The History of Fords 1964 TURBINE Truck Big Red - LOST FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS UNTIL NOW!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ก.ค. 2024
- Recently you May of seen Pete Holderith of The Drive has spent over a year trying to track down the whereabouts of one of Fords Greatest and certainly biggest prototypes the 1964 Big Red gas turbine truck. In this video we explore the history of Big Red to find out just where in the world it went in the 50 years its been lost.
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#bigred #ford #1964 #turbinetruck #gasturbine #lostvehicles #automotive #history - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
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Good to know the guy who owns it actually tried to restore it instead of scraping it or putting it in a junk yard
most people would of sat it in the garden and said " im getting to it" for the next 50 years!
He scraped the paint off?
@@johnnunn8688 he misspelt “Scrapped”
That's true. It is rumoured the GM one may have gotten scrapped. : (
@@cellpat2686 we have a video of that coming in the next few weeks 😎
I remember seeing Big Red as a kid at the 64 World's Fair. Big Red's air cab system did find its way into production trucks, and I drove a Ford 9000 cab over in the 70's and it was the most comfortable truck I ever drove.
It's good to know that the truck went to good hands.
Glad is still around, Hopefully it does end up in the museum or somewhere the public can enjoy it down the road.
@@RedStateFilms Yeah it really was an icon of it's times where the future was so hopeful.
The idiot that has it never let's anyone see it he's a sociopath
@@RedStateFilms seems nice for a theme park train 🚆
I read about this truck in a Popular Mechanics issue back around 1963, one of the interesting facts about the 705 is that half the engine could be shut down during extended idle, while the other half produced 120V for cab electrics and A/C for both the cab and trailers. The engine halfs could be alternated to even out idle engine hours. Even in 1964 2 cabs were used to haul both trailers to various locations, due to state road restrictions. Sadly, the 100 mph super highways never will be built.
Nor gas turbines for road use either, due to very high initial and maintenance costs.
But it's fascinating 60 yr old technology, designed and built when America really was on top. It was a great time to be young!
Regulations were a mistake
Wonder why maybe a few bullets in Dallas from some small hats
The truck was designed for the ideal interstate highway, which although we planned to build, never did. The interstate design specifications called for running safely at a constant 90 mph, carrying heavy loads, minimum 13 foot clearance, with additional clearance available if necessary. As such, most set near 13 foot clearance had straight off and on ramps so that a taller load could continue by taking an off ramp and returning on the other side. All of this was part of the National Interstate and DEFENSE Highway System, with emphasis on Defense. However, many states didn't fully comply, often taking existing four-lane US highways and converting to interstate by center guard rails and removing crossovers to create controlled access. Often curves and grades required much slower running. In some locations, the straight off, straight on ramps weren't used, so that loads taller than the overpasses could not get through. And states never got too keen on high speeds, keeping speed limits to 70 or less in most states until the National 55 mph speed limit. As such, a 100 foot long truck weighing 170,000 pounds was never going to make it. Great video!
thanks for the comment Tom, interesting stuff for a Brit to take on. cheers for sharing.
@@RedStateFilms - One of the things I found interesting in England was the much higher clearance on the overpasses on the motorways. It has been a long time ago, but it seems to me they were at 20 feet. Correct me if I am wrong about that. I imagine it was because there were so many RAF bases all over that may need to move an aircraft if one was forced down on a highway.
@@tommissouri4871 Possibly after WW2 they anticipated taller vehicles, when they re built overpasses.
Living in Charlotte in 1978 I went to the Holman & Moody garage sale. After picking up 4 H&M NASCAR steel wheels for $5 each I did a walk around of Big Red. I was amazed at the size. I'd seen photos in magazines but did not show how big it was. The turbine was gone as it was dead. I asked how much??? $5,000........a DEAL!!! But it took all I had to pay for my wheels......oh well....glad someone saved it.
It would be a true jewel in the crown of the Henry Ford museum.
My thoughts exactly, somewhere it can be kept well maintained and safe but also for everyone to see and enjoy. ive never had chance to go the Henry Ford museum but would love to!
The trouble with that idea is with the management of that museum. Today the museum is more of a theme park operation. Management has, over the years, sold off many artifacts that Henry Ford himself put in the collection. Every time directors change, so does the theme. So, putting something as important as Big Red there would put it at risk of disappearing again or even worse, sold off to who knows? End up under some scrappers torch or a rat rod project! The big museum at St. Louis had several traction engines that were donated for the preservation the museum promised. They got left outside to disintegrate for years, then sold off as unwanted junk! When the families learned of the disposal of their artifacts, it wasn't good PR. Museums aren't a guaranteed way to save all things, it always is under the whim of management.
@@frankwurth5375 I agree with you. It's better in the hands of the current owner.
@@RedStateFilms Not a big Ford guy, but the Henry Ford museum is awesome(I did like the Roadway Express "C" series)!
Now you gotta find Chevy's Turbo Titan!
Haha we were thinking about a video on that one next infact! Although some sources point towards the scrap yards. 😔 we will find out however! 😉
Funny because I just came from that video
Paxton, Illinois.....
@@tskraj3190 lol really?
If it's in Illinois, that'd be great! But unfortunately I feel like it actually did get scrapped.
loved to see the original trailers reunited with it
Same here! Would be amazing to see it all together on show or even ski some highway tours!
Doubtful that will ever happen. Trailers lead a rough life. I do wonder though, if Fruehauf could be commissioned to build a couple of clones, and that tandem axle dolly.
I wish they built more, wouldnt it be cool to see both big red and chevys turbo titan 3 running down the highway together.
you could just imagine going down the highway or motorway as a kid in the back of the family car and seeing trucks like that go past. dam it would of done the future generations wonders
It's sad such technology was lost to time.
that is the most epic restoration (in progress) that i've heard ever since UP's Big Boy 4014 restoration.
the resto was in fact finished in just 2 years! will probably need doing again by the time he wheels it out to the public. but i think the Drive are trying to arrange a look at it so if they do ill make a video on it.
That's two iconic trucks i heard were found, saved and now owned by someone who loves it- the other being the truck from Duel!
Great news, thank you
I had heard of this truck some years back. Very happy to hear it has been restored and is still ready to go.
itll be great to see it hit the road
I never even knew this existed! Very cool story! I can understand keeping it safe, but what's the point if nobody ever sees it? Someone who doesn't care could inherit this and it would be gone forever. I hope it can be displayed soon!
Yeah we hear you Brad if we had it it’ll be at every show we could find haha!
Glad to see there are still people who want to save our history of progress. This is similar to the work of saving old airplanes in fully restored and flyable condition. Sadly Ford Motor Company is a fraction of what it was of the 60's. It was a very exciting time to experience.
i can imagine, the good days of real motoring fun and performance is truly over for the most part.
Knight Rider historians was able to locate and purchase the Dorsey trailer that was used in the show. Against all odds. Many believed that the trailer didn't even exist anymore. They found it because they never gave up looking. And if they can do that, then effort needs to be made to find the two trailers that went with this truck. Get them back and restore them too. Get this truck looking the way it's supposed to. It's not worth very much if the only thing that you have to show is the tractor.
My very own type step dad drove one of the turbines GM had in the fleet in the 60-70.They had 3-4 that ran out of the Fisher 1 garage. In Flint Michigan Home of the sit down strike. None of the drivers liked em. He ran Flint to Ft.Wayne Indiana. He was live unloaded and back loaded with racks.
Wow, This rig resembles the "Mammoth Car" from the old Speed Racer cartoon of the 1960s
It’s a cool design isn’t it!
Thank you sir I've known about this truck for a few years I figured it would have been scrapped I am so glad to hear that someone bought it and it's still around and to hear that is still running order makes me happier then pig in poop God I hope I get to see this thing before I die
anytime Duane, all we ask for is a subscribe if you can and want to :) its one of my favorites too and hope i can see it aswell one day. i personally think itll end up at the ford Museum once the current owner passes.
Laughing out loud that you would even suggest that Tesla's Dumpster fire of a truck is "the best truck of all time"
Its more a statement about the future always being apparently the best, personally we don’t think they’ll do well at all.
@@RedStateFilms gotcha, that makes sense
This truck is so unique. I love this truck ❤❤❤
Fifty years ago, along with an engineer friend who had designed and built the lowest emission engine in the world , we were invited by the E.P.A. to see the Ford gas turbine powered truck at the Wildwood Inn, Ann Arbor, Michigan. From memory it used to go to I think to Louisville in Kentucky or Tenessee. They were very secretive on fuel consumption so we knew it was a commercial failure. The driver told us any problems and back to Dearborn it went. The fuel tank was locked at all times and he had no idea what the consumption was. To us it should have been put in a museum of modern art or sent to the scrap yard . For a while the dreamers kept it alive but this is the first I've heard of it in all those years. My friend took his steamer[external controlled combustion engine] in an old Ford Falcon over to CA, It was demonstrated to Senators from Wash, and all the vehicle builders.They didn't want to know about it. A state with the most polluted cities in the world,. Work that out.
thankyou for your comment David, i learn hearing stories such as yours! So many people have an interesting connection with big red, its a shame its still in this state of the unknown. since making this video ive been having my doubts to if itll never show up again.
My dearest Ford Motor Company,
Big Red 2.
Peace out,
Random dude on the internet.
This big Red was not the only car with a gasturbine. Ford also made a gasturbine powered family car as a prototype. Also that car never came further then a prototype. I even had a plastic model building kit of it in the 60' .
very true mate there was a few. and big red had a rival called the chevy turbo titan 3. one we are always doing a video on soon
Fantastic truck story .Great job. 👍👍👍💯
Fantastic stuff. Very nicely done chaps. Deserves a much bigger audience.
Thanks John! Thought we’d make a few documentary type videos while we haven’t been able to get out and do the cool stuff. Good mix of it all on its way though. You never know what’s round the corner mate, least you can say you were here from the early days if we do get a load of subscribers and all that!
@@RedStateFilms I'll see what I can do to spread the word. It's all good. Keep up the variety and the views will come - at least I think that's how it works!
@@deepestdub legend thanks john! means alot mate. Yeah were not sure how it works either haha
Fantastic video 📹👏
Cheers ainsley!
this truck looks incredible.
We think so aswell mate!
It looks so futuristic, it looks like something that you would see in an episode of thunderbird’s or captain scarlet.
Great story lads 👊🏻
Thank Rick!
Great info history and documentary!
Thanks Brain glad you enjoyed it, working on another as we speak
Really amazingly cool documentary thank you so much I bloody loved it ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thanks man! Trying to do a few educational/interesting things along with the car stuff we do. New one is dropping in a couple hours.
That’s really cool I grew up in a Lincoln Mercury dealership and I never heard of this
Please keep us posted in its future love see in person very kool
So this what the truck in snowrunner was meant to be. I enjoyed the truck.
Hard not to get misty eyes hearing this story
Yes !!!!!!finally found the Mamouth Car from the old after school cartoon SPEED RACER
Thank you to this owner hopefully you see this I love any history on all vehicles and please one day put it in that Ford museum so I can see it so we can all see it
That is awesome
I hope I get to see this truck in my lifetime
Same here Michael!
Me 2
Thank you.
thankyou for watching.
I will be tracking out to see it once its refreshed.
same here fordguy!
I can see they were got more futuristic with that truck. The door opens automatically and a ladder comes down. I wouldn't mind operating a rig like that.
seemed so nice for the driver everything they had for them! its why i like it so much they seem to have thought about whos driving it not just whats powering it.
Paint it black, make it longer, put it in a cartoon, put it in a car race,.........You older guys know what im talking about? :)
Great video! The big red, don't know if it's just me but it reminds me of British trucks and vans of the 50s and 60s. Some went bankrupt, some were part Leyland!
Thanks for the comment auto. I can see some of that for sure. We actually have an old 50s comer truck. If you look at our other videos we made a video of us picking it up! Huge thing it is 🤣😭
Been in trucking 50 years sense born and never seen this very neat!
certainly would of made a different way of life back then if they had released them publicly. this is why i like making videos, showing things to folks they may not of seen that they would enjoy. thanks for watching mike.
Cool 😎
Truck was in Cleveland Ohio at donlys a ford industrial dealer .I worked close to them ,and was able to stop over and sit in it and look it over
Very cool! Would love to see a current photo!
@06:53 its interesting Ford used UK built Cortinas for a publicity shot. Maybe because they were half the size of the gas tanks Dearborn were building and it made it look longer.
Ford also went against accepted US truck engineering and built a layout that was very European with close coupled tractor / trailer, set back front axle and cabover layout. Go see Peterbilt or Kenworth conventionals to show how trucks never really moved forward in the USA.
I hadn't thought about then when editing but thats a really good point, like you say put it next to a cortina for an American shoot and its bound to look even bigger than its ment to.
ill have a look into that cheers 1chish, euro/usa trucks are worlds apart from the looks of things!
Love to see it in person
would be amazing to see at a ford show as a special guest. imagine it pulling up!
A++ Gaza love the video
Cheers mate plenty more coming more regular from now on!
Oh wow great technology
Imagine today if it had been a production piece.
would be great to see one every now and then at shows! or even just out on the road. its weird to think how the lorry/truck world would have been if these had gotten into production along with the turbo titan.
Damn, I've been looking for this truck for years.
Looks like someone else got to it first 😔
Atleast you know its safe ChaotiX!
I would love to see it
I bet the Peterson would gladly scoop it up
I wonder if this is what the Mammoth Car from Speed Racer was based off of
Ford's answer to the GM Future liner. Not sure why you feel it was so great. Gas turbines were found to be too has hungry. The vehicle was too heavy to be useful. No one (at least in the USA) makes a cabover these days. Where the sleeper should be, it only has a kitchen and toilet. And what I've always found odd, was that it was always being manned by fellows with suits and ties. I think that even in the 1960s, no one wore a suit, white shirt and tie while driving a semi. No, the GM Futureliners were the 'future', not Big Red.
for me it was more the detail for the drivers than the engine itself i found remarkable. the chairs folded into the bed/sleeping area and i just found the design of the cab brilliant, from the kitchen and maps to the seating position and window span. not to mention it looks incredible in my opinion. Cabover trucks are pretty much all we have in the uk and Europe still. i think the reasoning for the suits and ties was more the statement as you say no one in these industries even today wears suits so it was a talking point and something that made there transport seem alittle classier, more like chauffeur. The GM futurliner was a great vehicle aswell.
@@RedStateFilms OK.. as a child in the 60s, I was captivated by it. But yes, a Rand McNally map stapled to a bulletin board to the back would have been more helpful. And have you seen the sleepers that many over the road haulers use these days? I suppose one could say 'innovative' and point toward the Ford, but I point elsewhere and say, 'reality NOW'. A smallish 'sleeper', th-cam.com/video/4Bk7-L7ffiY/w-d-xo.html.
The reason you don't see Big Red is because the Martians repossessed this vehicle due to late payments. The truck was returned back to Mars and used just like the Rover.
That’s why Mars looks red 😂😅
lmao
10:04 I can't see truck drivers wearing ties these days! 👔🚛
It was a different era back then for sure haha!
The iconic American semi truck is the 1958 to 1959 Chevrolet 1000 series Spartan.
a fine classic indeed!
I hope I get see it one day😢
This truck appears to be ahead of its time. It had everything a motorhome had, though more compact, today's trucks don't have some of these. Imagine a truck being fitted with all of the same features, excluding the turbine engine. Alternatively it could be fitted with the same turbine engine in an Abrams Tank. A new version of the old truck should be possible with the right design and parts.
i think thats why i always loved it, such attention to detail for the driver. as you say a mini motorhome in there. and the map was a lovely touch too. a modern day version would be a beautiful site. hey if we ever get big enough to make that kinda money we will build one!
I think it should be in the Ford Museum
It found work on Speed Racer as the Mammoth Car.
Maybe someone could sweet talk Jay Leno into purchasing Big Red
now that would make a sweet addition to his garage of wonders
Impressive how Tonka Like Big Red looks. I guess this is were some of Tonka's later design cues came from.
certainly can see that myself
I hope one day soon a full walkthrough of the thing gets posted on an anonymous account that doesn't give it's location away before it finds it's way to a museum. Though what I'd give to have the privilege to put it's hammer down just one time.
we long for a full walkabout tour of it. can only hope in the future its seen again on the roads
You’re going to see it on a Jack Barrett auction very soon
Surprised your the first to say it! More than likely though specially when it gets passed down.
@@RedStateFilms Well it’s just like if you remember the old GM bus of the future that was on Jack Barrett auction it’s sold for $5 million was actually supposed to sell for 8 million but there was a screwup during the bidding there were two people that were bidding on the bus and they mistakenly thought the other bidder wanted to bid more but he was actually telling the auctioneer he was out it took almost 45 minutes until they figured it out and I do imagine when they do roll the big red semi over the auction block which will be soon how much of that will fetch
Seems I remember seeing an article in Popular Mechanics, or some other publication, that showed GM also built a gas turbine truck in the early 1960's (called the "Bison", I believe) which had a futuristic aircraft inspired cab interior with a control yoke style steering wheel.
Yes mate there was 3 at the time. Fords big red, chevys turbo Titan 3 and General Motors bison.
@@RedStateFilms Thanks! I forgot about the Chevrolet Titan. I did a little research & found that it was the Titan that had the "yoke" style steering wheel, & not the Bison, which had two small steering "wheel" controls. The concepts for vehicle design were so forward thinking in those days; I'm quite sure much of the concepts were inspired by rapid aerospace advancements in the 1950's & early 1960's. Everything seemed to have a science fiction theme, & this captured the public's imagination.
Ok, I may have gotten mixed up; apparently (from a TH-cam video about the Titan), it was the Titan that had the two steering "wheel" controls, & (I guess) the Bison had the yoke control for steering.
Interesting that GM allowed Chevrolet (which was part of GM) to pursue their own turbine truck design, as GM pursued a separate design with the Bison turbine truck.
@@shadovanish7435 didn’t wanna give too much away as I’m currently doing a video on both of them aswell. But yeah the Titan had the strange belt wheel, the bison looked like a thunderbirds vehicle real low and flat with a big nose
The fact the owner is hesitant to even share a picture, makes me think the claims are BS, or that it's is in a terrible state of decay.
I also have a hard time believing that Ford was so forthcoming, and assisted in sourcing and rebuilding a prototype turbine engine.
Yes, I've been a part of the auto industry for too long. Can you tell 🥴
until we see it with our own eyes its all only hearsay isn't it! its a strange case for sure. if i had such a vehicle itll be at every local show for miles 😅
they need to fix her up and then throw it on the road for some long hauls.
The restoration was actually completed over 2 years in the 80s and is now fully restored and working although hasn’t been out of its unit since the 2000s. (The owner from what we understand is getting old now and big red is quite the task to get anywhere! But it sounds like they want to show the world it come summer
@@RedStateFilms welp, i guess now i have something to look forward to this summer
50 years later, the typical truck still doesn't have a bathroom! SMH
they certainly tried to do something different!
Saw this in Speed racer lol
The owner could easily have it hauled to shows. Like any other show truck.
There is always a way if you want it enough, maybe he likes to keep it hidden from the world. If it was us it’ll be out daily 😂
11:44 ive been trying to find this music can i get the name? also i'm quite happy that big red survived
It’s from epidemic sounds mate but not sure what it’s called as I downloaded it Ages ago and change the titles for reference in my music library. I’ll see if I can find the details of it for you tho keep an eye on replies
@@RedStateFilms ight thanks mate
Hidden away just like the 2 Bullitt Mustangs were....
10:19 Check out the harsh cabover ride & the steering inputs to keep it going in a straight line, with a wheel base that short it's not surprising. By the way, it's not Holland & Moody it's Holman & Moody!
Hi mate, where does it say Holland instead of Holman? Must of been a quick mistake as we are aware it’s Holman and moody. Cheers for letting us know!
The cab was actually mounted on hydraulic dampers, giving the occupants a very smooth ride.
The engine and parts could be refabricated with cnc machining.
I wish that was mine. 12.7 Detroit and an eaton 13 speed and im pulling some trailers. Sorry lil turbine i need power
Judging by this, the truck was a hybrid, gas turbine/diesel engined truck; that correct?
He knows big red is important truck i know that cause i am a vehicle rare lover i know whats hes doing by the story hes smart
Ok so you filled in some blanks. Really just confirmed a lot of suspicions. I was really hoping for some new footage. I hope they do a shoot of it this year.
6
The problem is that while the truck is in good condition it is rotting internally that's why a well used car is better than a garage queen
its why we hate to see so many collections where the cars don't get to move or even start up for years and years, sad because wed all love to see this and many others on the roads.
Big Red looks like the Mammoth Car from Speed Racer.
it actually does! 😂
Well it won't be an electric since it doesn't have enough range to get out of eyesight.
So it was supposed to be the missing link between commercial trucks and trains
Thats a good way of looking at it!
I thought it was destroyed by Racer X.
Halman moody is a big name in ford
They had a race team for the gt40 back in the 60s
But lost to Shelby American in Daytona
certainly are or at least was!
@@RedStateFilms history is important and there a big part of it
@@sagenbabin8786 totally agree with you sagen, just as big a part of the story as cosworth or Shelby
@@RedStateFilms especially in NASCAR hallman moody is the reason the engines they have are ford based
Cool truck, it just sucks that even if they had pushed into production, at roughly 2 mpg the 70's fuel crisis would have killed them anyway.
a very good point i never thought of!
Tow it. They move tanks and Bulldozers on public highways.
that stylized font is hard to read!
haha yes sorry dude it was a poor choice on my part, looked cool for titles, not so much for reading however! we dont use it anymore.
The gas turbine said to be extra efficient!
At high RPM. At lower RPM efficiency drops off.
But do they have a nucleon out there somewhere?
Whistlin Deisel needs to buy this truck someone tag him
The family wouldn’t sell it unfortunately or that’ll make some great videos haha!
❤❤❤i would like you the streamer to know I resent my comment because it may display dissatisfaction in your great presentation and being this my first viewing of an video from your channel, the only criticism I am hurdling to enjoy this historical masterpiece is the distraction cyrillic print gives me
Be strong
Be of good courage
God Bless America
& Long live The Republic
Cyrillic print? im not too sure what that means but thankyou for the comment and watching either way :)
@@RedStateFilms it was a great video, I'm not sure what the hell I was talking about either lol, must've been some Russian letters somewhere in there 😂❤❤❤❤
Airplane mechanics can most definetly fix it
This is a truck I remember seen in some long forgotten Popular Mechanics Magazine I believe. but I though It was Just a consept but I'm glad it is real and that it as been found. Looking forward to the day I can see it for real. I'm from and live in Old Harbour Jamaica.
Hopefully will be sooner rather than later kennedy! i cant wait to see it up close if i ever get the chance. Greeting old harbour Jamaica from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK.
Thank you, looking forward for more.
@@kennedysingh3916 next video is out tomorrow :) thankyou for watching/subscribing hopefully you enjoy whats to come.
He needs the custom trailers for it
would be amazing to see it all together again