Those looking for a clean little pickup truck for a trip to the beach or a local home improvement store can stop reading this post right now. This isn’t that. Rather, this seller is offering a collection of eight COE’s (Cab Over Engine), panel trucks, old Internationals, Scouts, and a Dodge Power Wagon. The collection is located in Southern Oregon and is listed here on Craigslist with a listed price of $6,500 – although it’s unclear which truck specific in the collection that price pertains to. Thanks to Ikey H for sending in this submission!
Cab Over Engine (COE) trucks were designed to address restrictions on overall vehicle length on the highway in the early days of trucking, so cabs were tightly packed to allow for as much cargo space as possible. The design also allowed for longer trailers. A great side benefit is they also look very cool. Seen above on the left is a ’47 Ford (seller states only 36,000 miles on this) and on the right a ’53 International. These are big boys, 1.5 ton and up.
It’s not all COE’s. Here’s an early 60’s Dodge Town Panel (panel truck) and 1966 Chevy milk truck. While their commercial hauling days are likely over, medium-duty trucks like these are popular with custom builders for chassis swaps. A second Town Panel, a ’66 Dodge Power Wagon and a ’48 International KB 6 are also mentioned, but not shown in the photos.
The smallest vehicle in the collection is a Scout. The seller only mentions a ’76 SOA (Spring Over Axle) in the ad, but states: “I know the location of many rare military, Napco, coe, Scouts, etc..” So maybe the other one in this photo is a different find, or maybe just a daily driver.
It’s clear this seller knows his trucks. There’s also a mention of additional parts and services offered: “I also have a 12 valve Cummins if you want to repower and can provide restoration or repair services as well as delivery if needed.” That might be a good thing as parts for some of these will likely be challenging to find, and dealing with large split-ring wheels and huge rusty bolts isn’t for the faint of heart. So, does anyone have a really big garage?
I’m shour that 47 Ford has way over 36,000 ,its pry ben al over the country 🧢
I actually understand what you are saying.
Im laughing so hard………oh man………..this guy with COE’s wins. Mas grandes caminones, mas grandes huevos!
Like that yellow Scout.
The sad part about the COE trucks is the likelihood of the cabs being pulled off and modified to fit on a modern 3/4 or 1-ton chassis and the old chassis will be left to the elements or end up in the scrap metal heap. I’ve seen so many of these done up that way, and while they look great at first, the miles wear both the driver and the truck down–after all it’s still a COE, which translates to kidney belt no matter how soft the suspension. The cab finally gives way and the whole thing ends up behind the shop where it never turns a wheel again. Personally I’d love to have the COE trucks at my place. They wouldn’t get used much but they’d sure be enjoyed…
Again, same thing. Few people know what it’s like to actually drive these things the way they are. They had their specific purpose, mostly local city stuff that came in on the rail. Many rarely exceeded 30 mph. They have manual steering, highly inadequate brakes, like 90 hp engines, they are hot in the summer and cold in the winter, made to haul, not ride nice. A very limited appeal market, as is, and as we age, it becomes even more limited.Again, because of their unique styling and shows like Counting Cars, shows us what cool roll off tow trucks can look like, and if anything, that’s what will happen to these trucks.
I think these trucks are way cool especially the IH. thanks to shows like Counts Customs (like it or not) these COE will likely end up in a Rat Rod project of some sort or other?
I must comment that COE’s were built to get around in the city, and be able to back into really tight spaces, that is why they were built, and that’s why a cab over still sells today for! Don’t mean to discredit your post just wanted you to know the real reason! I would love to get my hands on one of these early COE’s tho so many possibilities!
Of the dozens and dozens of trucks I drove over the years, I drove maybe 8-10 cabovers,,,and HATED EVERY ONE!!!( although, that rough riding IH Transtar 4070B was probably the nicest one, aside from a Pete or KW, which were in a different class that I didn’t drive) You’re right, great for backing in, but that’s it. Awful ride, terrible blind spot on the right side, heaven help you if you need to work on the engine, and guess where all that engine heat goes. It’s a testament to my driving skill I never ran over anybody or anything with those trucks. Some drivers loved them, I’m a “hood” man myself.
Maybe you have figured out that I am a retired OTR driver of 34 years I to drove many COE, I hated every one I ever had to drive! When I first started out tho I was happy with anything I could drive! At that time it was all about getting safe miles under my butt for the future! However I was a O/O for better than 25 years! :-)
I see you’re an old gear jammer too. You are right, early on, when cabovers were plentiful,( 70’s, ’80’s) you drove what the boss told you to drive. For how long was up to you, you could quit, but usually, it was same doo-doo, different shovel anywhere else. I had 2 jobs in a week once. Diamond Reo made a nice cabover( as if) UPS used them for many years.
Have always loved these thing since a kid my next door pal’s Dad was a Woodsman hauled timber for a living and had several and always had junked out parts trucks at home and we played in them as kids. Have always wanted one but though they used to be plentiful and cheap that has changed but the most discouraging thing is, these aren’t small compact easy toys to work on like cars. You can’t keep these in the yard and work on them like a car or pickup truck. Try buying 6 or more tires for these or better still if you do and can do any of your own work, try changing these big tires and split rims or doing even a brake job much less paying for it.Andeven if you make it a Bobtail it is still pretty much not something you are going to jump in and run to the hardware store. Not being negative I would LOVE one but not too practical unless you have a Farm or have a large area to collect and work. But for you lucky guys who can it would be a fun project. Good luck if you are so lucky and have the skills. I am glad there are people out there who can and do preserve Commercial vehicles. If it has wheels I have always loved them and hope I never grow up
I was a Lineman for the phone company and in 1970 we had an old IH COE five man rig. It had an A frame on the rear of the bed with an auger and winch line. We’d dig the hole and then use the winch to place the pole. Had a lot of fun with that truck.
I would love to have the IHC it is a cab forward not a true COE but I would leave it stock. 50 years ago I hauled milk from Wisconsin to Florida in a White COE 250 Cummins and aa 10 Speed road ranger. You had to really time your shifts, Most of the rigs pn the road then were COE.
Hey Rick, I’m with you, I think it’s a cab forward too, but got that shot down on a previous cab forward/cabover truck. I think geomechs had it right, IIRC, he said, some companies referred to them as cabovers, some cab forward, like GM, with it’s LCF (Low Cab Forward) Cabovers, to me, always had a flat front. This IH brochure calls this a cab forward.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/289637819756938881/
Who did you haul milk for in Wisconsin back then?
Hi Howard it wax for a company out of Maquoketa, Iowa called Kapraun Transport. You know it has been so long I am not sure the spelling is right.
I can just C a ’60s tanker w/all that milk, Rick!
Hi Chad as you know milk tankers have no baffles so you learned to shift as just the right time or that damn thing would beat you to death.
I have owned interest in a bee farm for 30 years and when it’s time to transport to CA before winter in MN and bring the loads back to MN in the Spring I end up hauling at least 2 loads each way. It’s about 2000 miles each way and it takes about a month to get all the bees moved, we have always had only COE trucks usually Transtars and now we have a Freightliner with a 290 Cummins, that truck had just hit a million miles and we had an in frame done in it. Seems you never realized how tired an engine is till it’s new again. My point is we drive COE trucks because they are cheap reliable means to get our work done. Loud, hot and rough riding as anything but they still work for us!
If it takes you that long maybe you should just hire a OTR driver to do it! I have hauled many many beehives and it’s a easy jaunt from Calli to Mn. L.O.L, just a idea
Every once in awhile, you’ll see a truck carrying bees tipped over. What, do the bees all get together and say, “ok, everybody to one side on this next curve, it’s our only chance”,,, :) I’d think that would BEE a hassle to haul.
When that happens they call in bee keepers then they do their thing! Never happened to me tho! If it did and I could still get out of the truck and walk I would run like heck, that’s just my thoughts and answer to your question! LOL
We had a semi tractor with a bed on it once and used a pup trailer behind that, the rig was owned by my partners dad, we were moving bees with that on I-29 headed N and the pintle broke, the loaded pup trailer went off the road on an overpass and crashed at the bottom. Thank God nobody was killed in this disaster. Insurance covers the trailer and it’s load and a local bee keeper gets to keep everything if he cleans the mess up. When we aquired the company from his dad there was a lot of very neglected equipment that needed repair or was garbage!