16 thoughts on “Old Truck Tuesday. Cleaning out the bottom of the barrel…”
Damn! I must be old. Every week I see trucks I once drove.
Bwahahaha you win the innerwebz comment of the day
That 1st 454 Chevy reminded me of the late 80’s short bed half ton 454 SS that Chevy brought out, a wanna be hot rod. It was disappointing, had a 2 barrel carb, and it was a 1 tire fryer, handled like a boat, there was nothing SS about it. Of course once in the hands of the right people, it livened right up.
What was great about it was it lit a fire under Fords ass, so they came up with the ’93 Ford Lightning. Factory Hi PO 351 small block, light weight, lowered and tuned suspension (but still usable as a pick up). It was faster and handled better than a bunch of “performance” cars. The only thing “tech” about it was a high energy ignition. My dream truck would be a Lightninged ’68-79, short bed f-100. No Wifi, no connectedness.
I think Henry Bowman drove a lightning.
I will take number one for the win
Sadly it’s near impossible to buy a new work truck anymore. Unless it’s a special order unit, which most dealers don’t like doing, they’re hard to come by. Why do all new trucks have 4 doors, seat only 4, and have a 4 foot bed? Who hauls anything in a 4 foot bed!?! I don’t need a truck as a family vehicle. When I need a truck to haul things, I need a truck. Also, I ain’t paying $60k-$80k for a new truck! Who does that?
Suspect the pickup market has been hijacked by the urban/suburban Powderpuff Boys. They buy them for bragging rights and all the dreck features added since have been to appeal to that market. Actual physical work, and the vehicles for same, would make them break out in hives.
I hate those “modern conveniences” like the seat belt warning. Why is my truck telling me what to do?
Yep, just more shit to break. I know how to roll a window up
Regarding the Chevy pulling a Plow, I recall seeing an Old, Postwar Ad for the original Willys ‘MB’ Jeep set up with a 3-Point Hitch, and in front, the standard Flat-Belt Tractor PTO Drum for Ag Machines like Saws and Threshers. I think they were going for the Mercedes “Unimog” concept, but smaller. I’d be pretty sure you can still get a ‘Mog with a 3-Point Hitch…
Who remembers the TV commercial using footage of the Ford truck out of the Charles Bronson flick Mr. Majestyk?
*Raises hand*
My buddy has been shopping for a pickup truck. All he wants is a 2wd truck with an 8ft box to haul plywood, scaffolding and drywall. No one makes one unless ‘you order a fleet’. All that is on the lots are 4wd crew cabs with a ridiculously short box for $65,000 and up.
Al, I have exactly that, a single cab, 8ft box, 2000 Chevy one ton with a 350 in good condition and I get asked all the time if I want to sell it… Has 283,000 miles on an original engine and tranny.
CederQ, I have a ’93 GMC Suburban 4×4 with original 350, about the same mileage, love it. It has the old bullet proof throttle body fuel injection.
I’m a Ford guy, but that’s what I picked for a grocery getter/ MIL to the doctor mobile in inclement weather.
Actually, I’m more of a pre 1980 ford guy, and for some things pre 1970.
Stop looking in Dealer lots. Go to your local Auto Trader circulars or auto auctions. Sure, you could possibly buy a lemon, but you won’t pay $65K for it.
And you can have the joys of working on it yourself!
Damn! I must be old. Every week I see trucks I once drove.
Bwahahaha you win the innerwebz comment of the day
That 1st 454 Chevy reminded me of the late 80’s short bed half ton 454 SS that Chevy brought out, a wanna be hot rod. It was disappointing, had a 2 barrel carb, and it was a 1 tire fryer, handled like a boat, there was nothing SS about it. Of course once in the hands of the right people, it livened right up.
What was great about it was it lit a fire under Fords ass, so they came up with the ’93 Ford Lightning. Factory Hi PO 351 small block, light weight, lowered and tuned suspension (but still usable as a pick up). It was faster and handled better than a bunch of “performance” cars. The only thing “tech” about it was a high energy ignition. My dream truck would be a Lightninged ’68-79, short bed f-100. No Wifi, no connectedness.
I think Henry Bowman drove a lightning.
I will take number one for the win
Sadly it’s near impossible to buy a new work truck anymore. Unless it’s a special order unit, which most dealers don’t like doing, they’re hard to come by. Why do all new trucks have 4 doors, seat only 4, and have a 4 foot bed? Who hauls anything in a 4 foot bed!?! I don’t need a truck as a family vehicle. When I need a truck to haul things, I need a truck. Also, I ain’t paying $60k-$80k for a new truck! Who does that?
Suspect the pickup market has been hijacked by the urban/suburban Powderpuff Boys. They buy them for bragging rights and all the dreck features added since have been to appeal to that market. Actual physical work, and the vehicles for same, would make them break out in hives.
I hate those “modern conveniences” like the seat belt warning. Why is my truck telling me what to do?
Yep, just more shit to break. I know how to roll a window up
Regarding the Chevy pulling a Plow, I recall seeing an Old, Postwar Ad for the original Willys ‘MB’ Jeep set up with a 3-Point Hitch, and in front, the standard Flat-Belt Tractor PTO Drum for Ag Machines like Saws and Threshers. I think they were going for the Mercedes “Unimog” concept, but smaller. I’d be pretty sure you can still get a ‘Mog with a 3-Point Hitch…
Who remembers the TV commercial using footage of the Ford truck out of the Charles Bronson flick Mr. Majestyk?
*Raises hand*
My buddy has been shopping for a pickup truck. All he wants is a 2wd truck with an 8ft box to haul plywood, scaffolding and drywall. No one makes one unless ‘you order a fleet’. All that is on the lots are 4wd crew cabs with a ridiculously short box for $65,000 and up.
Al, I have exactly that, a single cab, 8ft box, 2000 Chevy one ton with a 350 in good condition and I get asked all the time if I want to sell it… Has 283,000 miles on an original engine and tranny.
CederQ, I have a ’93 GMC Suburban 4×4 with original 350, about the same mileage, love it. It has the old bullet proof throttle body fuel injection.
I’m a Ford guy, but that’s what I picked for a grocery getter/ MIL to the doctor mobile in inclement weather.
Actually, I’m more of a pre 1980 ford guy, and for some things pre 1970.
Stop looking in Dealer lots. Go to your local Auto Trader circulars or auto auctions. Sure, you could possibly buy a lemon, but you won’t pay $65K for it.
And you can have the joys of working on it yourself!