Which is worse–wrecking a truck, or wrecking a borrowed truck?
This is my Uncle Donald Shafer, who originally owned my 1963 Ford Galaxie. Despite it being a warm Sunday morning in Tennessee, he doesn’t look very happy about having been in a wreck with a borrowed truck.
Which is worse–wrecking a truck, or wrecking a borrowed truck?
What’s even worse is someone wrecking your borrowed truck! There seems to be some law of nature that exponentially increases the odds of someone wrecking the vehicle (or tool, or some other object) you lent them. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen that sad tale played out. And not always by seemingly careless folks either.
Great picture!
Agreed. I think it falls under one of Murphy’s Laws.
That’s why I don’t really like to borrow things if possible. Adds unwanted pressure.
That is a really cool picture.
I say the borrowed thing is worse since it can strain the relationship.
Know the story of how it happened?
Must have been quite the crash and load for the axles to get so bent out of shape. I’m curious.
While I don’t know, I cannot help but remember how my dad has stated Donald would “pop bennies” to stay awake when he drove. So I’m guessing he lost the battle to Mother Nature.
Given the truck’s age, that just about has to be a solid front axle with leaf springs. So either the front king pin came off the axle (unlikely), or the front axle broke free of the leaf spring.
I’m betting the axle ripped free, and is sitting forward of the normal spring perch location.
The truck looks nice even in its wrecked state and the odd angles such as the bumper and opened hood remind me of an Anthropomorphic vehicle. So, is the driver side front wheel demonstrating the swing axle that would make the Corvair infamous a decade later? If so, how did you change a tire then if the wheel was always drooping? I am surprised the door is staying open. Interesting how the door has a USDA number instead of a USDOT number.
I am glad Mr. Shafter is alright and vehicles crumpled easier back then so I doubt he was driving that fast when the accident happened. So, what caused this to happen?
Yep not a lot of fun that as I discovered recently when I parked a truck trailer combination in a shelter belt, it hurts big time.
I saw that picture and meant to ask you about that and forgot. Were you hurt?
Yeah the seatbelt grabbed me and tore my shoulder some chest wall bruisingfrom steering utensil ok now though but unemployed, it was only doing 65kmh at impact.
Here’s the pic of your truck from the Herald Bryce. I love the comments the article attributes to you: “I just had to wait for it to stop, and then there was a tree coming in through the window so I thought I’d better hop out…I don’t think this produce is going to get to its destination on time, if at all.” Glad you’re ok, hope you get a job again real soon.
Don was in the midst of a long day on the road. He pulled over and hopped out of the cab to stretch his legs. Hearing a commotion behind him, he whipped around to discover his truck was transforming into a giant robot!
It’s Optimus Prime in the 40s-50s!
Yup, Transformers prequel! I claim the movie rights!
There is nothing so mesmerizing (at least to me) as looking at an old car after accident damage. My father used to have some pictures taken in the early 1950s of the aftermath of a 3 car accident he was in. He fared better than the other two people, I think there were some serious injuries in that one.
I am happy that your uncle was not badly hurt. Accidents in those old vehicles could be nasty.
As for the Murphy’s law, I damaged my college roommate’s 72 Duster in a parking lot accident. Its no fun being the guy who wrecks someone else’s car.
+1
These old machines are beautiful but ….well…. nasty is a good word…
Wow, a ’65 Riviera – based on the tail light in the bumper. Same year I once owned.
Mine came with a dented passenger door. The outer door skin was bolted on instead of welded. I unbolted it and pounded out the dent.
It appears that on this car the rear impact pushed on the back edge of the skin sheering off all the bolts. IIRC, the screws were somehow wedged into the edge of the outer skin, and came through the door inner panel. A few of the screws in the outer skin spun free on mine, requiring that I hacksaw the screw to get the skin off. The bolts had a sort of domed skin over them so you didn’t see a screw end coming though the bolt.
Those screws were not of great diameter. I didn’t think of it at the time, but getting them to shear off like this does not surprise me now.
The window blind in the rear window is also remarkable. A somewhat common accessory I recall seeing in “old cars” in the early ’70s. Something of an aftermarket accessory fad that ran from the ’50s through the late ’60s from what I observed as a young pup.
I wonder if someone died and or bled a lot since those Biohazard placards are alarming.
I’m going to not show that picture to my wife.
Thus demonstrating conclusively how the first gen Rivieria’s door skins were fitted after the frame was hung.
Stop this now! Between this intrusion by reality and Mr Baruth’s recent misadventures, coupled with the fact our son has turned 16 and wants to drive, I’m about to go all airbags and cupholders. I don’t visit the site for re-education.
This probably goes without saying, but that Riv still looks better than the rubbish efforts the badge was later applied to.
Nice pics im going to submit them to a Trucking Image Forum Page.
They will love it!!
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