single tail lamp, crisp clean gauge faces, straight bumpers, undamaged pick-up bed and tailgate, etc. As far as we have been able assess, the pickup is complete except for the windshield wiper arms and correct gas cap. After retrieving the car from storage, we went about the usual routine of draining the tank, changing the oil, checking the coolant level, cleaning the distributor, points and plugs. With some fresh fuel, the little CIBA motor sparked eagerly to life and sounded healthy. After a couple more starts, the starter motor failed to engage and it is presently being rebuilt. We will re-install a working starter, and the car will be sold in running condition. We did drive the car around the block: Enough to ascertain that the brakes are in good order and adjustment, the steering is light and accurate, and the suspension actually offers a pretty comfortable (if bouncy!) ride. Also, contrary to the looks, there is plenty of room in the cab for an adult driver and passenger. Under the hood shows excellent original detailing, right down to the correct air-cleaner, straight fins on the radiator, and original looking pressboard panels behind the headlamps – Things that really distinguish a well-preserved old car from simply an old car. The chassis number and styling make this a 1948 car, although it is titled as a 1950 model. In all probability, it simply was not sold by the dealer until perhaps late 1949 or 1950. Judging by the high serial#, the CIBA engine is likely to be a replacement. We aren’t sure if this pickup was originally fitted with the CoBra motor, but by nearly all accounts we’d rather have the much more durable CIBA engine (which in fact was offered by Crosley as a popular $89 retro-fit to earlier cars). Crawling beneath the pickup reveals a clean, solid solid frame and floors, with a new looking exhaust, fuel tank and tires. The original floors are not dented, have no rust-through, and the whole truck is impressively corrosion free, save for a couple of pin holes at the skirts of the sills and a very small hole in the battery box (we’d suggest using a plastic tray under the battery and just leaving it alone). Particularly impressive are the clean nooks and crannies around the insides of the valance panels and seams. By any reasonable appraisal, this is a rust-free machine. Having been painted and trimmed approximately thirty years ago, it has all held up quite well. The vivid interior was done to a very good standard, but shows areas of slight fading on the dash where the sun shines in. Although the paint is still shiny, it is no longer show quality for its various scratches, chips, scrapes and marks, but it’s still presentable in most company. There are also some small dents (note: driver's door), gentle and simple to repair, but overall the body is quite straight. Including the rare original tailgate, which is in exceptional condition (including the perfect "piano hinge", which can be a very troublesome spot after rust sets in!). When one considers that this is all original factory sheet metal – no filler, no apparent repairs – it becomes something of a marvel to behold. Again, we have no scepticism in accepting the odo reading as correct and true. We believe this is an exceptional example of an incomparable little car. The Crosley is as much fun to drive as you’d ever guess, and they are still practical to own. An enthusiastic owners club enhances the ownership experience, and good spares availability makes these cars very usable. It is a vehicle for extroverts. Wherever you take a Crosley, you will have to accept people’s adoring reactions: Women want to pick it up and cuddle it, and grown men turn into kids who’d like to jump in and pedal away down the sidewalk. This particular example can be enjoyed as it is, or made into a true concours special with very little effort or investment. The areas crying out for attention are mostly detailing: Chrome on the bumper over-riders, windshield weatherstrip and other small things needing embellishing. A few weekends of attention could yield remarkable results. The owner has chosen the starting bid price, which (in our estimation) is quite low for the example shown here. There is no reserve price, so there is opportunity for real value here for somebody. High bid takes this car next Sunday night! GOOD LUCK! This is a NO RESERVE AUCTION, STARTING LOW! HIGH BID BUYS THIS CLASSIC CROSLEY NEXT SUNDAY NIGHT! eBay gives us room for 24 photos. PLEASE enlarge and study them all. HAPPY to send for photos of details if you give us your email address. PLEASE ask any questions before bidding: We will answer quickly and honestly. Zero-Feedback Bidders MUST contact us before bidding or risk being blocked. The Fine Print: GOOD LUCK! Please bid to the value this car may hold for you. Please feel free to ask questions or add comments. Please ask questions BEFORE you bid. We will respond quickly and honestly. This car is located in Plymouth, Minnesota 55441, about ten minutes west of downtown Minneapolis. Inspections are invited and encouraged! CONDITIONS: Winning this auction constitutes a legal and binding agreement between the Buyer, the Owner and the Selling Agents. Please bid sincerely and sensibly. Zero-feedback bidders must contact us first before bidding to establish some level of seriousness-of-intent; It's nothing personal, just business: We, and many others, have been stung on eBay Motors by too many dead-beat auction winners. VEHICLE is SOLD "AS-IS and WHERE-IS". If the Buyer comes to pick up this car and is in any way dissatisfied, he or she will have the Option of walking away from the Deal with Full Refund of the Deposit and any Payments made to the Owner. Otherwise, no warranty is expressed, implied or offered. Neither the Owner nor the Selling Agents can or will take any responsibility for this car after it leaves the premises. PAYMENT: Buyer must make a $500 DEPOSIT by PayPal within 24 hours of the Auction Close. The Deposit will secure the Deal for all Parties involved. Failure to make Deposit within 24 hours will risk Cancellation of the Sale at Discretion of the Owner and Sellers. BALANCE MUST BE PAID within 7 BUSINESS DAYS of sale by SECURE PAYMENT or CASH at PICK-UP. TRANSPORT: Buyer is responsible for all transportation arrangements and costs. Car is garaged in Plymouth Minnesota 55441 (about ten minutes from downtown Minneapolis, thirty minutes from Twin Cities International Airport). We do not offer quotes on shipping. There are many vendors to choose from offering vehicle transport; eBay's "preferred" shipper, DAS, and FedEx/Passport are two great places to start getting bids. STORAGE: While the Auction Winner sorts out pick-up or transport arrangements, Owner can offer, free of charge, indoor storage for up to 30 days after auction termination. Longer periods can be arranged at cost if necessary. Seller cannot accept any liability during this storage period. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank You for Looking! We are fluent in classic European and antique cars. We are hobbyists, first and foremost, and happy to hear from you on the subject of cars or bikes. In addition to AUTOMOBILIA and PARTS, WE HAVE SOLD DOZENS OF VEHICLES ON eBAY...EACH DEAL A HAPPY ONE FOR ALL INVOLVED!