Semi Trucks of the 1960s
Semi Trucks of the 1960s
ITEM E479
By Ron Adams
This book follows on the heels of Semi-Trucks of the 1950s. As the ’50s saw new and improved models after the starved war years, the Sixties was the decade for expansion, not only for truck manufacturers with a huge selection of models, but also for the trucking companies themselves with more places to haul. Construction of the Interstate highway system helped pave the way for faster and smoother service, helping reshape the American landscape faster than ever seen before. The mergers and buyouts of other trucking companies, with many western hauling companies buying eastern haulers, changed the system of operation from coast-to-coast. Gear up for this outstanding selection of 1960s semi-truck photos by Ron Adams. Captions include detailed information about the trucks, trailers, and hauling configurations of a wide range of makers including Mack, Brockway, Autocar, Diamond T, Diamond Reo, Ford, White-Freightliner, GMC, International, Kenworth, and Peterbilt.
Softbound, 308 illustrations, 8.5”x11”, 160 pages
Ah, the 1960s! Some call the period the Age of Aquarius and reflect fondly on its hippies and the counterculture. Offering a look back at the swinging decade, Ron Adams brings just the kind of nostalgia Vintage Truck readers will enjoy—308 photographs of semi trucks, 22 in color. Adams successfully shares an amazing array of images from his extensive collection and from other prominent collectors, truck and trailer manufacturers, and the companies that operated them. While not lengthy, the captions provide interesting and informative details. Adams’ prime objective is to showcase heavy-duty trucks often poised to work. Featured companies that are still with us include Autocar, Mack, Peterbilt, Kenworth, Ford, International, White Freightliner (now just Freightliner), GMC, Dodge, and Chevrolet. Departed marques include Diamond T, Brockway, Hayes, and White. Surprisingly absent are Reo and its successor Diamond Reo, which was introduced in 1967. Adams also highlights 35 trailer manufacturers including the more familiar Fruehauf, Great Dane, Strick, Timpte, Brown, and Trailmobile and the lesser-known Gindy, LaCross, and Cosmodyne. The book’s final section—highlighting the various companies that operated the semis—includes both the well-known such as Ralston Purina, Mayflower, and Chevron, and the smaller, local firms that are equally vital to this story.
Book Review by Robert Gabrick
