Vintage tow vehicle

[pauluptime]

Enjoyed this thread. Thought I'd toss in some pics of our "period-correct" vintage setup. A two-tone Grecian-Bronze/Frost White '75 (first year of the) Silverado Fleetside 2wd half-ton, Canadian-made right near us in Oshawa that faithfully brought our '79 Sovereign Intl up from it's home Florida.

We bought the pickup "no reserve" at a classic car auction and have enjoyed it quite a lot. The 350 has been upgraded and pulled well even through the mountains. The ride quality is suprisingly exceptional, I believe Silverado got lots of extra insulation under the carpet and headliner. Long highway hours are effortless as it pulls smooth and straight. The interior is fresh and like-new, a big comfortable bench seat from which our computer, gps, sat radio are all close at hand but we can still stretch out for the long drives.

GM sold lots of these pickups but I guess most got all used up as there aren't many on the road any more. We're used seeing smiles and thumbs-up in our '65 Sting Ray but were suprised how often this great ol' truck also receives similar enthusiastic approval.

Here's a pic of the truck at our site last fall...



And another of the tow combination in Florida:


And in Arizona where we've roadtripped the past two years:

[slowmover]

Very nice to see, read, and think about, pauluptime.

[Ike T]

Originally Posted by DougZ

Is it me or is that a chicken in this photo? Just not used to seeing chickens and palm trees, unless the chicken is being served.

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by Ike T

Is it me or is that a chicken in this photo? Just not used to seeing chickens and palm trees, unless the chicken is being served.

Well, he did say that it had every towing option available.

[DougZ]

Ike, we have several chickens, Quail and even the occasional peacock stops by to enjoy the birds food. We don't eat the chickens but we do eat their eggs.

[Pat Conway]

Feb issue of Hemmings Motor News in the trucks and commercial listings there are many TV posssibilities. A 1947 Diamond T pickup silver/maroon,20,510miles that is absolutely gorgeous.

[Air Cruiser]

A Diamond T!! Wow, we love Diamond T's and were looking last year for one we could rebuild ourselves. The only one we could find which was within what we wanted to pay was too far gone.

Deb

[JFScheck]

Surprised that aren't more '70 era Station Wagons, El Caminos/Rancheros represented here...

[safari57]

Originally Posted by JFScheck

Surprised that aren't more '70 era Station Wagons, El Caminos/Rancheros represented here...

We see a lot of them towing on the highway, and at various events, but seldom with an Airstream in tow. Usually a canned ham, or the later sixties and early seventies style trailers behind. Wagons that is. I can't remember the last time I saw and elkie pulling a trailer - would be a sight for sore eyes as the saying goes. I don't think I've ever seen a Ranchero from the late sixties or later towing a trailer but I have seen several 1957 to 1959 Ranchies with a trailer tucked in behind. They look good. Real good.

I guess it is an age thing, but I can't help but think of them as new vehicles and I guess that's because we were buying them new in their time. There are a couple I'd feel almost compelled to acquire one of if something showed up for sale, like the Suburbans from anytime from 1935 through to the 1977 time frame, and I've seen a few that were very tempting. There was a 1968 Caprice wagon, really deluxe, super low miles, noted on the stationwagons forum a while back that I lusted after till I saw the price. My jaw still hurts given my buddy sold a beautiful completely restored '66 Impala, basically brand new again, for about half what they wanted for the '68.

The late sixties and early seventies wagons were often loaded up very nicely and often with disc brakes up front, good sized engines and heavy duty transmissions, and with factory towing packages. They did tend to be rustprone though, as were the trucks of that era.

My brother had a later 70's Ford extended cab, loaded, that was beautiful. Unfortunately, even when gas prices were quite a bit less than they are now, it was extremely expensive to drive. He kept it for twenty years and still regrets selling it, although I suspect one or two tank fills and he'd be shaking his head.

[SmokelessJoe]

I came across Tractor Dave out of Grand Rapids, Michigan in Lafayette, Louisiana recently.





His custom made tractor was built from a 1953 International Harvester L 160 Series cab, extended by adding the rear portion of a 1951 delivery van, then mounting the whole thing on the chassis of a 1999 3500 series ambulance - I forget which make.

Cummins engine, Allison transmission, etc.

I told Dave that his trailer ought to be painted to match his tractor. He said he might just find an old Airstream 5th wheel.

Sergei

[Road Ruler]

That is a sweet truck. I can appreciate the work involved. Looks very professional.

[Klatawa]

The pics are of our 1965 Burb which was last winters project. She went from white with alot of bondo in her that was hid real well. Had to replace 11 feet of roof edge and 11 feet of gutter edge besides the normal door bottom of front fenders and floor pan. Took her down to bare metal and changed to Barn doors and painted with PPG DBU system with original chevy colors. We are running a 350 with a tubo 350 with a Gear Vender, the burbs works well as my daily driver with some fun factor.

[bredlo]

Perfection, Klatawa!

[Melody Ranch]

I am done with this winter weather....Springtime coming...I am out of here...

[Ken J]

Wow - looks like you finally got a good shine on that trailer - I know you were having problems getting it polished

Nice Buick - I bought at 39 Buick to pull my trailer - its at the shop getting rebuilt...

Seems like the trend is get an old Airstream, get vintage stuff to put in the Airstream, get an old car to pull the old Airstream - whats next? Boy are we sick...

Ken J.

[TRfour]

I'm here to talk about it, and enjoy and have worked on most of the great vehicles pictured in the posts above. Just thought y'all would enjoy some more history!...

Still got us west on a huge journey!!!! Y'all can read more about it here in this thread;
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f161...iss-45149.html

Pictured below,

#1. 1949 Buick Roadmaster, Back in the Day !

#2. Longer Than Most, In Them Times!

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by Ken J

Nice Buick - I bought a 39 Buick to pull my trailer - its at the shop getting rebuilt...
Ken J.

Hi, Ken. When I was a young boy, my Dad had a 1939 Buick 4 dr with a straight eight engine. I really liked that car and it looked great too. When my Dad was done with the Buick, he offered to give it to my oldest brother, since he was the only one old enough to drive. My brother didn't want it so, I believe it went to the junk yard. Do you have pictures of your Buick and is it original [straight eight] or modified?

[Road Ruler]

About 30 years ago I recall one of the neighbours having one of those older Buicks. Was a real nice looking car.

[Ken J]

Here is a picture of the car on the trailer - this picture was taken right after if was pulled out of a garage where it had been stored since 1955! Believe it or not, we pumped up the tires and they are holding air just fine - hmmm maybe I should keep them - not...

Sorry its a little bit dirty - its just so hard to keep the dust off for 55 years...

The car is in the shop getting rebuilt - I know some of you may cringe, but I'm going to pull the motor and replace it with a brand new v8 - because its going to pull the trailer, it needs a little more unmph than that old 108hp straight 8

Ken J.

[Melody Ranch]

You are making me envious.....Luv them Buicks for the task at hand. Will you show me the Buick at the Rally? I wanted to put a new and big Buick motor in mine but it involved way to much because of that closed driveline.....1958 Super.