GREELEY'S GOT THE GOODS
BY OUR TEEN CORRESPONDENT IN COLORADO TROY MILLER

My father and I recently managed to make the trip to the northern part of our state for the annual ATHS Antique Truck Show in Greeley, Colorado. Talk about a kool compilation of old trucks! Greeley is not a huge show, maybe thirty or forty trucks total, but that doesn’t keep it from being a great show.

Within the first few minutes there, I came across some awesome trucks, but it wasn’t until the afternoon that I stumbled upon a real treasure (more on that later). Trucks at the show ranged from “young” trucks, no older than about twenty-five years, on up to those relics pushing eighty and ninety years old. One of the trucks that turned up was an orange Mack AC Bulldog, which appeared to be all the way from Pennsylvania. Talk about a long haul!

The Marmon Herrington cab-over dubbed, The Only One was in attendance, and, although not the prettiest truck, it was still cool to see such a rare rig. Its strangely-colored two-tone green paint scheme would be questionable on other trucks, but it sure works on this old unit.

Other notable rides that turned up included a hot-rodded red F-100, from ’61 or so, and a pair of Coleman tractors. These old Coleman rigs sat high and mighty, as tall as modern trucks, and they were from the 1920’s! Another truck that caught my eye was a 1926 or so Oldsmobile truck. I was told that it was found in a field and after two or three days in the shop it was running!! A couple of noteworthy Kenworths showed up as well. Some had all the accessories you’d want, while others went retro, staying to what they originally were.

A very interesting set of tractors showed up too. No, not John Deere, Case, or Caterpillar – they were made by Porsche! As I mentioned earlier, near the end of the show I ran across one of the coolest trucks I’d ever seen. Well, it’s sort of a truck. While cruising the show when we first had arrived, I noticed an odd vehicle, looking like a hacked at bus. I didn’t take much notice of it at first, but I kept on noticing it throughout the day. So, eventually, it got to me and I took a walk over and checked it out – talk about an interesting setup.

As I was inspecting the truck, a man told me to come over and check out the motor, which was mounted sideways, parallel to the ground. Obviously, I was puzzled at first, until the owner, Ed Carpenter, informed me it was a “Pancake” 220-Cummins. Now, I was interested purely by the way this motor sat, then, upon further inspection, I noticed that this truck had a driveshaft brake (a disc brake mounted on the driveshaft instead of the wheels). I was thoroughly intrigued by this truck and was offered a chance to listen to the motor. Like any truck enthusiast, I went for it. Ed fired that baby up, and talk about one mean sounding engine. That old 220 outdid any motor I had heard before! To add, this thing can get all the way up to 85 mph out on the highway! The truck has a backdrop manifold which gives it a unique-sounding “cackle” (as Ed calls it).

If you’re wondering what this old unit is, it’s a 1959 Crown Coach Mobile Post Office. These rigs were built to run lines between rural cities not big enough to have a post office. They would literally sort and send the mail as they drove down the road. This particular unit ran one of the two lines between Mobile, Alabama and another unknown city. Ed has now converted this rig into an RV with living quarters, and tells me it’s a cool old truck that turns heads everywhere he takes it.

For a small show, the annual ATHS Antique Truck Show in Greeley, Colorado really delivers. If you ever get the chance to go, I’d highly recommend it (especially if you are an old truck nut). I can’t wait for next year. See 'ya there!