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Green Machine: 1934 Ford BB Dump Truck

No, not “green” as in eco-friendly… “green” as in painted green. This decent-condition 1934 Ford model BB dump truck has just been pulled from a barn after languishing for the last 10 years and is listed for sale here on eBay out of Kent, Ohio, but found in a barn in Massachusetts.

I didn’t know the first thing about these trucks, so I had to do some homework. I found out that the Mason-style dump body holds about 3,000 lbs of payload and lifts up-and-down by a GarWood hydraulic system. Early Flatheads powered these machines, and a four-speed manual transmission sent the power to the dually rear, with a PTO from the transmission to run the dump body.

Having paid attention in my High School and College History classes, I recall seeing them in film and photos of military airfields alongside Curtiss A-series aircraft and used in the New Deal programs like the TVA, Civilian Conservation Corps, and other Works Project job sites.  Those tough times and tough jobs demanded tough people and machines, and the BB fit the bill.

The seller states that the mileage is unknown and that it doesn’t run right now, but it did run 10 years ago when the tires were freshly-installed by the previous owner. I kind of dig it, to be perfectly honest. I can picture my late great-grandfather driving one around his place of employment, then parking it in his driveway at home. He arrives just in time for a dinner from scratch with his wife and two daughters, and a “Fireside Chat” from the president on the wireless. What say you?

Comments

  1. Mountainwoodie

    Couldnt agree more! Great write up and I’d love to have it…..another one that thankfully is on the wrong side of the country so I don’t do anything stupid :)

    Like 5
    • Big daddy

      Mountain woodies. You are a punk. A big mouth lieing punk. Nothing less and definitely no more than a lieing punk.

      Like 0
  2. Bob S

    I would love to have this truck! I would get it running, shine it up, and put it to use in the yard. I am kind of partial to these trucks, because the second vehicle I owned was a 34 1/2 ton.
    Bob

    Like 3
    • Tim Getzlaff

      Give me a call

      Like 4
  3. Fred H

    There is just something about a vintage dump truck .If only it could talk )

    Like 5
  4. geomechs geomechs Member

    Give it good cleaning, then a tuneup. Then use it as a truck was meant to be used. Maybe a little lighter loads this time around. It won’t get you anywhere fast but it will still get you there. It doesn’t have the original engine but lots of them got changed out over the years and a 24 stud flathead isn’t the end of the world…

    Like 6
  5. HoA Howard A Member

    I’d love to send this to the guy I rented from in N.Wis. I’ve known them for 30 years. It was a 100 year old farm, and years ago during visits, his dad had a BB dump like this, back in the woods. I think the grill was missing, but I’m sure it ran, it had been the farms dump truck for years. Couple years ago, when I rented a room there, parents had passed away, I said, what happened to your dads dump truck in the woods? He said, a couple years back, he had a scrap drive, and the truck went with it. And that, folks, is why this truck is $10+ g’s. Practically non-existent today.

    Like 7
    • geomechs geomechs Member

      It’s tragic that so many of these old work horses met with that same fate. There was a situation close to home, actually the same place my ’49 Chevy came from. My cousin bought the farm and proceeded to organize the cars to go through the crusher and those that didn’t. He left for an hour and returned just in time to see the forklift start in on the row of vehicles they were NOT supposed to touch. The driver had a ’30 AA tow truck hoisted up and was about to take it to the crusher when Reed stopped him. There were some harsh words exchanged and the scrapper went where he was told to go. Reed had to sit there and babysit the crew for the rest of the day…

      Like 9
  6. HoA Howard A Member

    Well, someone coughed up the $11g’s, whew. Here’s another in Minnesota with a more friendly price. Just think, one could make $5 grand on this truck, apparently. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.
    https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/cto/d/brainerd-1932-ford-bb-truck/6792049600.html

    Like 4
    • geomechs geomechs Member

      That’s a nice ’32! I sure wouldn’t kick it off my place…

      Like 1
  7. Rex Rice

    Bottom line: It’s a big ugly truck! Wrong headlights and engine but there always seems to be somebody with too much money that drives the value beyond good sense.
    Years ago, I raced one of these with my ’27 Model T sedan. It was an even match.

    Like 3
  8. Ian

    Beautiful truck

    Like 2
  9. Karl

    That is a very cool old truck. When I was in high school I used to plow, combine wheat and plow for a farmer he had an old Ford truck with a flathead engine one of the nicest running little engines I ever had the pleasure to use! The truck is very cool and there is some magic in those Ford flathead engines!

    Like 2
  10. Dale Watson

    I have used my 1930 AA since 1960 at camp and around anything I am doing , can’t seem to rake leaves without it , these small body dumps are fun and useful

    Like 2
  11. Tort Member

    Perfect truck for a construction/sand travel company. Restore it, letter it with the business name, use for parades, etc and write off the cost as an advertising expense.

    Like 2
  12. Woody

    Nice old iron!

    Like 2
  13. Wrong Way

    Very interesting! However he pulled the ad for some reason, I suspect that it sold.

    Like 0
  14. Tom S.

    I learn about so much stuff on this site. Gar Wood? Who? I’d never heard of him before. Google to the rescue.

    Follow the link to read the lowdown on this very successful inventor/industrialist/boat racer from the early 20th century.

    http://www.trucktrend.com/features/1508-gar-wood-inventor-of-the-hydraulic-dump-bed/

    Like 1
  15. Steve

    I just bought a Harley. Or that truck would be in my garage !!! Wow. What a nice find

    Like 1
  16. Mike

    If it is an original Ford green is would be Rock Moss Green. Whoever said the headlights are wrong is correct and it would be a Model CC if it is a 1934. The ’32’s were a Model 18 (first 8 cylinder Ford) or a Model BB with the 4 cylinder engine. I have a 1929 Model AA and drive it in parades. Mine has a 3 speed with a dual high (also called a kick down).

    Like 2

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