Ed’s Tech Tip: Assessing Your Crosley Onsite

Overview

Even our good Crosley runners aren’t necessarily concours level (perfect). Again, this is what makes the Crosley Brand appealing. It doesn’t need to be perfect. It still gets a lot of attention nevertheless. Our goal today is to give you some important general Crosley areas to look at specifically. Not all just a general list. Maybe you can create an initial checklist as you look at Crosleys…

Initially

Consider what level of condition of a Crosley are you looking for?  

1.    A good driver (Clean, paint good, runs well, solid)

2.    A project needing some work (minimal rust, paint OK but could be redone, mechanically may need some work no major engine work but tune up and surely updating) A “decent runner”

3.    A real project engine and body needing a great deal of work

On-site with the Owner

Ask the owner to tell you about the car, it’s history, service that has been done to it, anything. Just listen carefully. If you purchase the car, this information will be very important and helpful but for now it gives you a very good picture of how the car was treated-maintained.

Exterior

Walking up on the car…

·      What is the paint like? Is it acceptable? (This can be a significant expense.)

·      Look at the front. See if there is a bumper and note its condition. Same for the rear. (Bumpers were originally chrome often replaced with polished steel.)

·      Look to see if a splash pan is there in the front and back (flat filler piece between bumper and grill).

·      Look for damage on the nose and rear – especially on a coupe. (It seems like an awful lot of these were run into at one time or another.)

·      Check and see if the grill, ornaments, headlights, and parking lights are all there including trim rings for headlights. (Make sure headlights trim rings have flanges where the screw tightens through to hold ring on.) 

·      Check for dings, dents, and rot. (The usual rot spots: bottom of fenders, rockers, bottom of doors and rain gutter areas including window pillars.)

·      Check sides to see if all trim is there. (Note: all side trim and windshield center divider were stainless steel. Hood ornaments, depending on years, were either pop metal or tin and plated.

The Rear…

·      Most early Crosleys (39 to 48) came with 1 taillight, (It could have 2 and even a backup light which would have been an extra cost.)

·      Check the rear for dents and rot. (Bottom of fenders, rain gutter, and the bottom of tail gate on the wagon are common rust places.)

Interior

Warning…It’s been said that Powell Crosley’s son in-law was the head of” fit and finish”, and he was always on a coffee break! Saying that - there is no such thing as a water tight Crosley!!!

·      When you open the door look down at the door sill (on the car) and also check the floor thoroughly for rot. (If the sill is rotted, you need to remove the floor and cut the piece out and weld in a new one. This is important because the rocker pan support is screwed to this.)

·      See if there are seat frames and check their condition. Also check the area where the seat bracket attaches to the floor for rot.

·      Run the transmission through it’s gears to make sure it shifts freely.

·      Check the condition of the steering wheel - look for cracks.

·      See if the car has keys.

·      Check the hood cable. Is it connected? Does it work?

·      Check the choke cable and the headlight switch.

·      Also check and see if it has a heater or radio. These also were options.

·      Check the gauges and their condition.

Under the Hood

·      Visually check and to see how complete the engine is. (See if there is an air cleaner, carburetor, fuel pump, water pump, generator, coil, solenoid, voltage regulator and starter.)

·      Check to see if engine turns over.

·      Check the wiring to see how brittle it is and inspect it to see if there have been repairs.

·      If it has a battery, lift it out and check the battery box (where the battery was sitting) to see if it is rotted. This is very common and not a “deal breaker”.

Tires and Rims

·      Check rims to assess their condition

·      Look at the condition of the tires. Is the rubber cracking around the seal indicating they are old and not safe?

One More Look

It always helps to take one more final look at the overall interior and … stand back and take a measured look at the exterior one more time. Get an overall impression. Does it check most of “your boxes”? Can you afford the “What if’s? Are there any BIG question marks?

*New - Buyer’s Remorse

Many classic car buyers have to deal with: Did I pay too much? Did I anticipate all the problems? What if? Keep in mind, everyone, everyone who has bought a classic car has asked these questions. Also, remember with a Crosley it’s at least 73 years old, something is likely to happen.

We at Captivated by Crosley hope these tips have given you some key areas to look at when checking out a Crosley in person. Don’t “wish away” your misgivings…they probably will happen.