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In 1991, five Kenworth T800s were used to move a SR-71 Blackbird to the Seattle Museum of Flight. One T800 transported the fuselage and the other trucks moved the wings and engines.
Starting from the Mojave Desert, it took 12 days, mostly travelling at night on back roads.
Classic Pickup
1949 International KB-2
Engine: International Harvester 214-cu.in. L-head straight-six
Transmission: Three-speed manual
Exterior Color: Red
Interior: Tan vinyl
When it comes to American pickup trucks from the immediate postwar years, the products of International Harvester are far less common than most. International’s share of the market dropped to less than 10 percent in 1949. This International Harvester KB-2 pickup, whose model name indicates its three-quarter-ton load capacity, comes from the final year of KB production, 1949. It was restored sometime before the seller’s present five-year period of ownership and still presents strongly. It has since received more than $3,000 worth of documented mechanical work, including new brakes and replacement rear axles.
The cab and cargo bed were refinished in a deep red that remains eye catching and attractive, with the seller characterizing the paint’s current condition as “good.” A small area of cracked paint is visible near the base of the windshield. Two rows of wooden stakes have been added to the sides of the bed, which look to be in excellent condition, as do a new wooden bed floor and its stainless-steel retaining strips. The steel bed itself shows no scratches or dents from usage. Black steel disc wheels mount wide whitewall tires that show some yellowing. The red-trimmed International Harvester three-diamond wheel covers appear to be in very good condition. A key design element of these trucks was their delicate, elaborate grille, with its rows of horizontal bars and center divider. It is complete here and appears undamaged, with very good chrome. The lettering on the sides of the rear-hinged hood appears to be equally good. The seller says that only minor surface rust can be seen underneath the truck.
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One of the Best Tractor-Trailer Models Available
Not sure. Is this next years’ model out already? Or just a prototype? What kind of mpg do these things get? So many questions remain unanswered with this amazing machine. Anyway, for those commercial truckers who’ve been fretting over Tesla Trucks and other electric semis, and automated driverless semis at that, maybe this is the real change that’s coming down the pipe. Impressive!
Specifications:
1986 Mazda B2000 with only 72k miles!
