Peter Gariepy Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Available locally. What can you all tell me about a Powell Crosley? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Supposedly made with leftover Plymouth parts. Does it still have the trough, pullout tube shelves in the rear? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Gariepy Posted February 16, 2017 Author Share Posted February 16, 2017 Gonna look at it tommorrow and will let you know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlLaFong Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 It's a Powell. Has nothing to do with Crosley. My next door neighbor has three or four of them 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 (edited) Yep. Nothing to do with Crosley. Powell Sport Wagon Company, Compton, California. Chassis were primarily 1941 Plymouth. Introduced 1954. Available in two styles....pickup and station wagon. Edited February 17, 2017 by keiser31 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capngrog Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 Powel Crosley was the inventor who designed and built affordable radios, refrigerators etc. and yes, Crosley automobiles. If you're interested, here's a link to a Wikipedia article on Powel (notice only one 'L') Crosley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powel_Crosley,_Jr I've never heard of a Powell vehicle. Peter, it looks like you have a pick up truck. Did they make cars as well? Anyway, the front end looks like a cross between an early International Scout and Land Rover ... or sumthin'. Cheers, Grog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarFreak Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, keiser31 said: Supposedly made with leftover Plymouth parts. Does it still have the trough, pullout tube shelves in the rear? Like this? Seen @ Ypsilanti Orphan Car Show in 2008. Edited February 17, 2017 by CarFreak (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Gariepy Posted February 17, 2017 Author Share Posted February 17, 2017 A few more photos. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarFreak Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 And Peter, if you really are a sucker for an Orphan, this is a show you've got to visit one time or another. http://wardsauto.com/technology/17th-annual-ypsilanti-orphan-car-show#slide-0-field_images-851061 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike6024 Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 (edited) 2 hours ago, capngrog said: Powel Crosley was the inventor who designed and built affordable radios, refrigerators etc. and yes, Crosley automobiles. If you're interested, here's a link to a Wikipedia article on Powel (notice only one 'L') Crosley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powel_Crosley,_Jr I've never heard of a Powell vehicle. Peter, it looks like you have a pick up truck. Did they make cars as well? Anyway, the front end looks like a cross between an early International Scout and Land Rover ... or sumthin'. Cheers, Grog Did you post the wrong link? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powell_Manufacturing_Company PMC was also an early innovator in pickup and SUV design with several models produced in the 1950s using modified Plymouth chassis. The pickup was sold as the Sport Wagon and the SUV as the Station Wagon. Powell's designs were later echoed in the Ford Ranchero and Chevrolet El Camino models which appeared a few years later. Motor Life magazine, in its October 1955 issue (with a photo of the Powell Sport Wagon on the cover), called it "an obvious choice as one of the most interesting and unique automobiles in the U.S." In the February 1956 issue of Motor Trend, magazine co-founder[9] Walt Woron concluded his article: "The Powell Brothers, then, have succeeded in their purpose: to provide a vehicle that '... can't be beat for general utility...[that makes] the perfect runabout or 2nd family car.. The Powell manufacturing facility in Compton, California, http://oppositelock.kinja.com/born-in-compton-powell-sport-wagon-1551165251 http://www.allpar.com/old/powell.html Powell Registry - http://www.usscootermuseum.com/powell_01.htm http://clubs.hemmings.com/powellregistry/features.html Sportwagon is the name given to all Powell pickup trucks and station wagons; all were manufactured as 1955 through 1957 model-year vehicles. Our best estimate is that 1,020 pickups and 150 (revised January 2012) station wagons were manufactured over about a two-year period. All were built at the Powell factory in Compton, California, and sold through dealers who sold other independent brands or were used car dealers. We are fortunate to have copies of the sales records from a still-existent dealer in Portland, Oregon, and copies of original sales brochures. One contact reported personally seeing several Sportwagons brought to the former African Nation of Rhodesia by an American construction firm. The most unique feature of the Powell Sportwagon is that they were built using recycled major running gear components and sold as new cars. All except the original prototype Sportwagon were built on 1941 Plymouth chassis, most purchased from southern California wrecking yards. Junk cars were stripped of their bodies and the major components rebuilt as needed. Engines and transmissions from a wide range of Dodge, Plymouth and Chrysler industrial and marine vehicles were also purchased and used in the Sportwagon. The Plymouth instrument cluster, steering column and hubcaps are the only normally visible traces of their heritage. The body was constructed piece-by-piece, welded directly to the Plymouth frame. Pictures of the build process can be found on our Factory page. These original photographs were generously donated to the Registry by Motor Trend Magazine several years ago. The Sportwagon did not undergo model changes; however, many running changes were made throughout production. The basic body remained unchanged as did the sliding-door windows, and the trademark fishing rod carrier built into the rear fender(s). The very early vehicles, such as our second-oldest listed pickup, PMC-1508, had unique rear bed components, an oak tailgate, and oak bumpers. Early 1955 pickup doors opened all the way back against the front fender. Through mid 1956 all pickups had the rear bed panel and tailgate fashioned from diamond plate. Henry-J steering wheels replaced the Plymouth units in mid 1956. Station wagons were produced in late 1956. Closest to a model change is the additional trim and larger turn-signal lamps / integral taillights used on the very few 1957 trucks produced. As these vehicles were essentially hand-built, individual variations abound. Edited February 17, 2017 by mike6024 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 Cool. The Chrysler flathead 6 at that time for light pickups was a 230 CID engine. Looks like a lot of the body is Fiberglass or am I mistaken??? Dandy Dave! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 2 minutes ago, Dandy Dave said: Cool. The Chrysler flathead 6 at that time for light pickups was a 230 CID engine. Looks like a lot of the body is Fiberglass or am I mistaken??? Dandy Dave! I believe the bodies are metal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike6024 Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 This link has the best pictures - http://clubs.hemmings.com/powellregistry/factory.html The manufacturing process. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick8086 Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 Pick it up and save it.. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike6024 Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 Looks like Dandy Dave! is right there is fiberglass in these, at least the front end piece. The often badly damaged or missing front panel (nose) is made of fiberglass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dei Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 12 hours ago, CarFreak said: And Peter, if you really are a sucker for an Orphan, this is a show you've got to visit one time or another. http://wardsauto.com/technology/17th-annual-ypsilanti-orphan-car-show#slide-0-field_images-851061 Nice video, especially having the shot of the early morning Park video of my 1928 Whippet on the trailer at Registration. The two Monarchs behind me are my friend's which at least one comes to this show annually. It does capture the general casual mood of this non judged and informative show. Proceeds from this show go to support what was the last Hudson Dealership known as Ypsilanti Heritage Automotive Museum. Go for it Peter, you and the car will become hits of any show and have some great fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capngrog Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 12 hours ago, mike6024 said: Did you post the wrong link? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powell_Manufacturing_Company The link I posted, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powel_Crosley,_Jr was intended to link to a Wikipedia Article on Powel (notice only one 'L') Crosley, the industrialist and developer of the Crosley automobile. I Googled the name "Crosley", and the Wikipedia Article was one of the many 'hits' that surfaced. I just copied the address from the browser, and that's how I came up with the above link. The problem I've encountered with the link is that it dead ends into the Wikipedia page with the header: "Powel Crosley, Jr". This page states: "Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name." and goes on to suggest alternate search methods. I don't understand this. Searching from Google gets me to the full Wikipedia Article, but clicking on the saved/linked browser address of that same article gets me to a dead end. It's just one more of the many things I fail to understand about comfuters. Cheers, Grog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike6024 Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 (edited) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powel_Crosley,_Jr. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powel_Crosley_Jr Edited February 17, 2017 by mike6024 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 I think the question would be, why do you want it? Just being odd or different never seems to be quite enough. Restoration will cost the same as most any similar car. Why that one and it will take up the same amount of space as an alternative. What is the compelling force to own it? Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Tierney Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 Not trying to be a wet blanket here, but... Didn't take the time to read all the links above, but I would think Googling Powells would bring up questions re' serious maintenance difficulties...I can't recall specifically whether mechanical, body, or both, but do recall a couple being driven around with prominent "LEMON" sighs attached (Tuscon AZ??)... If all mechanicals were the well proven Plymouth/CCptn, problems must've been in assembly or bodywork???...vehicles seemed to appear and disappear rather quickly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 A Powell is probably the very first 'recycled car'!! Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capngrog Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 6 hours ago, mike6024 said: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powel_Crosley,_Jr. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powel_Crosley_Jr Those work, but not the one I copied and pasted: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powel_Crosley,_Jr It's all so very clear to me now. For the want of a comma, or period (not 'and'), all attempts at communication were for naught. But for my failure, Powel (note one 'L') Crosley would have been celebrated in this forum as an automotive titan (maybe semi-titan, if there is such a thing), and the value of my Crosley collection would have skyrocketed accordingly. Now that I've got the comma/period, umm, err, comma/dot thing figgered out, I think it's time for me to tackle the 'pound' (#) thing ... or is it 'hash-mark'. It'll take me awhile to sort this out since Webster's defines "hash" as "A mixture; a jumble; a mess." which makes me a bit reluctant to get hashed up in all of this 'tag' stuff at this time. Back to the thread: 6 hours ago, 60FlatTop said: I think the question would be, why do you want it? Just being odd or different never seems to be quite enough. Bernie, Does there have to be a reason (logical or otherwise) to want a gnarly, old, impractical, difficult, unreliable (relatively), dollar-draining __________________ (fill in the blank, but be nice about it)? I like the odd and/or different stuff, whether it's cars or ... but that's just me. Does that make me odd? Maybe, but at 72 yrs. of age, I don't really care. Cheers, Grog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike6024 Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Going to require some patching of the fiberglass, outboard of the left front headlight. I like the concept. The Chevy suburban type one looks preferable though, it'd be good for going camping or long road trips. Like an International Harvester Travelall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick8086 Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 It just hit me today.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick8086 Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 There certainly doesn't have to be a logical reason, but there should be an "otherwise" reason. I know that very well. My personal question is "Why do I want a car when there is an endless stream of cars I like available? I always wanted one or I need that work for me. AND, as Grog shows, list all the adjectives that you have heard people use to describe the car you want. For years, when talking about desirability of old cars, I have asked for all the adjectives used to describe a Plymouth. I man picked up a car at my house one time and told me he wanted it because he always wanted a car eligible for the London to Brighton run that had a self-starter. Not a common desire, but came to mind. Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frantz Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 A car that was never popular, few know about or appreciate, missing impossible to find parts, not overly good looking, and won't be worth much when finished? I love that stuff! Glad you found it and not me, that is the stuff that keeps getting me in trouble with my very understanding wife. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike6024 Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 Oh, I see what the deal is. It's over-priced. $7500. Antique PU - $7500 - http://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/6004060210.html 1949 PIck up condition: fair cylinders: 6 cylinders drive: rwd fuel: gas title status: clean transmission: other It is photographed in surroundings that add a certain panache though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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