Panel delivery vehicle survives multiple transformations

Crosley cars were designed for many things, but going fast sure wasn't one of them. Yet that wouldn't stop Eugene Adamson, or one of his childhood pals, from trying to pump up their performance.

Eugene had grown to love these micro machines after his dad found him one to play around with on the family's dairy farm in Dundee.

“I was 14 when he gave it to me,” recalls Eugene, adding that the car was really just a frame and motor. “I got it fixed up and drove it all over our fields.”

Eugene's tendency to tinker led him to join the Sleepy Hollow Supertorquers, a local car club, where he met his leadfoot buddy, Rob. Rob's dad, Ron, owned Renwick Motor Sales in downtown Elgin at the time.

The used-car lot was using this Crosley as a type of roadside billboard, but Ron had every intention of fixing up his compact calling card when he happened to let Eugene in on his plans.

“The dealership had taken a sea foam green 1948 Panel, painted it white and parked it right out front, lettering it with 'The biggest little dealership in town,' ” Eugene says. “It didn't have a motor or transmission but Ron wanted it to make it go fast.”

Eugene beat him off the line and in July of 1964, bolted to the showroom, plunking down $50 and became the proud new owner of the promotional prop. He then set about securing an engine to get the mini motor moving.

Inspired by Ron's high-speed visions for the petite panel, Eugene even took it racing on occasion, blasting off on, let's say relaxed, passes at the Lake Geneva Speedway and Byron Dragaway.

“It sure wasn't fast but nobody was ever in my class, so I almost always got a trophy,” Eugene laughs.

In 1966, Eugene went into military service, parking the Crosley in his uncle's barn for the next three years. “I came back home, dug it out and started working on it again,” Eugene says.

Sadly, not long after, it was sitting in his backyard when late one night, someone set fire to it, cracking all the windows and ruining the interior.

“I repaired what I could but got tired and pushed it back in the garage,” Eugene says. There it sat for the next 35 years until a second reappearance in 2009.

Eugene completed a full and proper overhaul, even adding such custom features as a louvered hood and making a grille, bumper and side pipes for the little cruiser.

“I just like it,” Eugene says. “It's big fun behind the wheel.”

Share your car's story with Matt at auto@dailyherald.com.