Tag Archives: trucks

American Austin Panel Truck

Posted on by
Reply

1935 American Austin Panel Truck

Offered by Bonhams | Greenwich, Connecticut | June 2, 2013

1935 American Austin Panel Truck

Photo – Bonhams

The Great Depression put a lot of American automobile manufacturers out of business – but they weren’t all glamorous marques like Auburn and Pierce-Arrow. American Austin went into the red big time in 1935 and the company had to be re-organized, this time as American Bantam (production would cease in 1941). This car was produced shortly before the company became American Bantam.

Much like the pickup featured above, this Panel Truck (with “truck” being used very loosely) is a very rare variant of the American Austin. It uses the same 747cc straight-four. The lot description lists it as “rated” at 15 horsepower. The life of this car is known since 1959 and it had a full restoration in the 1970s. It’s one of only a handful of panel van American Austins that survive. It should sell for between $20,000-$25,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $9,350.

Minerva Off-Roader

Posted on by
1

1957 Minerva C22

Offered by Bonhams | Paris, France | February 7, 2013

1957 Minerva C22

Minerva built some of the grandest European automobiles of the 1930s. But then war broke out and ruined their business model – as happened to just about every other manufacturer (some adapted well and prospered during the war by building military vehicles).

So when the war ended, Minerva was borderline broke and couldn’t develop anything on their own. So they looked to the U.K. and some of their manufacturers to see if there was anything they could license. They found a few, among them, the Land Rover. The Series I Land Rover was introduced in 1948 and Minerva picked up the license shortly thereafter. The trucks arrived in Belgium as complete knock-down kits, which they then assembled, badged as “Minerva”s and sold to the Belgian army. The difference being that Land Rover’s were aluminium-bodied and the Minervas used steel.

By 1956, the licensing agreement ended and Minerva developed its “own” version of the Land Rover. There were two versions: a long wheelbase and a short wheelbase. The C22 was the LWB version and both were intended for civilians. The engine is a 2.3-liter straight-four. Very few of either model were made before Minerva shuttered its factory. In fact, it is estimated that only three C22s were built and only a few dozen C20s. So it’s very rare. It should sell for between $33,000-$46,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Bonhams in Paris.

Update: Sold $55,500.

Goggomobil Pickup

Posted on by
Reply

1959 Goggomobil TL-400 Transporter Pickup

Offered by RM Auctions | Madison, Georgia | February 15-16, 2013

1959 Goggomobil TL-400 Transporter Pickup

Photo – RM Auctions

Goggomobil was the rare microcar manufacturer that actually hit big time production, with total output in the hundreds of thousands. This had a lot to do with the fact that Goggomobil was owned by Glas, an established automotive company. But not every model was lucky to sell multitudes. The TL Transporter model, which was produced at the request of the German postal service, was made from 1958 through 1965. Only 3,667 were built – including both van and pickup bodystyles. There were various engines available but this one uses a 398cc making about 18 horsepower. It’s painted in Coca-Cola colors, ensuring a wide market appeal for potential buyers. Coca-Cola memorabilia sells – and cute sells too. Both help explain the pre-sale estimate of $100,000-$125,000. For more information, click here.

Update: Sold $138,000.

Five Cool WWII Trucks

Posted on by
1

Vehicles from The National Military History Center

All offered by Auctions America | Auburn, Indiana | December 8, 2012

                                                                                                                                                 

1942 Mercedes-Benz L3000S

Okay, I’ll be honest. I want this truck – or, rather “Box-Van Truck” – for one reason and one reason only (besides it being a valuable piece of history) and that is: to reenact my very own Raiders of the Lost Ark chase sequence. This truck has a 75 horsepower 4.8-liter four-cylinder diesel and a 6.75-ton load capacity. The box-van body is made of wood and pressed cardboard – for cost reasons, so it’s a miracle it has survived this long. About 7,400 of these were built. Estimate: $30,000-$40,000. More info can be had here.

Update: Sold $32,000.


_________________________________________________________________________

1940 Breda 40 4×4 Artillery Tractor

This relatively uninteresting-looking vehicle is an artillery tractor. It is pure function. Built in Italy, this little brute could pull 7.75-tons of artillery over all kinds of terrain, using huge tires and high ground clearance in place of tracks. It uses a 110 horsepower 9.4-liter six-cylinder diesel but it will only do a blistering 11 mph on the road. Talk about low gearing! It can be yours for $25,000-$35,000. More info here.

Update: Sold $37,000.


_________________________________________________________________________

1942 GMC DUKW-353

Ah, the good ol’ Duck. Wanna start a tour company near a body of water? Then this is the vehicle for you. Easily one of the most popular and recognizable vehicles from WWII, these things are still in use all over the country – a testament to how good of an amphibious vehicle they really were. About 21,000 were made from 1942 through 1945 and they were shipped all over the world. Designed to hold 25 troops or 2.5-tons of cargo. It will do 45 mph on the road or 6.3 mph (yes that’s a decimal) on the water – conditions permitting – thanks to its 94 horsepower 4.4-liter straight-six. It’s super, super cool. Estimate: $50,000-$75,000. More info here.

Update: Sold $97,000.

Update II: Sold, Auctions America Auburn Spring 2017, $49,500.

_________________________________________________________________________

1940 Humber Hexonaut GS 6×6 Amphibious Prototype

Here’s another amphibious vehicle – although it’s much smaller than the Duck above. And it’s much rarer, being the only one in existence as the vehicle never entered production as it was “not fit for duty.” It could hold eight men or 1-ton of supplies and has two engines (of 14 horsepower each) and transmissions – one for each side/set of three wheels. This is also how it turned (operating them at different speeds), as you can see how close the wheels are to the body. Unpopular in 1940, this style would become more popular decades down the road on some ATVs. The estimate is $30,000-$50,000. More info here.

Update: Sold $47,500.

 

_________________________________________________________________________

1939 Latil M2TL6 4×4 Tractor

Latil was a French manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks and tractors. Yes, this is another artillery tractor and you might be wondering why – but hey, when’s the next time I’ll get to feature a vehicle built by Latil? This one is faster on road than the Breda above – it will do 45 mph and has a 68 horsepower 4.1-liter straight-four. Estimate: $20,000-$30,000. More info here. And for the rest of the Auctions America lineup for this fantastically interesting sale, click here.

Update: Sold $10,000.

Mercedes-Benz WWII Truck

Posted on by
Reply

1942 Mercedes-Benz L3000S

All offered by Auctions America | Auburn, Indiana | December 8, 2012

Photo – Auctions America

Okay, I’ll be honest. I want this truck – or, rather “Box-Van Truck” – for one reason and one reason only (besides it being a valuable piece of history) and that is: to reenact my very own Raiders of the Lost Ark chase sequence. This truck has a 75 horsepower 4.8-liter four-cylinder diesel and a 6.75-ton load capacity. The box-van body is made of wood and pressed cardboard – for cost reasons, so it’s a miracle it has survived this long. About 7,400 of these were built. Estimate: $30,000-$40,000. More info can be had here.

Update: Sold $32,000.

Breda Artillery Tractor

Posted on by
Reply

1940 Breda 40 4×4 Artillery Tractor

Offered by Auctions America | Auburn, Indiana | December 8, 2012

Photo – Auctions America

This relatively uninteresting-looking vehicle is an artillery tractor. It is pure function. Built in Italy, this little brute could pull 7.75-tons of artillery over all kinds of terrain, using huge tires and high ground clearance in place of tracks. It uses a 110 horsepower 9.4-liter six-cylinder diesel but it will only do a blistering 11 mph on the road. Talk about low gearing! It can be yours for $25,000-$35,000. More info here.

Update: Sold $37,000.

Duck.

Posted on by
1

1942 GMC DUKW-353

Offered by Auctions America | Auburn, Indiana | December 8, 2012

Ah, the good ol’ Duck. Wanna start a tour company near a body of water? Then this is the vehicle for you. Easily one of the most popular and recognizable vehicles from WWII, these things are still in use all over the country – a testament to how good of an amphibious vehicle they really were. About 21,000 were made from 1942 through 1945 and they were shipped all over the world. Designed to hold 25 troops or 2.5-tons of cargo. It will do 45 mph on the road or 6.3 mph (yes that’s a decimal) on the water – conditions permitting – thanks to its 94 horsepower 4.4-liter straight-six. It’s super, super cool. Estimate: $50,000-$75,000. More info here.

Update: Sold $97,000.

Update II: Sold, Auctions America Auburn Spring 2017, $49,500.

WWII Latil

Posted on by
Reply

1939 Latil M2TL6 4×4 Tractor

All offered by Auctions America | Auburn, Indiana | December 8, 2012

Photo – Auctions America

Latil was a French manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks and tractors. Yes, this is another artillery tractor and you might be wondering why – but hey, when’s the next time I’ll get to feature a vehicle built by Latil? This one is faster on road than the Breda above – it will do 45 mph and has a 68 horsepower 4.1-liter straight-four. Estimate: $20,000-$30,000. More info here. And for the rest of the Auctions America lineup for this fantastically interesting sale, click here.

Update: Sold $10,000.

White M16 Half-Track

Posted on by
Reply

1944 White M16

Offered by Auctions America | Auburn, Indiana | December 8, 2012

Here’s another good-lookin’ White half-track, this one an M16. The M16 was essentially an M3 (like the Autocar above) but it has a powered, armored turret with up to four .50 caliber machine guns. As with all of the items offered in this sale, the guns have been demilitarized – meaning, they no longer work as guns. But this is what makes something like this legal to own… and drive down the street. Engine-wise, this is powered by a 148 horsepower 6.3-liter straight-six. More here.

Update: Sold $95,000.

Update II: Sold, Auctions America Auburn Spring 2017, $82,500.

Unic Half-Track

Posted on by
Reply

1939 Unic Kegresse P107/U304(f)

All offered by Auctions America | Auburn, Indiana | December 8, 2012

Photo – Auctions America

Unic, the French automobile manufacturer that turned to trucks in 1938 – which was highly convenient when war broke out the following year. Military vehicles are usually an extension of the heavy-truck business. Unic was bought by Fiat in 1966 and was merged into Iveco in 1975.

This Kegresse tracked tractor uses a 60 horsepower 3.4-liter straight-four. Kegresse means that the tracks are made out of rubber or canvas and not metal like most tanks and other half-tracks. I guess it’s gentler on the roads… or enemy soldiers. Strangely, all of these vehicles were built before the Germans took over France – but Germany used them anyway. More here.

Update: Sold $20,000.