Autocar Trucks Of The 1950s

Autocar’s roots go way back into the early 1900s and became known for tough and rugged trucks. When WWII came, very few trucks for civilian use were produced and by the end many trucks were worn out from constant use. After the war, civilian production began again in full force because of the lack of new trucks. In 1950, when Autocar introduced the new driver cab, the louver design was eliminated. The old style flat windshield sleeper cabs were used up until 1953 (the same year that Autocar was purchased by the White Motor Co.) when the new sleeper cab was introduced. Autocar became the top-of-the-line marque for White and marketing focused primarily on specialized applications, such as construction, logging, mining and oil industries. See the rest of the “World’s Finest” helping do their part to revive America in the 1950s.

Autocar - The World's Finest! In 1950 the Autocar Driver Cab was introduced, which along with the Autocar Sleeper Cab and the Autocar Aluminum Driver Cab, was used on all conventional models produced until Volvo replaced it after purchasing Autocar. In the 1950s Autocar began what it called Custom Engineering, designing each vehicle to the individual customer's specific requirements. At this time Autocar focused on models for construction, logging, mining, quarrying and oil production, as well as lightweight over-the-road designs. Large format photos with informative captions illustrate all of the major models produced during this period. A brief history of the Autocar company is included.

The continued improvement of roadways and the dawn of the Interstate highway system in the 1950s was a boon to American industry in general and the trucking industry in particular. This marque-by-marque photo collection provides a comprehensive and nostalgic look back at the rapid development of the tractor-trailer rigs that resulted. Manufacturers like GMC, Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, White, Freightliner, Peterbilt, Kenworth, Diamond T, International, Mack, Autocar, Brockway and Sterling are shown hauling everything from Cadillacs to cabbage across town, up the coast and over mountain passes. Thorough captions describe the development and history of each model as depicted in archival black-and-white and period color photography.

This highly visual study examines the important role of trucking in the growth of North America in the 1950s. With 120 images and evocative writing, it encapsulates the histories of the major, minor, obscure, but nonetheless historically significant truck manufacturers. Detailed captions and supportive text complement contemporary brochures, period literature, factory photos and over fifty new, unpublished color photos of restored examples to relate the importance of these historic vehicles.

As we start the 1960s, the current Autocar truck models were well on their way in popularity. White had purchased Autocar in 1953 yet Autocar trucks continued thru to the 1970s as part of the "Big Four" White brands. The Interstate Highway System was being expanded through the country in the '60s, but many roads were still rugged. The cure for many truckers was to buy an Autocar, highly regarded as a rough, tough and sturdy truck. Ron Adams picks out the best in his vast collection of Autocar truck photos, all the hardest working trucks hauling goods across America in the 1960s, one of the most interesting decades in trucking. Not only does Adams provide detailed information about the trucks, he doesn’t forget the trailers, trucking companies, and hauling configurations seen in the photographs.

Early advertisements declared "The design of the Autocar chassis lends itself to almost every style of body." Large, detailed archival photographs with informative captions tell the story from the first Autocar Driver Cab was introduced.

Examining the evolution of the popular ½-ton American pickup truck, from a basic utility vehicle, to stylish icon and North America’s best selling vehicle, this volume focuses on specifications, rarer makes and models, industry facts and figures, and optional equipment, via detailed text and previously unpublished images.