Slightly O.T. Were Have All The Cool Car Haulers Gone?

In the 60's everybody it seems had a cool truck to haul their race car,were'd they all go?I'd kill for a old Dodge truck like these.

 

This topic came up a couple of months ago, lots of cool pics....

My thoughts, security.... Open carriers have no security. One does not flaunt what one has in open public anymore..

 

I have Richard Petty's from 69, would love to trade it for something. No time to restore it. Ted

 

we have one with lost hopes too, been meaning to list it in the classifieds for awhile. I think its hard to justify a restoration and upkeep on one unless you have a race car or towing business otherwise its going to get neglected.

 

here is my 75 Chevy C-30 454,Hodges bed with a Ramsey winch.

 

I sent you a email,I'm very interested in your truck.

 

I did a search,but not much came up.

 

Soon after the seam putty dried up, cracked and fell out, probably a week after the warranty ran out, the rain started getting up between the double metal roof panels and drip rails on those Dodge trucks and rusted out all around the drip rail.
Then it starts dripping rusty water on your knees while driving.
That's why you don't see them on the road any more.

A friend wanted me to replace the roof on one once and the replacement roof he brought with it was worse than the one on it!

Designed in obsolescence I'm afraid.

 

I got one for sale down here in Texas! P.M. for details!

 

The next generation aren't any better. You really have to keep after that roof seem.

 

IMO, the best hauler was TV Tommy's (w/the Vette on top for toolin' around town)

 

i think there classsified as a tow truck and the insurrense is outragoues i thnk in cali its like 1000 a month

 

This one is cool!

 

P.M. Sent

 

If you can fit a bunk and a porta-potty, It can be a camper/RV. makes a world of difference.

Also, my insurance gave me the option of signing an affidavit stating it was for my personal use, not a commercial vehicle. Went from $3600 to $1200 for a year.

 

You are gambling that you never need the insurance, and that you aren't using it for commercial purposes. In the event you need the insurance, your insurance company becomes your adversary. If they can find a loophole, they will, hence the document that you signed.

 

Without a doubt the coolest hauler. I was going to post it, but you beat me to it. That was one hell of a long, steep ramp for that Vette to get up, I have photos somewhere of the Vette going up it.

 

[Also, my insurance gave me the option of signing an affidavit stating it was for my personal use, not a commercial vehicle. Went from $3600 to $1200 for a year.[/quote]
I had to paint on mine "not for hire" to get the insurance break on my old rollback and wrecker body which I used for personal use. sold the rollback but still have the wrecker but haven't license it the last 3 years because it's still in the shop all tore apart, off the frame but planning on putting it back together this summer.

I also like the Tommy Ivo rig. Wonder if it's out there someplace sitting.

 

We have three old haulers up on the farm - one is a '50 Chevy that had been a stock car hauler, and last ran with a built 327 (probably the old race engine) in it. Makes a nice display up front. The other are later, a '69 GMC and a '72 Chevy. The '72 was used for a small rail dragster (we think) and came out of Connecticut, still has the team name and some NRHA stickers on it. I attached a couple pictures of the last two, I don't seem to have any of the '50 that show the cab -

I have another Chevy like it to bring in, it's old-style but was built in the 80s or 90s.

Last time I was at the may Rhinebeck show a guy had a '66 GMC car hauler for sale, too, purple cab, black body, drove it in. So they turn up now and then.

 

I've got a ramp truck that was used to tow my vintage racer about 10 times a year. Insurance was $2400 a year. I now tow with a cube van pulling a trailer. The cube van has all the tools needed at a race track (Full tool box, generator, compressor, welder and even a drill press) in the back 6 feet of the box. The front 10 of the box has a side door, fold out couch, table and extra seats. The cube van quailfies as an RV and insurance is only $450 a year. A lot safer and easier with the ramp truck, just can't afford it.

Been complating about putting my 55 ford cab on the ramp and selling her at the Auto Fair in Charlotte. But thats just a dream.

 

thieves love to steal car haulers left in front of motels. They'll have to climb over the top of me and my .454 to get mine.
It's 48' of which 22' is living quarters. Very comfortable.

Dogtag

 

Here's one that was quite imaginative. Bobby Pickel #300 was a quite successful Modified racer at NJ, NY and PA tracks in the 60's and 70's. This Pinto bodied Modified is from the late 70's.

 

Go to this site....

http://www.3widespicturevault.com/3wides_Gettin_There_1.htm


Has about 3 pages of pictures including the one above and even a school bus turned into a hauler...

 

I've had a chance to buy a few cool haulers over the years and God knows I've paid for about six of them with the shippers I've hired but it's not an insurance issue for me so much as the fact that they are great big bastards that don't fit in most garages and sit outside rusting and casting an ugly shadow over your house. Wives don't tend to dig that and neither do neighbors. You've got to live in the right neighborhood (or no neighborhood) and tell your wife it's okay to buy all the shoes she wants.

 

School busses as haulers are fairly common, one of the busses that Cauyga County owns was a hauler for someone at the track in it's last life. (once a year they race them with local "celebrity" drivers... it's actually pretty cool when they go into the 3rd turn three wide rubbing on each other at 50 MPH - someone has to back out coming out of the 4th turn or hit the wall...)

I've seen pictures of Olds Toronados turned into car haulers by combining with a trailer, too. The deal there is it still registers and insures as whatever year Cadillac or Olds, as long as you don't tell them any different, so it's a lot cheaper to insure.

I know a guy who beats the high cost by running farm plates on his rollback. Drives it all over, never had a problem (knock on wood).

 

Ex Tommy Ivo rig (I think)

 

The good old days.

 

Harrell...ramp truck pulling a trailer.

 

I think I've posted this before. Terry Ivey's Travelling Road Show.

 

I'm really dig'n this thread, as I too remember, that you were waaaay cool if you showed up at the strip with your ride on the back of a ramp truck!

Here's one from 1970 of Ford of Canada's traveling performance clinic, complete with Ford's factory racers, unloading in the pits at Saskatchewan International Raceway, (or SIR as it's affectionately known today). This is before my time, but I can imagine this was pretty state-of-the-art in 1970!