Far Muse
October 2008
"OBT #1—For Sale!"
By Ted Kalvitis
For the past few years, I've noticed some folks scratching their heads and rubbing their eyes whenever I would drive by in my work truck. Let's put the mystery to rest—yes, there ARE two Old Black Trucks. While similar in appearance, the newer version (newer to me; actually older by a year) is somewhat smaller but, apparently, not easily distinguishable from the original Old Black Truck unless the trucks are seen together. So the Traveling Tractor Mechanic/Old Black Truck adventures continue—no problem there.
The original truck, a 1968 Ford F-350, serial number F35YCD44602, is the truck I'm offering for sale. I'm pricing it according to its historical value as it wouldn't be worth much as at all as a working truck—not in these mountains, anyway. Whenever I'm charging down the Blue Ridge at 60 miles per hour with about two tons of tools and tool body pushing me, I can't help but consider the mileage that must be on the truck and the implications for metal fatigue.
The truck's odometer is, of course, the old style which does not show hundreds of thousands of miles. Perry Engineering was the truck's original owner, and the truck is still legendary there as just one of those trucks that always ran very well. Perry has a reputation for hanging on to good old trucks and no doubt spun the odometer around more than once. I acquired the truck in 1990 but, in the eighteen years that I've used it, paid little attention to the mileage for about the first half of that period. In later years, I'm fairly certain I saw it roll over twice. While the actual mileage on the truck may be lost to the ages, the million mile mark wouldn't be unrealistic.
While I may have fretted over the past eighteen years over the possibility of the truck experiencing a serious breakdown far from home, it only broke down twice. In one case, the differential went out but the truck was still able to limp into towing range, where we used the newer (actually older) Old Black Truck and a chain to pull it home. The second incident was the failure of a timing chain sprocket. This time the truck chose to break down right in our garage. It has always been a most cooperative truck in this respect—renew the license plates and the transmission noise goes away . . . .
The truck is starting to show some rust but it's not that bad yet—the cab mounts are still fairly solid. I'm sure that one of the rear brake drums is worn beyond tolerance but I can't remember which side. I usually tell folks that the engine hasn't had any oil pressure for about eight years but, actually, the needle on the gauge does move, albeit slightly. A new oil pump went in with the timing chain.
When I first got the truck, it had a slight miss. I found that the rearmost cylinder on the right side was carrying only 50 pounds of compression. A few years later, it went to zero and I installed a used but reconditioned head from a junked farm truck with a blown bottom end that I found at Merryville Farms in Lucketts, Virginia. I decided not to change the other head at that time, since the left bank of cylinders still showed good compression. That situation would change six years later, at which time I installed the second head.
I began the “decomissioning” process about the second week of September. There will be no tools on the truck—there's nothing special about them, anyway; they're just tools. I'll be using them to supply our shop so that my wife and daughters can work on their vehicles when I'm away with the service truck. The air compressor and the engine that powers it have probably been changed five or six times over the years, replaced by units of varying sizes, shapes and makes. The current unit was new, and thus totally lacking in character. I pulled it for use on OBT2.
The tanks on which the compressors mount will remain, as will the air tank under the truck and the plumbing. Since the air-powered crane has appeared (often in use) in numerous photos published worldwide in Antique Power magazine, it shall remain with the truck. The truck is currently drivable but in need of restoration. It is licensed and insured but seeing little use.
The minimum price for the truck is $2,500. That amount would allow me to do a few things that I would like to get done—any less wouldn't be worth the bother and I would just as well keep the truck. It would probably be used for storage and as a part truck for OBT2 until it rusts away. I would rather see it retire to a collection somewhere.
As the stories of my adventures with this truck unfold and become published worldwide, it should increase in value. While it may never make it to Christie's to sell alongside such significant items as Madonna's grandchild's used pacifier, it will always be an important part of old truck and tractor history.
I'll leave it up to the webmaster to determine the method should you want to submit a higher bid, whether it be Ebay or through the guest book. Her instructions follow.
Webmaster's Instructions: I can vouch for Pa's description of the longevity and durability of the truck; I've caught rides with him in it many times, from short jaunts around Hampshire County to lengthy explorations of rural Virginia. It even appears, sometimes in slightly disguised form, in a few of my own short stories. If you would like to enter a bid, please email me at hagdinvincible@yahoo.com. PLEASE put the words “OBT1 bid” in your subject line so that your email doesn't get filtered as potential spam. Feel free to copy the Traveling Tractor Mechanic himself at tedkalvitis@yahoo.com; there's an off chance that he may check his email before I do.