Crocker V-Twin

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Crocker V-Twin
Crocker engine

The Crocker Motorcycles 1936-1940 was at that time the most powerful twin-cylinder - Motorcycle of the United States . The Crocker is considered the Duesenberg among American motorcycles.

Development and technology

Albert Crocker (1882–1961), Indian sales manager in Denver since 1913 , developed his own motorcycles with Indian engines from 1931; In 1933 he constructed on the basis of JAP-built-in motor an OHV - single-cylinder engine with 30.5  ci (~ 500 cc) displacement. 1934 founded Crocker in Los Angeles , Venice Boulevard , the Crocker Motorcycle Co. to market the proprietary motorcycles. These machines, used for speedway races, have been quite successful.

In 1936, shortly after the presentation of Harley-Davidson's Knucklehead engine , Crocker presented a 61 ci machine (~ 1000 cm³ displacement) with a two-cylinder V-engine. The OHV engine with dry sump lubrication and battery ignition coil made in a compression ratio of 7.5: 1 for that time sensational 50  hp (36.8  kW ) at 5,800 min -1 . The machine weighed 215 kg, had 18-inch tires and a wheelbase of 148.6 cm, had a three-speed transmission and was offered for sale for $ 550  .

As a motorcycle manufacturer, Crocker was a pedant who, like the then English manufacturer Brough Superior, achieved a high level of quality; almost all parts were made by Crocker himself. Due to the custom-made production, Crocker was also able to respond to customer requests for increased displacement. Crocker could deliver engines with 68 ci (~ 1114 cm³) up to the last 83.5 ci (~ 1370 cm³); hardly any crocker is the same as another. Crocker advertised with the promise of a full refund if a Crocker rider was ever overtaken by Indian or Harley-Davidson motorcycles on the open road . The copy by Otis Chandler is said to have reached a speed of 193 km / h with an output of 55 hp (40.5 kW). Sam Parriot surpassed this with a tuned Crocker and is said to have achieved a top speed of 223.7 km / h.

Copies and today's value

There is different information about the number of motorcycles produced. Crocker himself counted 60 machines, his chief engineer Paul A. Bigsby 64 machines. Judging by the engine numbers, it could have been 300 copies; 49 Crocker V-Twin are said to still exist today.

The Crocker V-Twin is now considered one of the most expensive and also most sought-after models for American collectors. Back in 2006, a crocker from Steve McQueen's inventory was sold for $ 276,500. In August 2012, three Crockers from 1937-1940 were auctioned at Bonhams for 291,000 and two for 302,000 US dollars each.

Web links

References and comments

  1. ^ A b c d e Jerry Hatfield: Standard Catalog of American Motorcycles 1898–1981. Krause Publications 2006, ISBN 978-0-89689-949-0 , pp. 36-42
  2. ↑ a b c d Wolfgang Wiesner: American motorcycles . Motorbuch Verlag Stuttgart, 2nd edition 1992. ISBN 3-613-01362-2 , pp. 179-180
  3. ↑ cyrilhuze (accessed April 14, 2013)
  4. ↑ Wiesner reports 31 Speedway machines sold.
  5. ↑ sturgis.com Speedway-Crocker (accessed April 14, 2013)
  6. ^ A b Guggenheim Museum New York : The Art Of The Motorcycle. 2001, ISBN 0-8109-6912-2 , p. 195
  7. ↑ Sam Parriot on Crocker (accessed April 15, 2013)
  8. ↑ Bigsby later founded the American manufacturer of guitars and guitar accessories Bigsby Guitars .
  9. ↑ bonhams.com 1937 Crocker V-Twin Engine no. 37-61-24 (accessed April 11, 2013) → lot 334–336