Text by Patrick Bell.
I always enjoyed when a transport truck arrived at the dealership’s where I was employed. There is something about a load of new vehicles, even if they aren’t all that attractive. Today we are heading back to the 1966 model year, and looking them over along with their mode of transit. So ride with us and pick out one or two for yourself.
In our opening image, Robertson Truck-A-Ways out of California was the carrier of these Dodges and Chryslers on a wet day. The truck was an Autocar A64B, and on the upper deck were two 4-door sedans; a Polara and a Newport, #3 is a Chrysler, but unsure of series, with a New Yorker on the end. The lower deck had two Coronet 440s; a 2-door hardtop and a wagon, with another New Yorker on the end. A red ’63 Chevrolet C-series truck was parked on the other side.
Above is a load of Ford Custom 4-door sedans heading for taxi duty. The lack of an engine emblem on the fenders indicated either the 240 cubic inch Big Six or the 289 Challenger V8. Most likely they were Big Six equipped. A mid-sixties Ford Diesel had the towing honors, possibly a F-950. The company was Nu-Car Carriers, Inc.
A photo search revealed the location was St. Louis, where there was one long train of motor vehicles in a busy railroad yard. The load began with three Plymouth Fury 4-door sedans, followed by Dodge D-series pickups, with some A100 vans mixed in. There were several yellow trucks that may have been part of a fleet order.
The above image appears to have been in a Canada Pacific Railway yard, and includes at least two Mercury trucks. The tractor was a mid-’60s Mercury Super Duty, likely a 850-Series. The two-tone Custom Cab long bed on the lower deck was a Mercury 100 (the fender or hood emblems are different). The Econoline on the top left could have been either one, while the other three were Fords: the F-100 and F-series Cab and Chassis on top, plus a Custom 4-door sedan on the lower left. This rig was part of the Prairie Automobile Transport, Ltd. (PATL) fleet.
Above, we have a nice sample of full-size Chrysler Corporation offerings. There were two dark turquoise Chrysler Newports, a 4-door sedan and a 4-door hardtop, plus a black 300 4-door hardtop on the top right. There were also two Plymouths; a silver Fury I or II 4-door sedan on the top, with a white Fury III 4-door hardtop below it.
On the lower deck were two Dodge Polara 4-door sedans. The tractor was a diesel powered Dodge CN800, and it was a muddy day when these were loaded. Paul led a previous discussion here.
A load of eight were on the Ford truck above, with three on the truck and five on the trailer. There were five Mercurys, two Colony Park wagons and three Park Lanes; a 4-door sedan, plus 2- and 4-door hardtops; and three Fords, two Galaxie 500 hardtops with big block power, a 2-door and a 4-door. Plus, a lone Falcon 2-door sedan on top.
Insured Transporters was a company based in California that owned this GMC F Model “Crackerbox” with an aluminum cab and a full load of Chevrolet trucks. There were six C10 or C20 Fleetsides with two C30 cab-and-chassis hanging off the rear.
Above, four loads of full-size Chevrolets were ready to go to their destinations. The first car on top from the left was a Caprice Custom Coupe, along with a Bel Air wagon and two Biscaynes. The trucks were all Chevrolets as well; the left one (743) looks like a ’65 model, 724 could be a ’64-’66, but the lower number would indicate a ’64-’65; 713 is a ’62 or ’63; and 748 likely a ’65-’66. Per a photo search, this fleet belonged to the Janesville Auto Transport Company, or JATCO. They were in Janesville, Wisconsin, and served the Janesville GM plant.
Traveling on the Trailer Train with the New York Central System. These were mainly AMC/Rambler; on the top deck from the left were three Classics and one American 220 2-door sedan. The center deck was all wagons: an Ambassador, two Classics, another Ambassador. On the lower deck were an American wagon, a Classic wagon, and two Americans. On the right edge were some Fords: top and center were Fairlane 500s, and the bottom one is unclear.
I could not find any information on the above image, so we will have to go with what we can see. These were all Dodges, with a well-used ’61 tractor owned by the Square Deal Carriage Company hauling the “Little Red Wagon” and a new looking Coronet Deluxe 4-door sedan. The LRW was a A100 Compact Pickup with a 426 Hemi V8 mounted in the bed. It was a crowd-pleaser at the drag strip for its wheel-stands. The Coronet looks like it had some in process body and paint work; perhaps it was damaged in transit.
Above, a nice load of new full-size Chevrolets, with Impalas on top: a 327 V8 equipped Sport Sedan, Sport Coupe, and 4-door sedan. In the center were an Impala convertible and a Bel Air 4-door sedan, and the lower deck had a Biscayne 4-door sedan. The tractor was a ’62 Chevrolet.
Above, we are back at a Canada Pacific yard, and another Mercury tractor from PATL. It had a long-range fuel tank behind the cab. The load was all Ford full-sizers: on the upper deck, a Galaxie 500 2-door hardtop, LTD 4-door hardtop, and Galaxie 500/XL hardtop with big block power, while the lower deck had two 4-door sedans, a Custom and a Galaxie 500.
Per a search, the above photo shows the first load of Mustang Shelby GT-350s to leave the Shelby American facility in Los Angeles. The tractor was a Ford C-series tilt cab with a sleeper and an air conditioner on top. They were heading for dealers across the country, but this first load likely stayed in the Los Angeles area.
Finally, another load of Ramblers, this time on the Pennsylvania Railroad. There were four basic American 220 2-door sedans (white, yellow, and two black), plus one white-over-blue 4-door sedan. The rest were Classics, including three 550s; two 4-door sedans (yellow and blue), and one green 2-door sedan. The remaining brown one was a Rebel 2-door hardtop.
Thanks for riding with us and have a great day!
Nice pix, I’ not sure which vehicle to pick when I get into Sherman’s ‘way back machine’ .
-Nate
Oh, I can pick easily, the Shelby GT350.
Definitely the one that would be worth the most today, and I’d say probably the funnest one to drive by a long shot.
Great old photos here! I was picking up my vehicle from repairs back in late August of 2020 when this load of brand new Corvettes arrived. This was the first new model delivered to this dealership, so the employees were really excited.
The puzzles that car transport trucks are gives appearances that take some time to appreciate. One car on top of another, all nestled in tightly. The visual comparison is so different from the view of the train cars all nice and tidy in rows. It’s a real art form how those truck trailers can manipulate and position all those cars and trucks and get them to the dealer in one piece unscathed.
The Plymouths on the train ride have their windshield wipers in the halfway position in a few cases. Their drivers must have shut off the ignition with the wipers in motion.
I’ll take the 66 Chrysler in the first photo with its wipers up.
PS – love the Ford C-Series.
Learn something new every day. Never saw a heavy truck like an Autocar hauling cars, never ever saw a cab over like that Crackerbox hauling cars! Carriers were always trying to keep the height down. The C model hauling Shelbys has a diesel emblem on the door, I think it’s too early for the 1160 Cat engines, probably a C model Cummins.
Jim, I have never seen a crackerbox either. Looks like they taped off the GMC letters and the headlights and sprayed everything else Red. Wonder what the trap door is for in front of the steering wheel. Would look real nice with the grill painted white.
Hey JoAnn, the “trap door” is probably an access panel to work under the dash, like a G model Mack.
Hey Jim, on that C model are you talking about the emblem right below the window? I think that one says “Custom Cab”.
Thanks for your input.
Hey Patrick, you’re probably right, I’ve always said I don’t pick up the detail on this computer like other folks do. Sure glad you’ve found a new home.
Ever since I became aware that they existed, I’ve had a completely irrational desire to own a Mercury Econoline. It makes no sense; they are exactly the same as the Ford aside from badges. The van is nice, but I’d really want a Mercury Econoline pickup.
Interesting the Trailer Train cars were all open in that era. Now they’re covered and secured on both sides with panels. The young punks used to throw rocks at the new autos as the train went by. Lots of damage by those vandals back then.
The Canadian pics were new information. I didn’t know the Mercury badge was attached to heavy trucks. Thought it was just pickups. Heavy trucks don’t quite make sense as a marketing move, but Ford must have known what they were doing.
Wonder if/how, many cars travel by train now a days.
A large percentage of new cars are still shipped by rail. The railcars are basically the same but are now enclosed to protect the autos.
Patrick, Thanks for the wonderful truck pictures. I can’t believe they got 8 trucks on that GMC. You said we could pick one or two, I’ll take the Autocar and the red Chevy behind it, thanks.
Thank you, JoAnn, but Rich gets the credit for the photo selection, I provide the comment. He keeps me busy and challenged with all the neat stuff he digs up.
That Ford haulin’ taxis appears to have a leading tag axle.
Never knew they did that, way back then!
We sometimes had ‘Chinese sixes’; a twin-steer 6×2 format, albeit with the two steering axles closer-set and the fuel tanks behind.
(‘Chinese’ because they looked back-to-front!).