Autocar Mondays – The DS Model

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Eric

Are you ready to test your Autocar model knowledge? I hope you’ve been hitting the books because this is tough one.

I last saw this truck at the 2010 Empire State Antique Truck Association show in Batavia, NY. At the time I had no idea of the exact model but figured it was a common place model. The DK style cab and the one piece ACL style hood lulled me into a false sense of late model security. After combing through piles of Commercial Truck Trader photos and page after page of google image results (poor me) I began to loose hope of accurately labeling this truck. I just about tossed my computer out the window when I saw someone selling this style truck as a AT64F model. Then I found a thread at the ATHS forums and the answer was provided.

You are looking at an Autocar DS, a truck marketed as a light weight alternative for urban job sites.

2010Acar1

Clearly this was a look at things to come. In the literature linked above the trucks all have round headlights while this model sports square sealed beams that very much resemble the long lived ACL model. A heavy looking dump body rested behind the cab.

Autocar DS Dump Truck

I know the air cleaner claims to “see ya” but passing large trucks on the right is a dangerous situation.

TruckAir Cleaner

Usually videos from seven years ago didn’t turn out that well but this one is solid from start to finish.

Have you spotted an Autocar? Let the world see! Email eric@dailydieseldose.com today!

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Back Roads of California

Posted on April 23, 2016 by Eric

If you want to find cool old trucks head to the back roads. Even in California, the land of CARB and other oppressive government agencies polluting classic trucks can still be found. Presumably in operating condition and not requiring the posting of a one million dollar bond to coverage potential ecological damage.

California Water Trucks

I’m sure this classic couple will peak the attention of many. The Peterbilt goes without saying, slap a pair of dual headlights on a round fender and you have people beating down your door. My eye however was drawn to the Mack F700, it appears in near pristine shape. If forced to choose one my vote would go with this International Paystar for no particular reason other than I am an IHC homer.

International Paystar Water Truck

Ryan did a great job scoping these trucks out. There are hiding gems like these all across the country. Which ones have you seen? Please feel free to share. eric@dailydieseldose.com

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Canadian Spread

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Eric

I saw this Mack lurking behind a diner last week and promptly made a detour for a closer look. The second I saw it from the interstate I knew this truck was not original to New York State or many nearby locations…unless your travel north and visit our fine Canadian neighbors. Just look at that long wheelbase with a noticeable gap between the two rear axles. That famous Canadian spread. I know the photos don’t clearly show this fact but trust me on it. Also, that pusher axle is practically siting underneath the cab. Google Canadian dump trucks axle spread and you’ll see what I mean. Clearly, Canada has different bridge formulas than the United States.

Mack Dump Truck

The unknown dump body out back is a real eye catcher as well. It’s very long and tampers down toward the rear of the bed. The automatic tailgate goes without identification but is extremely different. This kind of setup also seems very popular on Canadian trucks.

Mack Dump Truck

If anyone out there has information to share on this setup please leave a comment below.

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1972 Brockway U360

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Eric

This past Saturday while the Brockway Museum installed the new exhibits for the year I took a ride with Russell Bonds and his 1973 361 Husky. Russell’s truck actually had just been released after being on display for a nearly a year. It proved to be one of the more stubborn trucks of the morning with a pair of rear drums that just wouldn’t release. Eventually a large hammer and a little pushing and pulling broke everything free. You’d be hard press to know this truck had not run in nearly year when you saw it cruising down the main street of Cortland a short twenty minutes after it rolled out of the museum. It’s a true testament to the Brockway name and the people who keep them running to this very day.

The inaugural trip of the 2016 truck season found us escorting one of the newest additions to the museum display roster in the form of a 1972 U360 with a 12V Detroit. I’ll let the trucks do the talking from here.

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The New Brockways In Town

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Eric

This weekend I spent sometime at the Brockway Truck Museum as the new exhibit truck for the year were put in place. Many hard working and talented individuals volunteer countless hours of their time to make this home for Brockway Trucks a reality. This year twelve trucks will be on display offering a fantastic cross section of trucks from the 65 year history of the company. Two such rigs represent the highest horsepower units ever available from the company.

Brockway U-Model

The 1972 U360 model seen above has been meticulously restored to a condition eclipsing any factory made unit. On loan to the museum for one year the truck arrived without a hood to showcase a Detroit 12V71 that has been clean, polished, and chromed like few seen before. Not a single part of this truck escaped the eye of its restoring. Chromed steering box, painted wheel wedges, upholstery from top to bottom, two tone painted u-joints, the list goes on and on. You truly must see this truck in person. It is a work of art. This truck has been in “hiding” for a very long time. Congratulations to the crew for finally tracking it down and convincing its owner to loan it the museum for a year. See it while you can!

Brockway U360

If you stop by the museum this year, and you really should, you’ll find a face off taking place between the U Model seen above and this equally impressive 1973 H model. Proudly owned by Jimmy McLaughlin, this truck is equipped with a Caterpillar 1693. As I said before, both trucks are locked into a stare down on the museum floor. I’ve tried but I can’t determine which I like more.

Brockway H360TL

Hopefully these shots have convinced you to stop by the CNY Living History Center. In addition to the physical trucks there are countless artifacts, displays, and photographs relating to Brockway Trucks and the truck industry in general. And don’t forgot, the Brockway section is just one part of the Living History Center. If you’re passing by there is no reason NOT to stop in.

In the effort of transparency I’ll mention that I am new member to the Brockway Truck Preservation Association board. I’ll take this time to mention a brand new YouTube channel dedicated directly to the brand of Brockway. Below you’ll find the inaugural video. Please subscribe! There is much more to come! Below, a time lapse video of the exhibit swap, an entire day boiled down into four minutes.

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Autocar Mondays – From Street to Site

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Eric

The open road may no longer call for this pair of Autocars but that doesn’t mean their work is finished. Dave sends in these photos of a ’83 and a ’84 model that were once owned by Dutchess Quarry and Supply. Back in those glory days these two trucks were paired with tri-axle Montone dump trailers and could be found working the roads in and around Pleasant Valley, NY through the early 2000’s. What a site that must have been!

Autocar DK Dump Truck

Over the years the trucks were sold and switched over from tractor units to the current dump truck setup you see here. They are primarily site trucks now but in still in excellent shape as their aggregate hauling days spared them from the sheet metal devouring road salt mixture that appears on New York roads each winter. Now these two just have to worry about careless heavy  equipment operators. 😉

Autocar DC Dump Truck

Cat power resides under the hoods in the from of a 3406A for the 83 and a 3406B for the 84. Both trucks have 13 speeds with 44,000 lbs rear axles on Hendrickson suspension. With around 275,000 miles on each truck hopefully this power couple has many more years together. A big thanks to Dave is due for his information and photos!

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Haste Makes Waste

Posted on April 16, 2016 by Eric

I was browsing through some raw footage of the 2015 ATHS National Meet yesterday when I discovered that I had more footage of this vintage Ward LaFrance military wrecker. I feel the clips add to the video as you get to see the truck catch a gear or two, you can really hear that gas engine start to sing. The attention to detail on this truck is impressive in each way. Click here to read the original post and learn more about it.

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International HX520

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Eric

The collection is now complete. The new International HX520 was unveiled yesterday at the Truck World show in Toronto. You may recall that three other versions of the HX were released during the spectacle known as World Of Concrete. The HX520 features a set-forward axle configuration and is powered by a Cummins ISX15. With a BBC measurement of 120 inches this truck should prove popular as heavy haul tractor.

International HX520

Par for the course were left with goofy looking computer renditions of the truck. Just use real models! I know the exist. If you disagree take a look at this shot from TruckingInfo.com. A real truck looks a thousand times better. Perhaps my eyes deceive me but those look Tackaberry colors? Hmmm. If you have a moment to kill stop by InternationalTrucks.com and fool around with the truck configuration tool.

Below, a few shots of the other models that make up the HX line of trucks courtesy of Joe Kelly. Hover your cursor over the photo for model information.

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Rusted Ford Truck

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Eric

There is just something about an old and rusty truck in the weeds that is mesmerizing. Why is it there? Who did it once belong to? What are the specs? The list of questions can go on for days and more often than not the answers will never be found. Even from the long distance vantage point of this photo you can tell that rust has set in hard on this old Louisville. I would like to think that bump in the hood on the passenger side means there is huuuuuuge power lurking. But then I went back and looked at this L700, still working as of last year, and noticed it has one too….and it’s a gasser! As you can see this old Ford sits in a field with plenty of other relics. Three of which are Brockway dump trucks. Yup, three. More on those later…or maybe not. 😉

Ford Louisville Dump Truck

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Mack DM812 Missing and Presumed Rusted

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Eric

Along with the beautiful 1973 Autocar DC another classic member of the Cortese fleet was this 1980 Mack DM812SX1041. Reading the specs on this truck will make any Mack purist salivate. Hauling power was generated by a Mack 300 Plus diesel while ample gearing came through the Mack 12 speed gearbox. Out back, large 11.00R24 tires rode on Mack 58,000 lbs rears.

Mack DM800

Anthony purchased this truck form its original owner Blairstown Paving and Excavating in 1989. In 1995 it was sold and apparently fell off the face of the earth.

Mack DM800

Anyone out there have leads on this trucks? If so, please drop a comment below.

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