GM created a fleet of 12 lumbering giants to travel the country showcasing technology and innovation across America. These trucks were used from their debut in 1940 through 1956 and logged untold thousands of miles on the highways and byways of America. With drivers positioned up front and nearly 12 feet in the air, they had a unique look that kind of crossed a future big rig with a giant bus. The first several years that the trucks were on the road, power came from a Detroit 4-53 diesel engine. When we said lumbering, we meant lumbering. These vehicles were capable of a top speed around 40 MPH. After the Detroits were ditched, all 12 of the trucks were repowered with 302ci Jimmy six cylinder engines backed with four speed automatic transmissions.
These things were all but forgotten until a couple of years ago when one came up for auction at Barrett-Jackson and sold for more than four million dollars. Since then, there have been a couple of higher profile restoration projects involving Futureliners and a couple have come up for sale, like this one. The asking price on this truck is $425,000. Considering that only nine of the original 12 trucks are left and it isn’t like cloning one of these would be worth it, they aren’t going to drop in value long term. That being said, they’re probably not going to be worth over 4-million again anytime soon either.
There are no interior photos of this truck. We seem to remember that one of them was converted into a motorhome like situation inside. We’re not sure if this is the one, but it may be. If the truck still has its 302ci Jimmy-six you’ll be losing drag races to, well, everything, but you’ll look good doing it. A V8 Detroit Diesel would be an immediate upgrade we’d consider but then again, we don’t have $425,000 to buy this in the first place so it is all academic. We do want it though!
Thanks to Fast Ed for the tip!
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CRAIGSLIST LINK: GM FUTURELINER
I’m picturing that thing with a BangShift body wrap cruising the fairgrounds at Du Quoin this summer.
I can see Chad on the roof with a camera for live streaming.
Super cheap at that price. I’ve seen one sell for over a milion and it didn’t even run. And if theres room, My swap, would be to a period correct gmc V-12 with a couple of 4/71 superchargers! check out my teams website if your just surfing the net for cars and stuff: http://www.madmolemotorsports.com
I seen one of these at Carlisle few years ago, I got to go in the top driver seat. It was cool.
It looks cool and its selling at a very fair price . the speed is not bad too for a vehicle it’s type.
Wow, that thing looks awesome. It looks like an Evel Knievel bus or something.