Trucks Are Beautiful

[special-K]

Originally Posted by factorystock

Thanks for posting this photo special K. It's hard to believe how modern looking the Ford pickup looked in the late 50's compared to GM, Dodge, IH etc.

Glad you appreciate it. I hear guys these day calling that body ugly. I say it defines strong and handsome. And I'm sure they don't realize what a giant step forward they were. GM had done the Taskmaster design ahead of Ford and needed to continue those while they worked on their step into the '60s. I love the Taskmaster body. Possibly my favorite GM. But Ford really made a huge leap forward

Originally Posted by GM72K10

41 Ford COE

Great truck and even great old truck in use photo. I don't see lift bodies used these days. Do they even use then at airports anymore?

[mountie]

I wonder what those 3 holes are for above the bumper??

[special-K]

Let more air in to cool that 534 V8 and to give that bull nasty nostrils You might like to know the offered a twin turbo marine Super Duty 534 called the Seamaster in the '50s. I never heard any talk about those.

[factorystock]

This is a great thread, most of us really appreciate all makes of trucks and any history that goes along with it. Here's more of those classic heavy Fords, these are '58's.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

I'm GM all the way, but always appreciated those big Fords. From about '48 on starting with the F-8's.

[mountie]

I drove semi's for motor racing teams...... All the best stuff with all the bells..

But I officially got my license through a truck school. Instructor was a Jet Propulsion Lab tech, with a truck hobby.... I learned with a late '70's International Harvester. If you can shift smoothly in that truck, ANY new truck is a Cadillac !!

There is nothing like learning the hard way to gain technique !!

I also know how to "Walk a Trailer"......

[special-K]

Originally Posted by factorystock

This is a great thread, most of us really appreciate all makes of trucks and any history that goes along with it. Here's more of those classic heavy Fords, these are '58's.

One word... STOUT!

Originally Posted by C10 - C90 Bill

I'm GM all the way, but always appreciated those big Fords. From about '48 on starting with the F-8's.

There's liking them and there's wanting to own them. I like a lot of other vehicle, but I'm a GM man when it comes to what I own. Although I am also a Studebaker truck lover. Kind of like a contrast. The greatest brand that exists against the greatest one that didn't make it. It wasn't because they weren't well built or sensible.

Originally Posted by mountie

There is nothing like learning the hard way to gain technique !!

Truer words were never spoken
What do folks think about the Cat trucks? I'm slow to change, but I like them alright now. For a truck only from these modern times they ain't so bad... especially a Cat Yellow construction truck. The have to tradition behind them, so they have no "classic" style like Pacars

[mountie]

CAT has a clean style...... ( obviously a good engine)...

I've driven Frieghtliners ( lease from Penske / they custom paint the tractor if you have a long lease).....
Kenworths ( one was a private own... had a built engine - fast as Hell)...

Volvo 770 w/ a leather condo - nice like a motorhome.....

But the truck that seemed to fit my 'style' of driving was a MAC.... Easy to drive.

[special-K]

What year was the Mack? I live in Mack Country, with Macungie, PA being a few hours away and we had a plant in Hagerstown, MD. That plant is now Volvo, who now owns Mack (hard to believe). What's really hard to believe is the no longer have Mack engines, all Volvo. I have a lot of respect for Volvo Truck on the worldwide scale. I'm glad they saved Mack, if that was the problem. And I know the technological demands that are placed on heavy truck mfgrs is putting great financial pressure on them. I think that might be what the whole Mack/Volvo thing is all about. Cat had to drop their big motor over all that. I had heard they stopped doing engines, but recently found out it was just the big Cay everyone love. I thought it was ironic they'd halt engine production right when the started their own line of trucks. Heck, Paccar started building their own engines about the same time. a lot of changes going on in big trucks these day. Makes me love a lot more of the simpler older trucks now. A lot of independents are running old pushers to stay with the simpler easier to keep going engines, just when they seemed to drop of the edge of the planet.

Speaking of pushers, have I shown these old Reos before? Does the horizontal part of that grille look familiar to you all?

[mountie]

(REO),,,,,, A retro look......

[mountie]

A rig I saw yesterday..... A little newer set up....

[special-K]

Oh wow, nicely built boat hauler. So it's a tongue hitch rig? Wht was the trailer like? I do loves me some KW.

[mountie]

yea... a tongue hitch.... They have more than one trailer...

The trailer is nearly heavier than the cargo

[mountie]

The pretty side of the boat.....

I may work part-time for them next year

[mountie]

Another one racing in Sarasota tomorrow.

Clean........

[special-K]

So nice. That silver boat must look awesome on the water. That is a very special and cool thing you've been involved with

Back on the Cat trucks. I never commented after your comment, and I agree with it 100%... clean! Now, I admit I don't love the modern design trucks, which is most all of them. But I understand why they look as they do. I never hater the Kenworth Anteater. And I almost puked the first time I saw that bigger Cat, like the one in the second picture. Never have seen the other one on the road. But when I saw a dump truck in Cat Yellow it hit me that they are mimicking their equipment such as pans and site dumps. Looking at it that way I started liking them alright. After all, they are an equipment company. When you consider they are a start-up in this day and age I think they nailed a great look. I can't expect a new truck company in this century to build a truck that looks like the traditionals I love so much. Paccar has done a good job of maintaining their look on classic models while giving improved aerodynamics. They can get away with such a compromise simply because that's what they're known for and that's what plenty want. I know they use International cabs and I think they did a good job taking it from there. I do like that other model's simple clean look. Classic as far as a modern truck goes.

I'd love to see a Cat lowboy in Cat Yellow hauling a piece of Cat equipment.

Like this:


Hah Hah! Sorry, I meant more like this, although tractor isn't right yellow


A couple more "Cats" I had saved

[mountie]

When I was driving around in Europe, some of the trucks there were pretty aerodynamic.

All cab-over..... but pretty cool looking.

BTW..... This last weekend, in Sarasota, the power boat race...... near the last turn on last lap, the Geico & Victory boats hooked & flipped over. ( 135mph, to a stop in 40 feet)..... Guys are OK.... boats OK..... Will be ready for next race in 3 weeks.

Salt water.... yuk !! A lot of clean up....

[special-K]

Nasty stuff when it goes where you don't want it. I'm glad it wasn't worse for the pilots or boats

[special-K]

I'd like to get into boat racing but am on a really tight budget with no sponsors. What do you think of these? Would I be competitive enough out there to enjoy it? Should be a real crowd pleaser anyway

DIESEL TURBO FASAT BOT - YouTube

[mountie]

[QUOTE=special-K;8557195]I'd like to get into boat racing but am on a really tight budget with no sponsors. What do you think of these? Would I be competitive enough out there to enjoy it? Should be a real crowd pleaser anyway

No shoes... no goggles...... certainly no helmet..... Fuel tank secured by a bungee cord.... If he gets dunked, a possibility of that flesh eating bacteria.

No EMS..... no life vest......

Someone's gotta hire this guy !!!

[special-K]

One hella pilot! Imaging him with equipment?

Nudder Ford

[GM72K10]

Unloading a fuel tanker at the Cumberland Street Freight Station, Port Richmond, Philadelphia, on the Reading Railroad. September, 1930

[watahyahknow]

Originally Posted by special-K

I'd like to get into boat racing but am on a really tight budget with no sponsors. What do you think of these? Would I be competitive enough out there to enjoy it? Should be a real crowd pleaser anyway

DIESEL TURBO FASAT BOT - YouTube

to run these boats you better leave youre brain ashore
when i was i the philipines i hitched a ride on one of there small fishingboats

, i stepped ontoo the boat from shore and allmost put a foot right through the deck and bottom of the boat it was basicly the same stuff they use to make sigarboxes , it was powered by a little engine simulair to a predator/brigs stratton , rope start and a pet bottle for a fuel tank , and had a direct driven propshaft out through the keel of the boat it started moving as soon as the engine was started
whent reasonable fast as the thing hardly displaced any water , they actually sailed that small thing between the islands on open water with no shore in sight , thinking back on it i feel kindah stupid for trusting the skipper with my life , he didnt even had a compass or radio navigated on the sun basicly

[elpound]

Originally Posted by special-K

One hella pilot! Imaging him with equipment?

Nudder Ford

That's one cool tow truck.

[special-K]

Sure is. Looks like the guy that can do the job.

I can't have a collection of real heavy trucks, so this is the best I could do