Just Cool Cars: '48 Crosley as post-cancer therapy
SEASIDE, Calif. -- Anson Spence will tell you straight out: When he bought his 1948 Crosley, "it was pretty much a basket case."
But that didn't stop him. A cancer survivor, he was looking for a project that would give him a little exercise. The Crosley, a strange, underpowered midcentury car, fit the bill.
When he bought the car for $2,200, the motor would start, but not much else worked. No seats. Brakes not finished. So he set out to fix it, putting in a rebuilt engine, transmission, rear end. It was pretty easy to work on., since "the whole car is mostly (held together by) sheet metal screws."
Today, he's got it running and is having some fun. Spence, of Salinas, Calif., who we encountered over the summer at the Concours d'LeMons event here, says "it's a good around-town car," even with a 44-cubic-inch, 26.5 horsepower engine.