Big Rigs Of The 1950s

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 book follows on the heels of Big Rigs of the 1950s (0-7603-0978-7), which has proven popular with vintage truck fans. This book tackles a new era, the 1960s, providing views of the trucks that traveled America's highways during that decade. Photography again comes from the enormous archive of Ron Adams, author of Big Rigs of the 1950s, Mack Trucks, and 100 Years of Semi Trucks. Each prominent manufacturer receives its own chapter, and less prominent brands are also covered. Adams provides detailed information about the truck models pictured, as well as the trailers, trucking companies, and hauling configurations seen in the photographs.

After WWII Americans were anxious to re-stoke the economy after a long “make-do with what you have” dry spell. By the 1950s new highways were being built, new trucking companies were being formed and old ones revived. Americans were buying newly-styled cars and the latest technologies once again. Semi-trucks helped pave the way for this huge growth spurt in America with dependable trucks built by Mack, GMC, Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, International, White Freightliner, Peterbilt, Kenworth, Diamond T, Reo, Autocar, Brockway, Sterling and others, many using the increasingly popular diesel engines made by Buda, Hercules, Waukesha, and Cummins, which helped their heavy loads haul quicker. Ron Adams portrays this booming era with over 300 superb photos of trucks hauling cement, fuel, and a variety of goods to enthusiastic Americans.

With worn-out trucks after World War II and plans laid out by the Federal Government to build the Interstate Highway System, truck production really took off in the 1950s. Companies and drivers who used International semi-trucks worked hard to deliver the goods. This large-picture format book shows the fine details of these trucks at work during this productive time period.

Travel the 1970s, what may have been the last great era of the big rigs, with the man who knows semi trucks better than anyone. Ron Adams, author of Big Rigs of the 1950s, Big Rigs of the 1960s, Mack Trucks, and 100 Years of Semi Trucks, takes readers through the decade, introducing the trucks that debuted or saw significant revamping, describing the quirks and innovations, and offering detailed information about the models, trailers, trucking companies, and various hauling configurations. Spotlighting manufacturers from Mack and Freightliner to White, Peterbilt, and Kenworth, and featuring Adams' fabulous photography, this is the 1970s on the highway. Looks like we got us a convoy, good buddy!

This book follows on the heels of Big Rigs of the 1950s (0-7603-0978-7), which has proven popular with vintage truck fans. This book tackles a new era, the 1960s, providing views of the trucks that traveled America's highways during that decade. Photography again comes from the enormous archive of Ron Adams, author of Big Rigs of the 1950s, Mack Trucks, and 100 Years of Semi Trucks. Each prominent manufacturer receives its own chapter, and less prominent brands are also covered. Adams provides detailed information about the truck models pictured, as well as the trailers, trucking companies, and hauling configurations seen in the photographs.

The success of International's 1950s semi-trucks continued into the 1960s. Many series were carried over from the 1950s, but International now offered more models in each series to make them more versatile. The pictures you see in this book mainly cover the bigger straight trucks and over-the-road and off-highway trucks; the popular trucks like the V series, R series, D-400, DCO-400, CO-4000, and the line of “stars,” to mention a few. As you look at them, enjoy and admire them, as many are long gone.

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.