Generally this site stays pretty close to the muscle car topic but we stray off into other collector car corners of the world. With the acquisition of our most recent 1954 GMC fuel deliver tanker truck we have developed an even more eclectic taste for motor vehicles. On a recent trip we had time to kill in Eastern Iowa and decided to visit the World’s Largest Truck Stop located at Walcott Iowa on Interstate 80.
That was great fun and I recommend a stop there anytime you are in the vicinity. It is basically a complete town in one building devoted to truckers and travelers. Want to eat? No problem. Need shower or hair cut? Got you covered. How about birthday card, chrome bumper, TV, port-a-potty, clothes, gift, and the list goes on? They have it all.
As entertaining as that was just over the Interstate is the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum. This is for the hard core commercial truck guy or big rig driver. However, if you are the least bit into cars you will find the museum interesting and well worth the stop. The admission charge is free BUT please make a donation on your way out that is what keeps the doors open. Below are some of our favorites.
From what we could tell, it looks like this I-80 Exit at Walcott Iowa is about to become the over the road truckers Disneyland in a few years. We will be back.
Iowa I-80 Truck Museum
1929 International Harvester HS 104 C
1974 Ryder Paymaster R-100
Designed in the late 1960’s by trucker/inventor David Hobbensiefken in Lyons, Oregon. He wanted to build a truck that would be more aerodynamic, more fuel efficient and that was also easy to maintain. Drivers did not like it and there was not enough interest for production to go beyond a few test trucks.
1959 Diamond T 921 Cabover
1930 Studebaker Model: S Series; Engine: 6 Cylinder; Transmission: 4-speed.
1910 Avery tracktor / Gasoline Farm Wagon
Rutenberger 4 Cylinder engine / 3-speed Avery Transmission / Top Speed = 15 MPH.
With the 45 HP engine this truck cost $2,500 new.
1942 Mack FJ
Engine: Mack Model EO, 6 Cylinder / Transmission: Mack TR-15 with TRA-12 Auxiliary / Top Speed: 27 MPH
1958 Kenworth Bullnose
1958 Kenworth “Bullnose” KDC925C 420 HP Cummins NTC 380 engine / 5×4 Spicer Transmission / Top Speed = 78 mph.
This Bullnose had over 5.2 Million miles on it when the previous owner, Ray O’Hanesian, stopped counting in 1998. Ray purchased the truck brand new for $25,000 which was expensive for the time. The Bullnose has had many unpdates through the years. The original wheelbase of 264″ was shortened to 224″ and the engine and transmission have also been updated. Ray generously donated this truck to the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum in 2010.
Don’t mess with me!
Land Speed Record Holder
Never see this on the road.
Land Speed record holder
1957 Diamond T with 1950 Trailmobile Trailer
1954 Kenworth COE “Bullnose” 262 hp Cummins engine / Fuller RT-910 transmission / Air-ride rear axel / Top speed = 60 mph.
Kenworth manufactured this particular model from 1951-1958. The design was quite unique with a lower and wider cab than later model cabovers. Interestingly, the cab doesn’t tilt on this model. Any engine work must be performed by removing a doghouse in the cab or by pulling the engine through the front of the cab, after removal of the bumper and radiator. This truck was originally owned by Taylor & Martin, Inc. and pulled an auction trailer all over the country.
1941 Freightliner
1925 International Model 63 Street Washing Truck
1924 White Wrecker Model 40
1945 Ford Fuel Tanker: 239 CID Flathead V8 / 4-speed transmission / Top speed = 45 mph.
This 100 horsepower truck has an amazing 3,300 original miles on it. The truck was originally sold as a fuel tanker, but converted to water tanker by the fire department that purchased it. (Can you imagine peoples reaction if they had not removed the “Standard” sign from the side prior to the first fire? There are pumping gasoline onto my burning home!).
Stokes Coal Truck
Rural Mail Delivery Truck for the winter.
1954 Fageol Van: engine SD-240 International / Transmission: Twin Coach FV-2060 / Top Speed: 45 mph.The Fageol Motors Company made trucks from 1916 until 1939, when the factory was purchased by TA. Perterman (founder of Perbilt Motor Company). In 1927, the Fageol brothers sold out of the company and began Twin Coach, a company focused on building buses. In 1950, twin Coach revived the Fageol name to build a line of moving vans. Many components from International were used to build there vans. The Fageol Vans were available in models with wheelbases rangin from 108″ to 243″. These vans were only sold through International Harvester dealers. This particular van was purchased by the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum in 2005 from Frank Malatesta of New Jersey.
1937 Mack AC High Lift Coal Truck
Engine: 386 cu. in. White 6 Cylinder gasoline. Transmission: 4-speed, 3-speed auxiliary. Top Speed 55 mph.
This truck rolled off the assembly line in Cleveland, Ohio in April fo 1946. The original owner lived in Beaver Dam, Ohio. The truck was then licensed and used by Mayflower Transit until 1979, and had one primary driver for all 33 of those years. This truck has a top speed of 55 mph which was more than sufficient given that the speed limit where it mainly operated was only 45 mph. This particular White has one of the first integrated sleepers seen in production; it is only 18″ wide. It also has one of the last wood structured cabs that White ever built; starting in 1947 all cabs were constructed of steel. This truck has been in the Iowa 80 collection for a number of years, but was newly restored in 2012.
I grew up and lived in Iowa for a good portion of my life before moving to Southern California. After 20+ years we now live outside Nashville Tennessee. I have been into cars since I was old enough to remember. I don't have a brand loyalty although I do prefer American Muscle especially the 1969/1970 NASCAR Aero Cars. (Check out our other web site at www.TalladegaSpoilerRegistry.com site) As long as it has four wheels and an engine I get excited. Few men are lucky enough to be able to share their passion for cars with the woman they love. Fortunately, my wife, Katriana, is also a gear head and many of our activities revolve around the cars. We have a small collection that includes at least one car from each of the Big Three. It includes a Best of Show winner, a survivor, a driver with lots of patina and several others. Katrina prefers all original cars while I like to modify them so we have a few of each. When we aren't playing with cars we are out working with or showing our miniature donkeys. You can see more about that part of our lives at http://www.LegendaryFarms.com.
OMG, Bandag Bandit! It was one of my favourite Matchbox toy, when I was a kid! It is good to know it is still exists and not only in my toy collection!
OMG, Bandag Bandit! It was one of my favourite Matchbox toy, when I was a kid! It is good to know it is still exists and not only in my toy collection!
http://matchboxmemories.blogspot.hu/2009/02/cy-10-kenworth-racing-transporter-mb-66.html
FYI, The 1974 Ryder Paymaster Truck was built by my brother, DEAN Hobbensiefken from Lyons, OR.