Taken on April 29, 1963. Convoy, based in Washington, commonly carried mixed loads, as they picked up cars shipped via ships or barges to the Puget Sound area, and then distributed them to dealers. We’ve got a fine 3/4 ton International AWD Travelall, two Studebaker sedans and three Champ pickups, a Plymouth Fury coupe, and a Ford Fairlane 500 coupe.
Which one are you waiting for?
Hard call. But the AWD Travelall is pretty compelling, and probably worth the most today.
Here’s one from 1967, all from Ford and GM. Pretty impressive rig, with thirteen large cars aboard. As I mentioned before, Convoy operated these extra long rigs under a special permit in the PNW.
Cool stuff for an old truck salesperson. Thanks
Customers of these had to wait a little longer.
Looks like one tried to escape at the back before calamity and decapitation struck.
I wonder if Bruce Meyers had a distributor interested in buying the salvage to build some turnkey buggies?
The Valiant police car is interesting too, showing how Sweden never protected its’ auto industry, even to the point of awarding government contracts to imports. Sure, the Valiant had a V8 but if they had the mindset of any other car-producing country in that era there’d have been at least an unwritten “Buy Swedish” policy, and the highway patrol would’ve made the Volvo 144 work as best they could.
Ouch! Wonder what they did with the Chevy Monza whose roofline I slightly “lowered” passing under a low bridge in Chicago many decades ago. Probably totaled it, although good body shop could have “raised” the roof.
Do you have to ask? and in second place the Fairlane.
The Fairlane, definitely
Plymouth for me. Absent of information I’ll just optimistically assume there’s a 413 wedge under the hood.
The Fairlane’s black wheels and black sidewalls make it look like a rocket ready to launch!
Cool photo’ s all! Judging from the Polis car in Chrs’s shot; I’ll bet there where a few upset Swedes on the scene.
A couple of years later, same place
Are those DAF 66s on the second truck (the one in the back)?
Look like it to me.
And how did they get those Volvos down safely?
Nice vintage photos, thanx .
-Nate
That top carrier has a lot of cars that don’t excite me. The Studebaker selection is thin with low trim sedans and Champ pickups. They might call me, but would be highly dependent on powertrain and color. The Fairlane was OK but I always found them mechanically underwhelming. The Fury hardtop and the Travelall may duke it out for first choice.
Umm, AMC is missing in the first! It was bigger than Studebaker or International!
I’ll take a Champ from the first truck and one of the wagons from the second, thank you!
definitely the Travelall.
I can identify all the cars on both but the one with fender skirts second truck, bottom front under the Olds and Buick.
Pontiac Bonneville? Bueller? Bueller?
Buick Skylark
Thanks!
How your car is really carried overseas by PCPT carrier sailing the seven seas
Hopefully the picture will upload now
Not yet ……
-Nate
Those white-painted wheels on the Studes always looked unusual, especially when left exposed behind dog-dish hubcaps. It seems some cars got color-keyed wheels too though. What did you need to do to get matching-color wheels? Is it tied to a trim level?
Neat shots. Loading and unloading that first transporter looks like a Rubik’s cube exercise.
Anyone know the sequence?
First transporter is relatively simple: raise top decks, unload bottom row. Then top row from back to front, obviously.
Second photo, (from 1967) bit more complicated. Raise top decks, unload first 3 cars from bottom level. Next, the grey/silver car from “mid” level. Then the white car directly below it. Next, car right behind tractor cab. Unload top deck.
Loading took some thought/planning. Back when I was driving, paperwork for cars was in random order. You had to check map, decide delivery sequence, load accordingly. I’m sure it’s programmed in sequence today. Backing rear wheel drive cars on to top deck tricky in winter conditions.
Don’t even have to think about it: the Fury.
First transporter is relatively simple: raise top decks, unload bottom row. Then top row from back to front, obviously.
Second photo, (from 1967) bit more complicated. Raise top decks, unload first 3 cars from bottom level. Next, the grey/silver car from “mid” level. Then the white car directly below it. Next, car right behind tractor cab. Unload top deck.
Loading took some thought/planning. Back when I was driving, paperwork for cars was in random order. You had to check map, decide delivery sequence, load accordingly. I’m sure it’s programmed in sequence today. Backing rear wheel drive cars on to top deck tricky in winter conditions.