“House Car” is a somewhat archaic term, but that seem rather suitable to this very fine rig. This 1949 Dodge truck served for almost three decades as a fire truck, and has been re-purposed into a well-built traveling home. The attention to detail and effort put into it is decidedly better than average, and it’s very much roadworthy. It’s from Arizona, and was passing through after a stop at the Oregon Country Faire, an event that tends to attract rigs of this sort.
We noticed this parked at a house at the base of Skinner Butte, and it caught my attention. The “Diesel” badge on its hood added to my interest, as if that were necessary. I love house cars like this, and this one is about as good as it gets.
I Googled “East Lawn Volunteer Fire Co.” and the only one that comes up is based in Nazareth, PA. Presumably that’s where this truck spent the first few decades of its long and useful life.
The owner told me it has a 5.9 L Cummins diesel (B6) under the hood, and given the exhaust stack, I have no doubt. But whether this “San Quentin Death Row 71” lock is authentic, I don’t know.
There’s a very nice companion BMW bike on the back, the kind that will take its rider anywhere the truck might not be so suitable for, like blasting through a fast canyon highway or down a remote fire road.
The clutch housing is a nice detail. And that’s a nice license plate, even if there isn’t a V8 under the hood.
Happy trails! Wish it were mine; although the noise of a Cummins inside that old cab might be deafening.
I love it ! .
There used to be a really nice ’37 LaSalle cut down and re bodied like this near me.
In the 1960’s America was full of old Hearses so modified too , I remember one in particular made into a true C Class Camper on a Hearse from Kentucky .
-Nate
Sweet looking truck and camper. If only we could’ve gotten a view of the Cummins diesel under the hood.
Nazareth, PA. Also known as the birthplace of Mario Andretti.
Not to pick nits but Nazareth, PA is where Andretti grew up, not where he was born. Mario Andretti was born in Montona, which was then part of Italy. After becomming part of Yugoslavia after WWII the town is now Motovun, Croatia. Andretti’s family emigrated to the U.S. in 1955, after spending some time in a refugee camp in Italy.
After all, the ad did promise a roomy passenger cabin…
Love the corrugated metal roof. The Chrysler Town & Country may have been more stylish, but the Dodge was roomier.
Oh, very cool. The camper, the BMW bike, the yellow cruiser bicycle… a nice package.
Wonder what it handles like on a windy day?
Must be a lot of weight with all that wood. The Cummins engine is a good choice for that rig. A strong headwind will be a good workout for the drive train. The motorcycle deck is a nice touch. Wonder if the interior is as nicely done. I like it.
4 wheeler truck it could legally gross 14 tonnes I doubt it would go 8 like that so running almost empty.
if not overly heavy, it is definitely tall. the center of gravity would be a bit high. I’d take it easy in a cross-wind on a reverse camber turn.
When I first saw that it was a diesel, an evil, bad part of me perversely wished it had the ultra-rare, ultra-stupid Mitsubishi 4.0 I6, a 1978-only option for good reason: It made Oldsmobile’s later diesel V8 look good in comparison.
That Mitsubishi six was a very rugged unit; unlike the Olds V8. It didn’t sell well, but that’s not really a reflection of any inherent weaknesses.: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/automotive-history-the-case-of-the-very-rare-1978-dodge-diesel-pickup-and-the-non-existent-diesel-van/
I’d love to see the interior furnishings. Looks cozy.
Cool, love house trucks especially on really old truck chassis, the repower is sensible better fuel economy and reliability than the original this thing should keep going indefinitely.
I saw this on the road this past weekend, heading East on US Hwy.12 in WA. My first thought was just “Hey, cool home-built RV” then a few minutes later I realized I had seen it here. It wasn’t quite at the speed limit, but it was cruising right along, maybe going to check out the mountains (St. Helens or Rainier) or maybe out to wine country in Central WA. Anyway, it was very cool to see a CC in the metal, doing what it was meant to do.
John, the owner of this house truck is an amazing person. His talents and abilities aware mind blowing. Great to see such a nice write up on this!