Popular Post Superdog Posted March 29, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted March 29, 2015 Along time ago,at least 40 years ago,I spotted this old B model sitting beside an old building not far off what was then highway 34 just outside West Burlington,IA.It was red with no hood or fenders. A 3000 White and a few other misc. smaller vehicles were parked there with it. It sat there for along time,slowly getting harder to see from trees growing up and other stuff being piled there. In later years I stopped to get a closer look,but never could track down an owner,all I could ever find out was the property was owned by an old German that never got rid of anything. 15 years ago,or so,someone started cleaning up the property.The old B disappeared. As fate would have it I finally located someone that actually knew about the truck,it belonged to his dad, he used to haul junk cars with it and was partners with the owner of the property. They had just rebuilt the engine,and for reasons unknown to him,they never finished putting it back together,so it sat outside all those years with a fresh engine and nothing covering it up. Luckily the B had been spared from being scrapped,it was just moved to a different,more remote location. 6 years ago or so,I was finally able to make a deal to get the old B,I just had to wait until they had time to drag it out of the woods.Last week they hired someone to start scrapping out their dad's stuff,and today was the day,it got to come home to me. Sure it don't look as good as it did when I first spotted it as a young boy,but it will always be one of my special finds. The truck is a B71T sleeper cab,'55 or '56,if I read the tag right it as a HRFB Cummins,5 speed transmission,2 speed rear and Page & Page tag axle.Interesting customizing of the air cleaner,I'm assuming to get more air?Found almost all of the front sheet metal,only missing the fender access panels and right half of hood,luckily the hard to find radiator shell was there. 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Dash Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 I'm about to call it a day and that was a great bedtime story.B71's are rare in any form, any idea of how many sleeper cabs were built? 1 Quote Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Maikshilo Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Great story and glad it made it to a good home! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1958 F.W.D. Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 ..............and everyone lived happily ever after!!!!!!! 1 Quote TWO STROKES ARE FOR GARDEN TOOLS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 great story that it shows how some times persistence pays off in the end Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmyb Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 I love a happy ending! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobblin-Goblin Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Like the story, like the pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superdog Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 Like the story, like the pics.If I haul this old B to you,will you get it looking as good as yours in a few months? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdogtrucker Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 How's the overall shape of the cab? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j hancock Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Excellent Find! Glad it worked out for you after all the years. Would have been a shame to have it become a toaster. Quote JimIt doesn't cost anything to pay attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theakerstwo Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 You say it has a two speed then is it a mack rear end?If so I have never seen one. Quote glenn akers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranchhopper Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Used to drive through there all the time ran 34 all the way to Ottumwa to get out to my property before they turned it all to four lane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddeere Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Great find. A few years ago I drove up and down 34 from West Burlington a number of times but never saw this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superdog Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 You say it has a two speed then is it a mack rear end?If so I have never seen one.I don't think it is Glenn,the hub doesn't look like any I've seen on single axle Macks before either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superdog Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 Great find. A few years ago I drove up and down 34 from West Burlington a number of times but never saw this.It sat straight east of the 34 truck stop probably 1 mile on the north side of the road,but like I said,it was moved 15 years ago or so when they cleaned up the property to a farm north of Burlington. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryS Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Great save, great story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superdog Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 Tail light musta came off an old White,1st time I've ever saw a White emblem like this one.Cab is rough but I've seen way worse,the right bodyman could save it. Looks like it had dual stacks on it at one time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hicrop10 Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Great find,will you be getting it up and running?Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenGiant2 Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 i love story time. Quote We the unwilling, Lead by the unqualified, are doing the impossible, for the ungrateful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
41chevy Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 I don't think it is Glenn,the hub doesn't look like any I've seen on single axle Macks before eitherhttp://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/12906-b42p-2-speed-differential/ Quote "OPERTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE WORK" Thomas Edison “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit, what a ride!’” P.T.CHESHIRE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umodelnut Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 Awesome Mike! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastractorsvc Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 Great find, going to a good home that is for sure Quote Robert"I reject your reality and substitute my own." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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