Now that the weather is getting nicer we’re out cruising in our cars just about every weekend. While some of us go to the regular cruise-ins and shows in the area, I like to get off the beaten path and take the scenic route. My lady and I have a pretty good system worked out now where she surveys the scenery for interesting cars, trucks, and motorcycles, while I try to get us lost on back country roads. We’ve found some pretty neat classics, and met some interesting characters this way, but it’s always an adventure. Here’s to another season of back road cruising!
This one we spotted when stopping at a yard sale at a restored old farm house. The owner had some interesting things in the driveway, so we decided to stop in and take a look around. Up close to their barn we found this gem, a 60’s Dodge dually car hauler. Legend goes that this truck was used to haul race cars around for a local racer. He even had the truck repainted to match the car at one point, but obviously the bodywork and paint have seen better days!
The current owner bought it from the “racer” and used it for his electrical business running up and down the Eastern coast of the U.S. for many years. The big block V8 with the giant Edelbrock carb was averaging around 6-8 MPG and sometimes even less when they were fully loaded up! Imagine trying to do that with the gas prices today! This truck was put out of service when a shop diagnosed a miss as the engine needing a full rebuild. One look under the hood for anyone “in the know” and you can instantly spot the missing valve spring retainer circlip and the decompressed valve spring.. that just might cause a miss!
Otherwise the truck looks to be in pretty good shape for its age and pretty much everything you would need to put it back in service is on or in the truck (minus the ramps for the back). At minimum I’d clean off the surface rust on the truck, seal it with some Rust Encapsulator and Chassis Black, then take care of the fuel system with a Gas Tank Sealer Kit and Aerosol Injection. The owner indicated he would sell it for the price of scrap and we think it would be a tragedy to see it go as the latter! This would be perfect to compliment a classic car at a show, or even a killer car hauler for a repair or restoration shop! We just wish we had the space to give it a home!
Stay tuned for more field, driveway, and parking lot gems as we photograph and share their stories with you! -Matt/EW
If it needs to be put back on the road where can I find it to make an offer?
Okay, so where is this fine fellow, and is he looking for a new home?