From an E-Mail
We took a 47 International Truck and stretch the wheelbase out and then we stretched the frame on the front and moved the spring forward to look more like the Cadillac we were trying to clone. It has a set of 20 x 8 wheels that fill the wheelwells. It's powered by a small block Chevy, a Gm overdrive and a 9 inch Ford. When I loaded it on the trailer in the pictures, it was easy to figure out that the brake system needs a dual cylinder master cylinder to improve its stopping ability.
The local Streetrod Club members really came thru and knocked the project out just in the nick of time. They finished it with 24 hours to spare. I'm sure that there will be some minor changes made, but its really complete. Last Saturday, the truck was displayed at our 100th. Year celebration and there was a lot of pictures taken with people posing in front of the truck.
You've got to be joking.
That is not living, that is life support. I would ditch the oversize clown lights and put a set of solid disc wheels on it. Even if its built as an advertising prop, at least make it look the part.
Remember to each is own. The Galliker Dairy set out to build a commemorative truck to celebrate their 100 year aniversery. The truck in the last photo was their intent.
My friend Dave has a really sweet 2002 Toyota RAV4.
True John, to each his own, however it is not a "Ford" TT. To us who know anyway. It is more of a John TT. Now to the normal lunkhead at a car show, it does not make any difference. It is no more a Ford TT than putting a 1924 roadster fiberglass body on a speedway frame with a chevy and titling it a 1924 T roadster. I appreciate the thought and nice work you put into it and I am far from being a Purist, but to believe in ones heart this is still a Ford TT, well...
Course I don't see anywhere, where you call it a Ford TT. To bad Galliker just didn't stick to its original type truck.
The original Gallinker's Ice Cream truck in the photo appears to be converted from a 1914 Cadillac touring.
Whoops, Galliker, no "n"...
Tyrone I didn't build the truck, I sold an unfinished project to Gallikers Dairy. They enlisted the help of a local hot rod club and converted the TT to a Gallikers Ice Cream Delivery Truck like the converted Cadillac picture posted above. They built what fit their needs. I'm happy my unfinished project was seen through to an end. Your millage may vary.
John - Just curious; Is the completed truck in the photos above the same one that is on your profile page (below)? And if so, is the completed truck what you had envisioned for your "unfinished project" as you note?
Dave you peeked....No I was building a TT on a car chassis. Be that as it may I sold the truck and the new owner took over. I am happy that the parts didn't end up in a recycle center sold for scrap. I did offer it up for sale here as well as on Craigslist. I had several lookers, all hot rodders. None of the purists showed any interest. I had offered a trade opportunity as well as cash. Now we have the OMG responses. I do know that they traded the T motor and chassis for parts and exchange for labor. A T guy in the Pa area was involved in this transformation. The parts probably went to him....
I must admit had I known they were not going to use my motor and chassis I would have sold just the tin work. I could have done something with the chassis......or not.....been boating!
John - Thanks for the additional info. Happy to hear that the unnecessary parts from your project were saved from the scrapper, as you noted.
I posted this earlier today.
Here is a TT that is advertised locally. It could be saved from a hot rodder if anyone is interested.
http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/4621773550.html
I consider the black era T's and TT's the iconic 20's street scene ornament. The fact that eleventy billion-skillion were made and they still have a strong following (translated: parts availability and knowledge on tap) makes owning one a relatively easy old car to own and drive an inviting prospect.
I well remember the cut down big cars used for wreckers and other light duty trucks back in the day. The Caddy/ice cream truck is a good example. I had hoped to find such a "truck" to build as my workhorse, but most have been rebodied back to original and costs have gone sky high in the last 30 years. Have a breakdown in your 1914 Caddy while out on the road and you are looking at a lot more than just a big tow bill.
A TT, on the other hand, can be patched along the way and parts are often as easy as a phone call away. So, I opted for the iconic TT as my truck of choice, even if that big Packard or Locomobile would have been fun.
So, I understand the use of a T as a base for this project, as it provides many easy access parts. where I get lost is on the fat wheels and goofy radiator/headlight configuration. Several forum participants have built very exotic looking speedsters that look "right" because they gave them that special attention to detail. They LOOK like a 1920 vintage vehicle. This one does not. It looks like a 1980's hotrod. I guess if that is OK with the owner, all the more power to him. I would have stuck it out for a little more period accuracy to capture "the look".
Your welcome Dave......
I like it, looks good to me. Would look better in my driveway :-)