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The 1930 REO Milk “Bottle” Truck Is Back!

Update 6/3/21 – It’s been another year and the Milk Bottle truck is still kicking around. Find it here on eBay again. Hopefully, the seller gets real with his reserve so this unique machine can go to someone who will get it back on the road!

Update 2/1/20 – The milk bottle is back! It’s been almost four years since we featured it last and this time it’s listed here on eBay with the option to bid or buy it now for $6,500. Thanks go to Barn Finds reader Darrun for the tip!

From 3/16/16 – We’ve all seen old milk trucks, but when was the last time that you saw one that actually looked like a milk bottle? This unique creation is claimed to be 1 of 3 trucks built for Berwick Creamery. It needs to be restored, but the irreplaceable parts appear to all be there. The seller doesn’t include an asking price in their craigslist ad, but they do mention that the truck has a clear title and that they are open to trades. It’s located in Wapwallopen, Pennsylvania and thanks goes to Drew V for the tip!

If you look closely, you can make out the Berwick Creamery logo. I bet this was quite a sight to see back in the day. Just picture the look on the neighborhood kid’s faces when the milkman came rolling down the streets of Berwick, Pennsylvania in this thing! Heck, if it were mine, I’d be tempted to start up a delivery business just to cruise around and make everyone’s day. It would probably cause almost as much stir as an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile sighting.

The restoration would most likely be more than I could realistically manage, but I want to try so badly! Researching the history of the truck and attempting to return it to its original form would be lots of fun. An old milk truck may not normally be that exciting, but I bet this one would even get you invited to all sorts of fancy-schmancy events. Hey, there were Hot Rods at Pebble a few years back, so why not milk trucks?

Comments

  1. HoA Howard A Member

    Actually, I’ve seen these before. Luick Dairy, in Milwaukee had trucks like this. Trucks that were advertising tools were all the rage in the ’30’s and 40’s, but seemed to fall out of favor, when companies found out, people would buy the product, fancy truck or not. This one is pretty rough, but almost non-existent today. Lot of work. Be great as a static display for a dairy. Great find. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/18/99/c9/1899c96fc2165a9d3ac0a2ed2759afd4.jpg

    Like 30
    • Avatar leiniedude Member

      Cool truck! Maybe do double duty on the salt flats.

      Like 6
    • Avatar Jesse Staff

      Thanks for sharing that photo Howard!

      Like 17
    • Avatar grant

      Thanks for that Howard I’ve never seen one of these before.

      Like 13
  2. Avatar Bill

    It’s actually.. possibly due to decay, got a pretty cool rake to it. looks like a Big Daddy kustom :) I’d love to build this truck! Not sure how I’d feel driving it as a daily, but what the heck?

    Like 2
  3. Avatar Van

    Great find
    This looks like so much fun.
    You would be welcome at any car show or parade.
    I would find a way to change logos easily, like a wrap. It would say Sam Adams at one event, Coke at another etc.
    I want to park in front of a hospital with a sign that says “it’s a boy”. Just guess which one.
    Lots of angry dads.

    Like 6
  4. Avatar Matt Tritt

    Kind of droopy amidships, but what a cool thing! How about finding a replacement windshield?

    Like 2
    • Avatar Doug Anderson

      easy-peeesey; formed cardboard pattern to lexan
      call it ‘good’

      Like 0
  5. Avatar David Member

    Thanks Drew V for finding this Craigslist posting and Howard A for providing the link to the picture! This is what makes Barnfinds great.

    Like 8
    • Avatar DREW V.

      You’re welcome David… As soon as I saw this I sent it in to the guys at Barnfinds… I love odd and unusual vehicles… :)

      Like 3
  6. Avatar xroads

    I love stuff like this! I always wanted a chicken truck. I’m thinkin’ it would double as a camper. Windshield would be flat, right? The seller wants to trade far a car trailer, so that tells me $1-2000 asking price.

    Like 2
  7. Avatar Brad

    Awfully neat. Here’s a different dairy that used one. There are a few differences between the two (hood panels, the door that extends below the windshield) but another good impression of how these looked done up. Looks like the radiator grill was painted to look like the lid.

    Many pictures of toy versions of these, as well. Awfully fun.

    Like 33
    • Avatar DREW V.

      Weren’t the lids for milk bottles called POGs???

      Like 4
    • Avatar Bud

      I thought It was a joke until this photo . It makes sense now .Thanks for sharing .

      Like 1
  8. Avatar TRP

    Wow. This has to be saved.

    Like 3
  9. Avatar Jason Houston

    Thanks for a great listing referral. These were also used as beer trucks, and appeared on much larger chassis applications. NICE piece. I would restore it to factory and use it for a daily driver.

    Like 1
  10. Avatar Len

    This is a 30 minute ride from my house. I drive through that way several times a year and you should see some of the relics sitting rotting away in yards, fields, and and open barns, but I never have any time to spare to stop and inquire. Or get shot at in some cases.

    Like 6
  11. Avatar steve

    I have an old milk bottle collection…yeah I need this!!!!!!!

    Like 11
  12. Avatar Charles

    Cool Find!

    Like 2
  13. Avatar Mark

    Sure would like to stumble on this, thats granddad driving

    Like 0
  14. Avatar microbuss

    neato
    Wish I knew what they were selling it for
    I would totally restore this!

    Also Tootsietoy made this as a toy truck

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Ben Thompson

    to everyone who wants this
    I think it got sold but you can buy a toy of this by Barclay

    Like 0
    • Avatar Richard Kirschenbaum

      Nice of you to mention Barclay. They made some really cool slush mold toys like the Auburn cabin speedster and a fastback 2 door version of the Hupp aerodynamic which I don’t believe was ever produced in the real. Very thin walled construction so high mortality rate.

      Like 0
  16. Avatar Mark M.

    Almost like these were first station wagons or SUV made but they did not know they even made them.

    Like 0
  17. Avatar The one

    I’m afraid to bid $1.50, I might win!

    Like 5
  18. Avatar Fred W

    If you want a divorce but don’t want to be the filer, just drag this into the front yard!

    Like 7
  19. Avatar craZee

    Milk, it does a body (shop) good!

    Like 10
  20. Avatar Jim Bryant

    Would be a super cool truck for a brewery to renovate as an advertising tool

    Like 1
  21. Avatar Bob McK

    If I had the money, this sure would be fun to have restored. Not sure what I would do with it when it is completed.

    Like 1
  22. Avatar BORNEO

    i assume this was built on the Flying Cloud auto chassis and not a truck chassis,
    (REO Speedwagon). It looks like the smaller 115″ wheelbase. If it were a 1932 Reo Royale it would be worth converting it back. Looks like the splash pans are gone. Could use a picture of the vin plate.

    Like 0
  23. Avatar Rodney - GSM

    Clearly the prototype for Ace and Gary’s Ambiguously Gay Duo Car…

    Like 9
  24. Avatar art

    Another dairy seems to have used the same truck.
    Neat advertising…nothing like these anymore.

    https://66.media.tumblr.com/0194a3fdc8b0c719e35cdaa6dbfdf997/ee40cdce0bb8346a-b7/s640x960/b0d1088bb1e2a8afb6de3f0e5028be31d4846270.jpg

    Like 3
  25. Avatar Russell Ashley

    Cool looking truck but doesn’t look like forward visibility would be too good with that sloping windshield.

    Like 0
  26. Avatar Luke Parris

    The ad says both REO and 1930 Ford…which is it??? That would determine the engine one would have to find. Either way I like it…..if I was only 20 years younger!

    Like 2
  27. Avatar Terry

    This could be restored into a beer bottle too! Imagine a local tavern using it to promote business!

    Like 3
  28. Avatar Engident

    1) Rusted in half
    2) No engine
    3) Highly “modified”
    4) RUSTED IN HALF
    5) Not a Mopar

    What exactly are we throwing our money away on, again?

    Like 3
    • Avatar Clay Bryant

      You’re throwing your’s away on dime-a-dozen Mopars………………..

      Like 1
      • Avatar Gary Rhodes

        At least he is not throwing it away on piles of crap Chevrolets

        Like 0
  29. Avatar Curt Lemay

    When I was young we lived in Minneapolis for a while. During those days we got every other day milk delivery from a man dressed in white, carrying it in a sturdy wire basket. Somedays he brought cheese too, depending how Mother placed her order. The thick glass bottles looked just like this car. The milk was left on the doorstep, and no one ever bothered it. A different place and time. What I would give to go back to those days, if for just a little while.

    Like 7
  30. Avatar Steve Clinton

    I wonder if it was a beer truck how many times it would be stopped and the driver asked “Have you had anything to drink today, sir?”

    Like 0
  31. Avatar Richard Kirschenbaum

    Nice of you to mention Barclay. They made some really cool slush mold toys like the Auburn cabin speedster and a fastback 2 door version of the Hupp aerodynamic which I don’t believe was ever produced in the real. Very thin walled construction so high mortality rate.

    Like 0
  32. Avatar Keith D.

    Hey the whitewalls are missing! Lol

    Like 0
  33. Avatar Howie Mueler

    Yes very cool, 15 bids now, but reserve not met. Would be great for a museum. Petersen?

    Like 0
  34. Avatar dogwater

    Sorry ash to ash dust to dust

    Like 2
  35. Avatar JagManBill

    2 things – now we know where the design/shape for the Gemini capsule came from (look closely at Howards photo)….

    Art Morrison chassis, SBC or Coyote, Ford 9″ and a lot of body fab later and you’ve got something no one else will have

    Like 0
  36. Avatar Richard Bush

    I would definitely make it a Beer Bottle, the run beer taps out each side and use it for special events 🍺

    Like 1
  37. Avatar Kenn

    In 5 (five) years! couldn’t the owner have put tires – bought used for cheap – and maybe painted the bumpers, or done something in the way of making this a bit more attractive and saleable? Wouldn’t have taken all that much time or money and they might get better bids. Though not, apparently, at the level they’re seeking.

    Like 1
  38. Avatar T Mann

    It’s condition has not improved

    Like 1
  39. Avatar Bluetec320 Member

    Finally sold for 4K.

    Like 1
    • Avatar DayDreamBeliever

      To a shill bidder, maybe?

      Like 0
  40. Avatar Rolls-Royce

    Jesus, on the pictures it doesn’t look like a car, it looks like a selfmade peace of trunk.

    Like 0

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