The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network - View Single Post - $875 to haul truck 1500 mi from NJ to TX...good price?

ChevLoRay · 01-19-2003, 11:42 PM

I drove 1 of 3, '68 El Camino SS-396's when I was stationed at Bien Hoa Air Base, in '69-70 in Viet-Nam. It was a 350 horse, TH400, painted USAF blue, with a white top (the very top part, not the sails). On top of the white top was genuine Kyzor big truck A/C unit. Under the hood....a HUGE 24V/400Hz alternator to power the aircraft radio mounted in the interior. It had a rotating beacon mounted on an elevated shaft, installed in the bed. The purpose of this truck was to give the U-2 pilot a "guide" as they took off and landed. If you didn't know, you can't see out of the canopy of a U-2, so you have to use a periscope to see under the nose of the airplane. The El Camino was quick enough to serve the purpose. Now, they use Camaro's, or so I was told.

One of three? The other two were at other bases...one in Arizona and the other in California. Wonder what happened to them?

01-19-2003, 11:42 PM	#17
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	....thought of something else... I drove 1 of 3, '68 El Camino SS-396's when I was stationed at Bien Hoa Air Base, in '69-70 in Viet-Nam. It was a 350 horse, TH400, painted USAF blue, with a white top (the very top part, not the sails). On top of the white top was genuine Kyzor big truck A/C unit. Under the hood....a HUGE 24V/400Hz alternator to power the aircraft radio mounted in the interior. It had a rotating beacon mounted on an elevated shaft, installed in the bed. The purpose of this truck was to give the U-2 pilot a "guide" as they took off and landed. If you didn't know, you can't see out of the canopy of a U-2, so you have to use a periscope to see under the nose of the airplane. The El Camino was quick enough to serve the purpose. Now, they use Camaro's, or so I was told. One of three? The other two were at other bases...one in Arizona and the other in California. Wonder what happened to them? __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.