Sunday, November 16, 2008

Crosley goes to war.

"Any antique Crosley car devotee knows that the CoBra four-cylinder engine that powered the post-war Crosleys was essentially repurposed from its use in generators that provided many an Allied war unit with necessary electricity. But Powel Crosley tried to offer plenty more assistance in the war effort. For example, Crosley built at least a couple different three-wheeled prototypes.

Crosley built at least three separate bikes: The first had a single rear fork on the left side and a double front fork, the second a single rear fork on the right side and a double front fork (as in the photos above) and the third a single rear fork on the right and a single front fork on the left. All three, built in the 1940-41 time period, used a rear fender that doubled as a fuel tank, and all three - along with the three-wheeler - used Crosley’s air-cooled opposed two-cylinder engine with shaft drive."

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