I couldn’t exactly pass by this dramatic shot posted at the Cohort by Stacy Young. This photographer does “enhance” her photographs digitally, but looking at the truck, it does seem to be quite genuine, and if not actually on the go, certainly capable of it. Those non-original big rear view mirrors are one tell-tale. And the wind/rain curtain in the cab is another. The front wheel and tire looks to be more modern too. If I had to guess, this is someone’s “resto-mod” vintage Autocar, quite likely with a modern drive train so as to be usable on modern roads, as trucks from this vintage rarely exceeded 25-35 mph.
If anyone knows more about it, fill us in. In the meantime, I’ll just let my imagination carry me away.
Here is another shot
https://www.flickr.com/photos/scottash/9441983462
Big fan of the truck. The photo is certainly dramatic and artistic, but not so useful for getting a real impression of the truck itself, but then that isn’t what the artist was after anyway…
Dee Cameron (the name is on the truck) is no longer with us. A picture of the truck can also be found here:
https://occhiolungo.wordpress.com/2014/05/05/rip-dee-cameron/
Wow, that’s amazing, probably even rarer than a ’60 Edsel. I love the wooden cowl with brass braces. I really want to go for a ride in it!
Looks like Dee lived the life most of us would envy. All respect to his life and memory. To all of us: This is the start of the next year of our lives. Let’s get it done! To quote Peter Egan, “There are only so many summers left”.
Very cool. The tanks and tires make it look like he adapted the cab to a modern chassis, but from looking at pictures of similar vintage Autocar trucks, it appears to be mostly original.
In reading up a little bit on these trucks, I learned that they used big 2-cylinder boxers of Autocar’s own design. Very unique for an American truck, even in the 1920s. I’m gonna assume that’s probably not what’s powering this one these days, though!
Very cool photo, Paul.
The two cylinder version of the Type XXI was built between 1908 and 1919 when a four cylinder version was introduced. The engine was located under the seat in both models. These were manufactured until 1926 when it was replaced with a more conventional four cylinder design.
Dee Cameron’s truck was very heavily modified and used a more modern engine and running gear.
Here’s a pic of me starting the late John Tosey’s 1919 four cylinder at a show in Hudson, MA a few years ago.
….and a shot of the two cylinder engine in an incredible, original, unrestored 1909 model.
Thanks for the additional info. A big boxer twin; I bet that has a nice sound when it’s running hard.
Kinda like a Singer sewing machine on steroids, Paul. Stitcha-stitcha-stitcha-stitcha….LOL.
The truck it’s in is a truly amazing piece. Spent it’s life delivering coal in Essex, Connecticut and was parked inside an industrial building in 1926 where it sat until the early 2000’s. A guy I know with a few nice antique trucks bought it and got it running with a minimum amount of work. To say it has some patina is a major understatement and he’s going to leave it just the way it is cosmetically.
I set this shot up at a truck show in 2008 to illustrate the difference in the two cylinder and four cylinder models.
Beautiful truck; and glad to hear he’s going to leave it original.
Incredible! 1909, and untouched for almost 90 years until recently. Wow.
Well, there’s some more info here:
http://forums.justoldtrucks.com/88042/Dee-Camerons-Acar-where-is-it-now
(thread starts backwards, from p. 2 to 1). It seems it was heavily modified and driven hard.
Thanks! Wild…
A remarkable pair…and, updated running gear or not, what a great old truck. To drive something with a partially open cab like that on the Interstate must be wild!