One of my favorite moments at the 2012 Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion was literally running down the owner of a totally sweet 1964 Mack B61 truck and chatting him up about the big beast. Since then, I have been prowling eBay a little harder than normal with an eye out for old heavy trucks. I am not in a position to buy of course, but it is a fun way to torture myself. Today’s temptress is a 1946 Autocar C70 truck. The ad is short on details but we can tell you that the truck has a five speed transmission. After that it is all conjecture. More than likely power comes from a 447ci gasoline six cylinder engine that grunts out about 150hp. I think that 55mph may be optimistic in this truck, but who the hell cares?
I love the proportions and look of this old Autocar. The short wheelbase gives it a stoutness that longer trucks lose. The high hood line fools your eye into thinking that the roof has been chopped a few inches and the massive sweeping front fenders define the rustic beauty that these old trucks appeal. There’s more steel in those fenders than in the whole of a Chevy Aveo! I’d bet you five bucks that a grown man could climb up those mothers without them deflecting an inch! The original paint? Yeah, it about brings a tear of joy to my eye. The striping, the faded lettering, what is better? NOTHING, that’s what.
My heart is aflutter every time I see one of these old workhorses at a car show because it happens more and more often now. When people asked me what I was going to do with an old tow truck, it is the same thing I would tell them that I’d do with this thing…drive it! No one would bat an eye at you pulling into a car show these days with a truck like this. They are cool beyond words. From their big but not huge size, awesome rumbling exhaust note, lumbering road manners, and living history-like nod to the past, there’s lots of reasons that old heavy duty trucks are becoming more and more popular with enthusiasts like us. THEY RULE!
Scroll down to see the photos and the link to the eBay ad!
EBAY LINK: 1946 AUTOCAR C70 TRUCK
Old commercials rule. Heck yeah! I am completely on board with this. This would be a welcome addition to the rodding/ muscle car scene which, dare I say, could benefit from fresh content. Additionally, compared to the conventional classics, these things are dirt cheap. Bring ’em on!
That thing looks pretty mint
I’ve loved trucks since I was a little kid. My first love was the MACK R-model and by the time I was 5 I could name every truck I saw.