Early 30's REO Speedwagon - FOR SALE

WOW x 3!!!!

Who would have imagined when we started out from our house this morning to run some errands that I would end up on a country road near Watkins Glen and run across two people standing by an old barn looking at the subject of this post?

After yesterdays post about the old Studebaker, I could see this old REO being taken from out of the barn - some new spark plugs, drain and replace the oil, a new fan belt, battery, pump up the tires (duals in the rear with chains), about a gallon of gas, the keys were even in the ignition, (also note that newer oil cleaner), and she's ready to run.

The truck belonged to one of the two's grandfather, who passed away at 90. It looks a though it's been parked for a few years, and the original engine has been replaced by a Willy's. The flatbed was rebuilt, but the original bed is above the truck in the rafters. The original engine is across the street.















































If you find yourself wanting a good truck for a restoration, this might be what you're looking for.
It's FOR SALE.

THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN SOLD -- POST UPDATE  -- 4/10/10

Old Studebaker Truck - It's Alive!!

You all have heard about those amazing "barn finds"? You know, where someone finds that old car or old truck as in this case?

Well here is one great video about a truck that had been sitting in a barn for thirty years - an old Studebaker Flatbed -

It's OK to comment - REALLY!!!

Yes, it is OK to leave a comment on any of my posts and hey, if you leave an email, I'll write back. That's what Franz did - he's from West Germany and left a comment on a post I did on the Mack H-63. Franz is one great truck modeler, and he is currently working on a resin kit of a Mack H-63.

FRANZ's MACK H-63


Franz also sent some pictures of some builds he has done of some European Trucks - I am not good at identifying these models, so I will use the titles he gave.

MAN F8 Orientline No.1










Scania T142 H Silberente


I think this is Franz in the next picture with another of his great truck models. The picture says:

Austellung Haar bei Munchen (with two dots above the u in Munchen)















I know Franz's English is better than my German by far!! Franz also sent me this neat picture of a truck he photographed.

Hofbesuch Spiess Volvo FH16


I am always looking for trucks to add to my collection. Feel free to drop a comment, and leave a way for me to write back.

Thank you Franz -

Going Home - and a bonus!

It was an interesting weekend. First a trip to Auburn, then on Sunday, a trip to Ovid. It wasn't supposed to be a day for trucks, it was to be a day to see a snowy owl. The trucks were a bonus.

I grew up in this area between the Finger Lakes of Cayuga and Seneca. It was a surprise to find that old Chevy, the Ford Pickup, and a VW - Bus. The other trucks have been sitting along the side of route 96 outside Trumansburg for as long as I can remember - that's a long time!!!

Here is my Sunday Truck Surprise ----

Something old - something new ---- 50's Mack LJ

For those that follow this blog, you have probably noticed some new format additions. That is because it has taken me this long to figure out how to add the slide-shows to the sidebar and the videos to my posts.

Now I have a whole new media to explore thanks to YOU TUBE. I like the idea of video with sound as it captures not only the beauty of a fine old truck, but also can bring back the memory of a particular sound -----

Enjoy this 1950's Mack LJ, and remember what it was like back when -----

The History of Mack Trucks

The Video below is from THE MACK TRUCK WEB SITE - it is a brief history of the Mack Truck.

Hayes Trucks in the Canandian West

Hayes Truck Logging Video:

A Sterling example of an incorrect spelling -

A great picture of a fine early 40's Sterling, pulling a MURPHEY trailer.




Sorry, but I couldn't resist. Love the air conditioning in these old trucks!! Can anyone tell me where this company was from, and what happened to it?

If I Had A Million Dollars -------

Found this "Adult Die-Cast" toy site that makes some really nice "old school" die-cast "toy"
trucks. They specialize in older pre - 60's trucks. As can be seen from the picture above, these "toys" are built like the real deal - they are tough. They are put out by a company called SMITH/MILLER and have been in existence since 1979.

Now, if any readers out there would like to donate one of these fine models to my collection, I wouldn't mind at all!!!

The site deserves checking - better make that a big check!

Studebaker Heavy and Medium Duty - A New Find for Me

Sometimes it pays to play "out of the box". Yes, I knew that Studebaker made trucks, but I thought only pick up trucks. Nothing wrong with that because they were good trucks - loved by hot-rodders and custom builders. In many design aspects they were ahead of the times. A fine example is the following------

1947 Studebaker M - Pick-Up


I had forgotten that Studebaker also made some very fine and innovative Heavy and Medium Duty trucks. Probably the reason for my forgetfulness is the fact that I don't remember seeing too many of these in the past - THAT IS NO FAULT OF STUDEBAKER! I fortunately found a picture of a 1960's Studebaker HD truck-------

1960's Studebaker Diesel


The picture above produced an inquiry to my friends at "straightstack.com", and since then a new item for their gallery. I asked if anyone knew how long Studebaker had been making HD trucks. No one there answered so I started my own research. I found that early in WWII, Studebaker was one of the first truck manufacturers to produce 6x's for the U.S. Army. These trucks were also used by the Russians who mounted rocket launchers on them - some of these survived into the 60's.

1940's Studebaker Army Truck - nice restoration


Furthermore, they aided in that war effort in the production of the "Weasel" and engines for aircraft. My search for tractor type trucks was a little more difficult - they are rare! Pictures are rarer! Again, that is no fault of Studebaker - they made fine trucks. My first find in the tractor category was this -----

1936 Studebaker M - COE with deluxe sleeper




I wasn't satisfied to stop here, so I found a latter model - color picture ------

1938 - 40 Studebaker K - with deluxe sleeper



If that isn't neat enough (note the classic sleeper windows - a change from the 36), I found a
Studebaker "conventional" tractor with a trailer --- and some paint scheme!!!!

1936 Studebaker 2W - 865 - Conventional


I will be posting more of Studebaker's fine trucks on the side-bar, so be watching. As I've already said, "these are a rare truck to find - even pictures".

If you have pictures of these old trucks, please contact me. COMMENTS are welcome too!!!