This is amazing. Drew Harthorn found this link and shot it over to us which made our jaws drop and our eyes bulge. Why? You are looking at the first box truck that Sox and Martin ever had during their drag racing careers and one of the first truly custom “modern” enclosed haulers that any drag racing team used. Funded by Dodge for their factory teams, apparently three of these trucks were built and by the sounds of it, this is the only one known to survive.
Not just used by Sox and Martin, but later by Pro Stock bad ass Reid Whisnat and then by other drivers who were piloting cars for the infamous Rufus “Brooklyn Heavy” Boyd, this thing has likely racked up a million miles of backroad driving and drag strip banzai action over the years. Powered by a 413 and packing a 5-speed Spicer transmission, this was as good as it got as a drag racer in 1971. The roof-mounted air conditioner was the height of luxury and the fact that this one was optioned with a side door was revolutionary in its own right.
The best part of this truck outside of the history? The sucker is priced to sell! $6,500 gets you the truck and the starting pass on a big project. The truck needs lots of work but imagine this thing when it’s all done!
In case the listing gets pulled, here’s the incredible history of this truck –
This is the first box truck built by Oleynik Body Sales, Inc. (box ID reads SM1) for Sox & Martin Race cars. The truck is a 1971 Dodge D700 413 V8 truck built by Chrysler Canada LD in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The body is a 24-foot box, designed by Buddy Martin to have a door on the left side they could walk in and out of…until then, they only had a door in the rear. Three of these particular bodies were built specifically for S&M.
One truck went to Ronnie and Buddy, one went to Reid Whisnant and the other ‘may’ have gone to Jim Clark. It is known for sure Reid Whisnant of Atlanta Race Cars owned this particular truck. His colors, as well as the colors of Rufus Boyd of Brooklyn Heavy fame are still found on the body.
Reid Whisnant hauled his Dixie Dart in it, then the Dixie Twister…owned by Rufus Boyd. Whisnant set national records with his cars in 1971. Rufus Boyd was colorful and extremely well liked and owned nearly all the best-known cars during this period. Herb and Ronny both drove for him. This needs restoration but remarkably complete and close to what it was originally. The motor, brakes, rear end, clutch and transmission function so that it can be moved. The tires always hold air but must be at least 35 years old. $6,500.00.
Craigslist: Sox and Martin’s first box truck is for sale – needs work but its amazing
So much want!! There is a guy up in Ohio that has the Rod Shop’s hauler, very similar to this.
I’m suprised these have a 413 in 71. Is this similar to the 413 wedge engines from the early 60s? Did Dodge use different engines for their heavy duty trucks like Chevy did with the tall deck engines?
It is the same family as the early 60’s 413, but this is a 413-3 which means for heavy duty trucks. One difference I remember is they had 4 piston rings instead of 3. These were lucky to get 5.5 mpg, my old 318-3 powered 73 D600 would pull down 7.5 to 8. Fun stuff!
Man, those old Dodges sure were ugly.
Is not ‘ citroen ‘ French for lemon ?
Lemon in french is \’\’citron \’\’
I like it, that would be well worth restoring to Sox and Martin or Reid Whisnant paint scheme.