Tough to Crack Car Puzzle #204

Today is the last puzzle and although you can still earn some points in next week’s pre-war quiz, today is very important , so good luck!

The car we have in the puzzle today is such a lovely one. Perfect for sunny days to the beach or just to cruise around. We are sure it will give a lot of smiling faces! A round nose, specific windscreen, unique body line: cannot be too easy. Please tell us all you know about the car including the material the car is made of. And if you ever have driven one, tell us how it was. We are very interested in your response!

The rules:

Please send in your answer in a comment, in maximum 100 words. Do this before Monday evening and do not forget to give us your sources so we can check them. See next week if you are the winner of the full 5 points in the six months competition, sponsored by Hans Compter Rare Cars.

Pubblicato:

sabato marzo 16th, 2019

Neil Beadle

18 Marzo 2019, 17:38

This happy looking little car is a Crosley Skorpion, or more precisely a Skorpion based on a modified Crosley 80 inch wheelbase chassis and using the Crosley 4 cylinder CIBA (Cast Iron Block Assembly) engine. These fibreglass bodied cars were built between 1950 and 1952 by the Willrow Company of California USA. Designed by Ralph Roberts, former chief designer for LeBaron coachbuilder, and fibreglass expert Jack Wills.The first 4 Skorpions of the 32 produced were complete cars, the remainder were sold as kit-cars. In 1952 Roberts sold the rights and tooling for the car to Viking-Craft of California.

Sources:
https://www.undiscoveredclassics.com/forgotten-fiberglass/forgotten-fiberglass-history/fiberglass-facts/1952/skorpion-wasp-viking-craft/
http://crosleyskorpion.com/Home_Page.html
Independent Small Cars By Don Narus - https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=rr5-DwAAQBAJ
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crosley

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Robbie Marenzi

17 Marzo 2019, 23:07

1952 Crosley Skorpion
The puzzle car belongs to Ronald Clarke who bought it from Hyman Ltd. See attached coloured photo of the car. Built on a Crosley chassis with a Crosley 4-cylinder engine and an all-fiberglass body designed by Ralph Roberts, who had worked for LeBaron in the 1930s and built by John Wills. The Wilro Corporation built four complete cars and another 24 bodies in kit form.
Skorpions were not really a Crosley offering, as the company already had two roadster models - the Super Sport and the Hot Shot. Instead, they were fiberglass roadster bodies that could be installed onto a Crosley chassis.

https://www.conceptcarz.com/z26229/crosley-skorpion.aspx
http://crosleyautoclub.com/SpotLite/Crosley_of_the_Month-5.html
http://www.americansportscars.com/kits.html
https://www.chuckstoyland.com/category/automotive/cool-old-cars/cool-old-cars-skorpion/

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Gerd Klioba

16 Marzo 2019, 18:31

This is the Skorpion, built first by the WilRo Co. of Pasadena, founded by Chrysler designer Ralph Roberts and plastics pioneer Jack Wills, later by the Viking-Craft Mfg. Co., Anaheim. Begun originally in 1950 as a fiberglass body for Crosley chassis and engine for $445. After the demise of Crosley in 1952, Skorpion altered the bodies slightly to fit Ford chassis and Ford or Studebaker engines, some were even sold fully assembled for $1,200. A Super Skorpion with opening doors instead of cut-down sides was also available. Production stopped in 1954 after about 150 bodies and cars were made.

Sources:
Richard M. Langworth, Encyclopedia of American Cars 1940-1970
Ron Kowalke, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975
G.N.Georgano, The Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars
https://www.americascarmuseum.org/2017/07/07/friendship-fiberglass-story-behind-acms-1952-crosley-skorpion/

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Till Jauernig

16 Marzo 2019, 11:07

Hallo,

it`s the rarest Crosley. It`s an Crosley Scorpion from 1952. Just 28 were build.
My knowledge is from this side:
https://www.themiamiautomuseum.com/1952-crosley-scorpion--c-58.htm
Well, of course not much information, but I`m not so much in bubblecars...
Best regards,
Till Jauernig

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Tough to Crack Car Puzzle #204

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