What defines the essence of the American Spirit? The freedom to express one’s thoughts and impulses, regardless of what others may think or say? Well, that’s hardly so unique anymore. How about the freedom to not only act on those creative impulses, but to end up with a legal, licensed, road-able vehicle. And one that can be legitimately sold, so that (someone’s version of) the American dream can be shared? Be forewarned; this picture is not nearly as shocking and provocative as the side view. Are you ready?
Can you imagine pulling into a TÜV inspection facility in Germany with this? Or for your bi-annual shaken inspection in Japan? How many countries would allow this on the road? God Bless America. Salvador Dali would approve.
From the craigslist ad:
for sale 1962 international truckcar, has every optional that a car could have ,has frontwheel drive driveline disk brakes all around , has air bags that are in working order has oldsmobile dash with tilt cruise , power seats , air -did work but i low of freon due from setting -can drive it anywhere, every light works as well as new cab lights allready has grandam door handles installed and work great, has alloy wheels and this truck has a good title which is titled as a international, has a grand am rear with the original duel exhaust, car is fuel injected and there are no check engine lights on?everthing is in working order but the aircondition is low of freon call if interested to much to list lots of time put in this car , have to many other projects to ,do so call xxx-xxx-xxxx -no emails please -price is firm -have probly twice as much invested .-this vehicle will be sold where is as is…thanks
It’s nice to know it’s going to be sold “as is”. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
On that high note, let’s take the rest of the day off. Happy Fourth of July!
A hat tip to H-Man.
To quote Slim Pickens, “What in the wide wide world of sports is a-goin’ on here?!”
We’re not horsing around, that’s how it VIN decodes!
original duel exhaust – yup hate it when my exhausts walk ten paces, turn, and fire on each other.
Normally I’m a defender of odd design (heck I even liked that Matador sedan) but I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.
this probably has ‘feul injection’ as well…
That’s the German spelling, of course!
Foil injection?
Fail injection…
Maybe the seller should park it in the parking lot of a nearby mental health facility. Might have better luck selling it there.
“…have to many other projects to do…”
Oh good Lord have mercy on those poor other cars…..
I’m guessing his other projects include the Camarocycle the Aztekopter and the PT(cabin)Cruiser.
Best line of the day: “PT (cabin) Cruiser”! 🙂
Most drunk people with sawzalls and old junk cars just cut the roof off, pile all their friends in, and laugh about it when they open the doors on both sides and the car folds in half. I think this person was drinking something stronger, possibly Absinthe.
Drinking????
Prestone, I believe.
Apparently,drugs do take their toll.
Hmm, bath salts, meth, salvia?
The Oregon Trifecta!
The cab is IH but it is not from 62 that is a L/R/S cab making it a few years older and the butterfly hood means it’s from a large truck like a 50-52 R190.
Quite a waste of a good IH.
Pontiac cladding on the IH door is the touch that really makes it distinctive. An artistic statement about GM design, and its role in the carpocalypse.
Seen another way, it reminds me of the movie “Alien”. Shocking and provocative.
Hmmm….redneck engineering at it’s finest!
I saw a story about this a week or so ago, apparently it’s somewhere near Knoxville, TN.
As someone who’s father’s family comes from the Volunteer State, I can say what I want…
This is just all kinds of wrong…..
Oh yes – the Grand Am International Edition. Or maybe Car of Frankenstein? Dare I say Intriguing?
The fates of the modern cars don’t bother me so much, but I hate to see an old binder go out this way.
I once tried to do something like this, but with plastic model kits. Rear of a 48 Continental mated to the front of a 57 T-Bird with a 73 Pontiac Grand Am hood prow. My excuse was that I was 13. Fortunately, I grew out of it and didn’t cut up any actual cool cars.
I’m gettin’ drunk and blowing shit up! WOOHOOOO!!!!
i like it
I never did like the newer horizontal windshields.
I noticed he said it’s licensed as an International (notice the VIN from the Pontifract is now missing?) – wonder if this was a clever attempt at lower insurance rates?
….or it was too big a PITA to try obtaining a title for a car that probably wasn’t legally his!
God bless America.
I bet the fuel & brake line splices are as creative as the bodywork.
Having just put my car thru our rather complicated VIN process In glad it wasnt this just the structural certification would be a nightmare.
They say that necessity is the mother of invention… but what necessitated this? “Oh, no, my head has suddenly become large and bulbous from exposure to radiation… I need more headroom in my Grand Am… and who left this Oldsmobile front clip in my yard? What am I supposed to do with THAT? Wait a minute…”
1990’s Cab-Forward design think taken to it’s most extreme and logical conclusion………
I smell a jalopy!
The front view is an interesting take on a modern-retro design theme. If it had the original truck bed still attached and was painted one color it may just work…possibly.
It actually bordered on looking good, like some interesting custom, in the first, head-on picture. Those lines between the front and the hood worked. Then you went to the side. Aargh!!!!!
It’s scary to say that this is the kind of car I’ve been wanting for years. Something with the economy and performance of a car chassis, but also the generous headroom and heads-up architecture of a classic truck. The standard US sedans have always been too low-slung and streamlined for my comfort, but I don’t cotton to the clumsy, tippy truck drivin’ experience, either. This seems like the best of both worlds, in theory at least.
This odd hybrid is one of a kind. Its opposite would be the Dodge Caliber, which grafts a sleek roofline onto a blocky, Tonka-toy car body. I’d call that the worst of both worlds.