Crosley Super Sport

Cars and motorcycles have been a bond of friendship for Jerry Havenhill and Larry Faeth since they met in eighth grade.

Havenhill, who lives in Independence, was born in Kansas City and moved to Blue Springs in 1950. He and Faeth became best friends. All through high school the pair "messed with cars and motorcycles." At first Havenhill had a 1948 Harley and Faeth a 1951 Chevy Deluxe two-door with Oldsmobile hubcaps, but by the time Faeth graduated in 1956 he had a Chevy convertible.

After high school, the two saw each other only a half a dozen times in the next 40 years. Havenhill retired in 1993 and Faeth in 1998, and their friendship reignited.

Havenhill, who always liked motorcycles but also had an interest in unusual cars, bought a Crosley Super Sport with a blown engine in 1996. The Super Sport is essentially a Hot Shot with doors. The Hot Shot was the first mass-produced American sports car of the postwar era.

Havenhill drove his Super Sport on a date with Mary, who is his wife today. They were both widowed. With a small, pig-shaped barbecue tucked behind the seat, the pair drove to Blue Springs Park for a picnic.

Faeth, who lives in Blue Springs, had a fondness for Crosleys since he learned to drive his parents' Crosley station wagon at age 13. He found a Super Sport of his own in Illinois.

Crosley automobiles were the brainchild of Powel Crosley. Crosley made his fortune in the automotive accessory business. In 1921, his company built an inexpensive radio. He opened WLW in Cincinnati so his customers would have a station to listen to. In the 1930s he expanded into electrical appliances and refrigerators. His "Shelvadore" was the first fridge to use the door for storage.

Crosley built a few tiny cars in the early 1940s, but production didn't really blossom until 1946. The Crosley had an unusual engine made from stamped steel sections that were brazed together. This 44-cubic-inch, overhead-cam four-cylinder produced 26.5 horsepower and weighed about 133 pounds. Crosley sold 23,489 station wagons in 1947. By 1949, American cars, many with V-8 engines, were nearly twice as large as the Crosley.

Crosley hoped the 1949 Hot Shot sports car would spark a comeback. This frog-eyed two-seater weighed about 1,000 pounds, had no doors and a rudimentary top. The Super Sport, with doors, bowed in 1950. The look is similar to the Austin-Healey Sprite which came out in 1958.

Faeth and Havenhill often take their cars to shows, and they might even be at the Micro and Minicar Picnic from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today at the city hall in Westwood.

Havenhill and Faeth still belong to the Coupes Hot Rod Club that began in 1954, but their Crosleys are a special part of a 40-year friendship that began in the eighth grade.



Crosley Super Sports
Cars and motorcycles have been a bond of friendship for Jerry Havenhill and Larry Faeth since they met in eighth grade. Havenhill, who lives in Independence, was born in Kansas City and moved to Blue Springs in 1950. He and Faeth became best friends. All through high school the pair "messed with cars and motorcycles." At first Havenhill had a 1948 Harley and Faeth a 1951 Chevy Deluxe two-door with Oldsmobile hubcaps, but by the time Faeth graduated in 1956 he had a Chevy convertible. After high school, the two saw each other only a half a dozen times in the next 40 years. Havenhill retired in 1993 and Faeth in 1998, and their friendship reignited. Havenhill, who always liked motorcycles but also had an interest in unusual cars, bought a Crosley Super Sport with a blown engine in 1996. The Super Sport is essentially a Hot Shot with doors. The Hot Shot was the first mass-produced American sports car of the postwar era. Havenhill drove his Super Sport on a date with Mary, who is his wife today. They were both widowed. With a small, pig-shaped barbecue tucked behind the seat, the pair drove to Blue Springs Park for a picnic. Faeth, who lives in Blue Springs, had a fondness for Crosleys since he learned to drive his parents' Crosley station wagon at age 13. He found a Super Sport of his own in Illinois. Crosley automobiles were the brainchild of Powel Crosley. Crosley made his fortune in the automotive accessory business. In 1921, his company built an inexpensive radio. He opened WLW in Cincinnati so his customers would have a station to listen to. In the 1930s he expanded into electrical appliances and refrigerators. His "Shelvadore" was the first fridge to use the door for storage. Crosley built a few tiny cars in the early 1940s, but production didn't really blossom until 1946. The Crosley had an unusual engine made from stamped steel sections that were brazed together. This 44-cubic-inch, overhead-cam four-cylinder produced 26.5 horsepower and weighed about 133 pounds. Crosley sold 23,489 station wagons in 1947. By 1949, American cars, many with V-8 engines, were nearly twice as large as the Crosley. Crosley hoped the 1949 Hot Shot sports car would spark a comeback. This frog-eyed two-seater weighed about 1,000 pounds, had no doors and a rudimentary top. The Super Sport, with doors, bowed in 1950. The look is similar to the Austin-Healey Sprite which came out in 1958. Faeth and Havenhill often take their cars to shows, and they might even be at the Micro and Minicar Picnic from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today at the city hall in Westwood. Havenhill and Faeth still belong to the Coupes Hot Rod Club that began in 1954, but their Crosleys are a special part of a 40-year friendship that began in the eighth grade.

Jerry Havenhill, left, and Larry Faeth have tinkered with cars since eighth grade.