The Ford C-Series of commercial trucks was built from 1957 to 1990, employing a cabover engine design (COE). This was the first of the Fords to have a tilting front clip, enabling access to the engine compartment. Many of these trucks were used by fire departments for heavy-duty firefighting jobs. At some point, probably after it was retired, this 1985 edition of the C800 had seven feet removed from its mid-section, creating the “shorty” you see here. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, this running novelty is available here on eBay where the first bid of $7,500 has yet to be cast.
We don’t know what possessed the seller or a prior owner to make this conversion happen. But it must have turned out okay as the thing will tow just about anything up to 30,000 lbs. It appears that all the key fire apparatus has been removed, so it could be an attention-getter in the tow truck business. The transporter has less than 43,000 miles, which is not a lot considering that many of its trips back in the day would have been short hops (unless out into the boonies).
This Ford relied on a 429 cubic inch V8 to get the job done. The original engine was replaced by a rebuilt motor from Jasper about 5,000 miles ago. It runs off gasoline supplied by fuel injection and an MSD ignition has been installed. The latest mechanical update is a new starter from a month back. A 5-speed manual transmission works the gears.
We’re told the interior is in decent shape and the driver will appreciate its power steering and brakes. The only thing needed sooner rather than later is a new set of tires (they’re old). So, if you’re in need of a dually, this one would help you make a statement when one is needed – or not!
Interesting little rig.
1st let me say, the C series Ford was the ubiquitous city rig truck for ALL purposes. They dominated the city rig business, previously held by the White 3000, primarily because of the tight turning. Garbage trucks, single axle tractors, municipal line trucks, you name it, all used C series. Unless the frame was shortened, which I doubt, this was some sort of equipment response truck, as I can’t find any that were tractors for a hook and ladder. I think the only use for this today would be a RV goose neck trailer set up, but its working days are long over.
Fire engine at one time, perhaps?
Howard- we used to modify wheelbases all the time (if we were desperate for a chassis to build on due to Ford production delays, we would buy a longer wheelbase chassis and modify it). With straight frame rails, just remove the rear axle spring hanger fasteners and relocate the spring hangers forward (in this case, likely) to the desired wheelbase and drill the frame rail web as needed for new fasteners. Sometimes, crossmembers need to be relocated as well. Cut off the excess after frame, make up new air brake lines, modify the driveshaft as needed and you are done. We had a special drill for this job that had an electromagnetic base to hold it to the vertical face of the frame rail while drilling. One day, I walked by one of our technicians performing this job. I noticed that he had failed to wrap the drill’s safety chain around the frame rail and was standing with one of his feet directly below it (the drill weighed 20 pounds or more). I said, “Boy, it sure is going to be a bummer if the power goes off and that unsecured drill smashed your foot.“ He secured the drill as he was supposed to and stepped off to the side. If you did your layout and fabrication work correctly, you could not tell any difference after the modification was performed.
I worked for an IH dealer, sometimes, (I’m not sure if by luck or design) there’d be another set of holes already in the rails, unbolt the spring hangers slide every thing forward and bolt it backup. Stretched a few over the years which complicates things a little but keeps your skill set sharp.
Short wheel base and no real weight in the back is going to make for a interesting ride. Nice 5th wheel plate and A 4+ car hauler trailer you could get into hot shots for some of these dealerships that needs cars delivered
You could collect lease returns going to auction.
That dried up with the pandemic.
Nope. The pendulum has swung back. A combination of higher pandemic residuals and softer used car values are sending them back to the bank. We’d love to scoop them up for the lot but just can’t pick them up at market price.
I have driven an empty Ford C8000 cab and chassis several times in the past prior to them being converted to fire apparatus. Wear your seat belt- depending upon the road surface, you may qualify as an honorary bronco buster. You are sitting directly above the front axle and your body will mimic what the axle is doing. My feet were flying up off of the floor, which made maintaining a constant throttle difficult. I only drove 3208 Cat-powered chassis (C-8000 is diesel; C-800 is gas powered). I would imagine that this rig likes to hang out near a gas pump. Bring your kidney support belt…
Hi there,
Is there any chance of seeing contributions from members? John has remarkable control of his writing implement; hopefully, there will be additional posts to read.
Thank you,
George
These were miserable trucks to drive especially if you’re tall. I’m 6’2″ and had to slump down in the seat or be hunched over the wheel and if you were short you had to slide over and lean forward to get the crappy shifter into 4th gear. This truck is one of a very few I’ve seen with disc wheels. Hauled hay with a guy that had one with a 534 when a 100gal was $30, it was abandoned quick when the gas crises hit.
Our local fire department used a couple of these cab-overs in the mid 70s. And for awhile, at least from the 70s throughout the 90s, you’d see a lot of these plying the roads, from medium duty commercial trucks to logging rigs. Not just Ford either, Peterbilt, Kenworth and International made a ton of them. Now you hardly ever see one. It would seem they’d have advantages over conventional haulers.
You practically had to vacuum the cab, before you opened the cab, to expose the motor preventing a cracked windshield from the inside…
What a cool tow rig. Great way to re-purpose an obsolete piece of fire equipment.
CT Dave
Why? Too much beer and too much time?
Maybe they adapted it for a mobile home toter. Could be used for moving house trailers.
We had a livestock trucking business from the ’30’s (grandfather started it in depression. Dad took over in ’50’s). Remember we got our first COE Tractor in ’57. Then over next 2 years replaced long nosed for 2 COE’s straight trucks. Were great for getting in/out of farmer’s hog house areas and backing around corners or tight meat packing lots. Definitely right, if didn’t have kidney stones before driving one, you had them soon! First time ever used a seat belt to stay in the seat as a 9 year old. Had custom mattress made so could sleep behind driver’s seat. Important as we often crossed state lines and needed to show had a “sleeper” cab. Also, we had the optional 512 CI with dual glass packs. Dad was still young and liked the pipes. Great time to be alive
I could also see using this rig with a flatbed trailer to haul a backhoe or ‘dozer for a small excavating business . Beats a pickup truck, which so many seem to be using for that purpose
I worked on aviation ground support equipment and these were a staple in the ’70’s and ’80’s for use as deicer trucks. These things sucked gas, both the chassis engine and the rear auxiliary engine which powered the hydraulic system and the 1,000,000 BTU gasoline operated furnace which heated up the glycol to be sprayed on aircraft to 180°,and the fluid pump itself. Chassis engine was a 361, paired with a C6 locked into first gear,neutral and reverse only. A lot of the rear powerplants were Ford’s venerable 300 straight six engines. Awesome beasts ..
Interesting info JMC. Fun to learn details about a piece of commonly seen equipment, but for which I knew nothing. Locked in first gear, I guess a way to prevent speeding. “Venerable” is an apt word to use for the 300 straight six.
Also, this would make a perfect drill rig support truck, for geotechnical test boring rigs. Tow a flatbed trailer to carry an ATV rig, or tow the rig directly if it’s that type of rig. The truck bed and compartments would carry augers, drill rods, drill bits, core barrels, core boxes and the other sundry tools and accessories related to subsurface exploration. You can tell what kind of company I used to work for.
I have pretty much the same shorty truck, a GMC. Its rough and $500.00, but no takers. I would have thought the big block Chevy power in it and the trans would be worth more than that. Perhaps it is time to yank them to sell separately and scrap the rest.
I agree about the ride and ergo part and pretty much every other comment posted….
Seems like a tall asking price for this, but what do I know.