Tag Archives: classic trucks

Albion Delivery Van

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1924 Albion Type 24 30CWT Delivery Van

Offered by Bonhams | Oxford, U.K. | December 7, 2014

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Albion is a rare Scottish-built automobile that was founded in 1899 by Thomas Blackwood Murray and Norman Osborne Fulton. In 1951 the company was acquired by Leyland but passenger car production had ceased in 1915. Commercial vehicles lasted until 1980.

The Albion Type 24 was built between 1924 and 1931 and was a mainstay of grocery delivery companies throughout the 1920s. The engine is a 3.9-liter straight-four. Albion vehicles were function-first: the cab is a bench seat with a steering wheel and brake and hardly any instruments. The rear compartment looks wonderful with its beautifully restored wood.

There’s a pretty good commercial vehicle collector community in the U.K. and this truck is well known in that arena. It’s a rare example of this kind of Albion and it can be yours for between $36,000-$44,000. Click here for more info and here for the rest of Bonhams’ lineup.

Update: Sold $55,919.

Update: Sold, H&H November 2021, $34,488

Another Batch of Military Vehicles

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The Littlefield Collection

Offered by Auctions America | Portola Valley, California | July 11-12, 2014

 1942 Cadillac M5 Stuart

Photo - Auctions America

Photo – Auctions America

Labeling this as a Cadillac might be a little misleading, but Cadillac did build it – so why shouldn’t they get the credit? The M5 was a version of the M3 Stuart – one of the most popular light tanks of the Second World War. General Motors was behind it and the M5 was basically an M3 with upgraded armor.

In all, 2,074 M5s were built – only 1,470 were built by Cadillac in Michigan. This tank has been given a new engine and fresh restoration. It runs and drives wonderfully and is usable. The engines are twin 8-cylinders from Cadillac making a combined output of 220 horsepower. It can do 36 mph and be yours for $100,00-$150,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $310,500.

ca.1975 Panhard M3

Photo - Auctions America

Photo – Auctions America

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1915 Fiat Box Van

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1915 Fiat 18P Box Van

Offered by Bonhams | Staplehurst, U.K. | June 14, 2014

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

One of the coolest parts of owning a classic commercial vehicle is that it is probably pretty easy to get it cast in a movie set sometime in the past. This thing looks like it drove straight out of the flashback scenes in The Godfather Part II. It’s amazing how beautiful old trucks can be. There are new cars out now that don’t have this much style. It’s all in the details.

The Fiat 18P was built between 1915 and 1920. They are powered by a 4.4-liter straight-four. Only 6,354 were built – many of which were for the Italian Army. This one was acquired by Banfield as a chassis and restored as a box van. It should sell for between $37,000-$51,000. Click here for more.

Update: Sold $52,667.

Hallford WWI Truck

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1914 Hallford WD

Offered by Bonhams | Staplehurst, U.K. | June 14, 2014

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Hallford was the trade name of J & E Halls – who had acquired the rights to build Saurer commercial vehicles under license in the U.K. The first trucks came out in 1907 and by 1911, the model line has expanded significantly. When war broke out, Hallford was one company building trucks for the British Army.

This WD model is powered by a 5.3-liter four-cylinder engine. Hallford as a company wouldn’t make it to the Second World War, but this vehicle remains as a testament to their quality as it is in original, unrestored condition. That’s amazing, really, because it is 100 years old and survived a hellish war. It should bring between $30,000-$34,000. Click here for more.

Update: Sold $58,518.

More Awesome Classic Commercial Vehicles

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The Michael Banfield Collection

Offered by Bonhams | Staplehurst, U.K. | June 14, 2014

 1922 AEC S-Type Open Top Double Deck Bus

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

AEC is known as the double-decker bus company. Their Routemaster double-decker is one of the most famous of the type. But their double-deckers go back to before WWI. The S-Type was built between 1920 and 1927, with 849 (double-deckers) built for the London General Omnibus Company – for which this example was built.

The engine is a 35 horsepower 5.1-liter straight-four and it is said that this was as good as public transport got in London back in the day. It can transport up to 54 people – 26 inside and 28 up top in the weather.

This is thought to be one of only two S-Type double-deckers in existence. And it had a really cool story, which you can read more of here. The price? $130,000-$150,000.

Update: Sold $477,481.

1914 Hallford WD

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

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Maxwell Van

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1917 Maxwell Commercial Delivery Car

Offered by Bonhams | Staplehurst, U.K. | June 14, 2014

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Maxwell was founded by Jonathan Maxwell and Benjamin Briscoe. They mainly built cars during their existence between 1904 and 1925. They weren’t just some small company – at its height, Maxwell was selling over 10,000 cars a year. Which was a lot for the 1910s. Maxwell lives on today under its new name: “Chrysler.”

Although less well-known, Maxwell did build commercial vehicles their entire existence. The engine is a 3.0-liter straight-four. It’s a nice delivery vehicle that can be yours for between $34,000-$42,000. Click here for more info. And here for the rest of this awesome auction lineup.

Update: Sold $37,062.

1929 Chevrolet Bus

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1929 Chevrolet LQ International 14-Seater Coach by Bush & Twiddy

Offered by Bonhams | Staplehurst, U.K. | June 14, 2014

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

This Chevrolet is a British Chevrolet and a precursor to the Bedford marque (which would be GM’s British commercial vehicle marque the year after this was built). What’s the coolest thing about this 14-passenger bus? Yes, that’s a convertible roof you see. How sweet.

The engine is a 2.9-liter straight-six. Michael Banfield bought this for £25 in the early 1960s and restored it in 1962-63. It’s been used a fair amount since. It should bring between $25,000-$34,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $68,272.

Leyland Titan

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1932 Leyland Titan TD2 Double Deck Bus

Offered by Bonhams | Staplehurst, U.K. | June 14, 2014

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Here’s a newer, more traditional-looking double deck bus, this one from Leyland. The Titan model was new for 1927 and would be produced until 1969 in various styles (although they took a break for the War). This was one of the last two gasoline-powered buses to operate in the U.K., exiting service in 1960. It actually operated on the Channel Island of Jersey.

The TD2 version was new for ’32 and would last through mid-1933. The engine was a 7.6-liter straight-six – although this one has an 8.8-liter engine from a Leyland truck. About 1,000 were built. it was restored over 50 years ago but still looks great. It should sell for between $47,000-$67,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $58,518.

1917 Garner Van

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1917 Garner Model 15 Van

Offered by Bonhams | Staplehurst, U.K. | June 14, 2014

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Henry Garner was a British car dealer who, upon the outbreak of WWI, looked to American chassis manufacturer (and former steam car manufacturer) Gramm of Chillicothe, Ohio. Garner imported their chassis and sold them under his own name.

Engines ranged in power and design, but it wasn’t until 1925 that Garner actually designed his own vehicle. The interior and mechanicals seem largely original, although the paint is newer and nice. The pre-sale estimate is $42,000-$47,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $39,012.

Pierce-Arrow Truck

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1917 Pierce-Arrow R-8 Open Back

Offered by Bonhams | Staplehurst, U.K. | June 14, 2014

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Here is a relatively simple truck from one of the most prestigious manufacturers America has ever produced. Pierce-Arrow introduced trucks into their model range in 1911, more or less trying to keep pace with Peerless.

The R-Series of trucks was Pierce-Arrow’s contribution to the war effort for both America and some European countries: the company built over 14,000 trucks for the British and French governments alone. The engine is a 7.4-liter straight-four making 38 horsepower. It should sell for between $34,000-$42,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $46,815.