This 1935 Ford Bread truck is actually running and driving with what is presumably its original flathead V8 engine! The seller tells us it’s been protected for much of its life and has little rust. It’s located in Hope, Idaho, and is advertised here on craigslist for $9,500 (or the seller may consider trades for an older Jeep or Land Cruiser).
This is a very useable body configuration should you want a vintage delivery truck, camper, or just a cool vehicle that no one else will have. Hey, Jesse & Josh, do we need an official Barn Finds truck?
Wouldn’t that look cool? Reminds me of the old Barn Finds helicopter…any long-time readers remember that?
The interior is very original, with the seat needing some serious help. I’m also guessing we’d need to do some work on the fuel tank, as the typical red jug on the floor usually means someone has started the vehicle through bypassing the original tank. However, the floors and steps look solid as far as you can tell from the pictures.
One has to wonder how a bakery truck from Olean, New York ends up in Idaho. Rhodes Bakeries is no more, but a little research shows that they were the makers of Bamby Bread, which apparently was pretty famous locally at the time. I found a reference to Bamby being chosen as the bread for local Woolworths’ sandwiches. “It’s Good” was the not-so-original slogan for Bamby, as shown on this sign.
With plenty of room inside and the original wood seemingly intact, it would be interesting to see what the new owner of this truck decides to do with it. Personally, I think it would be a terrific hauler for Barn Finds merchandise from car show to car show once they start up again. What do you think, folks?
I think this would be a 221 cubic-inch version of the famous Ford flathead V8 if it’s the original engine, but I’m sure the experts in our readers will correct me if I’m wrong. If it is, we’re looking at an engine that’s relatively easy to get parts for and that can be “hopped up” to a respectable level of performance. So tell us — what would YOU do with this cool find if it showed up in your driveway?
Cool old truck,but it’ll need a lot of money put into it.
I drove through Sandpoint a few years back.Saw an interesting
wrecking yard North of there,but didn’t have time to stop.
Sandpoint used to be a really nice small town –
WAY TOO MANY Californians there now.
I heard the WAY TOO MANY Californians think there are WAY TOO MANY people like you there. Hmmm.
Go to Colorado if you wanna see WAY TOO MANY Californian’s
More Texas here than California,,
Didn’t the earlier V/8 have two radiator hoses, one from each head? I only see one here. I know the last flatheads only had one hose.
ZOOM in real close and you will see it has two water hoses from Radiator to Engine. Have to look real close.
My understanding is that Ford made the flathead V-8 for 30 years from 1932 to 1952. I don’t believe it was available in 1935.
ALL Flatheads have 2 hoses from head and 2 from pumps.
All the flat heads had two hoses.
Thats a lot a dough for a old bagel beater.
Looks like this thing has been “Loafing” around for quite a long time.
IMHO, It would take quite a bit of bread to get this beast rolling well.
But, on the bright side, I think you’d have something really toasty once you were finished.
Boy do I kneed this truck! Would be great to help move my family when the
time comes. Great to read that it runs and drives too. Just add a few more
ponies to the flathead, throw on a set of
juice brakes, sort the fuel and electrical
systems, blend in a 4-speed tranny and call it done. The rest could be fixed as
you drove it. Just think of the rise you’ll
get from the other car nuts when you
show up at the local cruise in. One thing’s for sure, it’s not a cream puff!
I could donuts for this thing.
Who doesn’t love a 1935 bread truck?
“It’s Good” says it all.
Thanks, Jamie. Always refreshing to see old trucks amongst the plethora of Broncos and Ferrari’s. Another great find with fading interest. Naturally, I think their price is extremely out of line, not sure who they are going for, the younger people with money, that have no connection don’t want it( as is) and the folks that would keep it original, are fading fast, and don’t have $10g’s anyway. I think because of it’s neat 30’s styling, someone will plunk a wad of cash into this, transforming it into anything but an old bread truck, and I suppose that’s okay, at least it will be saved. Might want update to juice brakes, while you’re at it, although, there really was nothing wrong with mechanical brakes, perhaps even safer, according to old Henry.
Re: BF’s truck,now that’s a good one,,not bloody likely. The logo looks sharp on it, however.
Sorry, but I just couldn’t resist a reply to your comment earlier. Californian’s have been flocking into Colorado since the 70s, thanks to big business incentives, I know the state very well, as do some relatives who have lived there all there life. And in a attempt to keep politics out of here, California is what turned Colorado “blue”. Enough of that, now back to classic vehicles
I’m from CA and I left because there were WAY TOO MANY Californians there too.
It’s funny because about 80 some years ago everybody from dust bowl states were wanting to move to California and really were not welcome. Now, Californians are not welcome in the old dust bowl states. Great old Ford truck BTW.
Hmm. Ok back to the truck. That could very well be the engine the truck was born with, it is certainly correct for the year. A 221 c.i. 21 stud flathead with water pumps on the heads. If original, the main bearings are of the poured babbitt style which will require some special expertise for renewal. Insert mains were a running change in 1936 with block mounted water pumps arriving for the 1937 model year.
Which company made the body?
it’s gonna take a lot of doe to fix her up! cool truck though
Can deer work on trucks? I had no idea.
A lot of bucks too. Lol
Leave that baby just the way it is. I remember Bambi Bread with the picture of a spotted fawn on wrapping. This would be in Connecticut. A wonderful remembrance.
Jeepers Creepers.
If people could spell the puns would be even funnier.
If people couldn’t spell the buns would be even funnier !
DOUGH, I stand corrected
Barn Find readers have a sense of humor, at yeast. Not just a bunch of crusty old guys
However you slice it, this truck is a dang survivor of the first degree. I’d take some Murphy’s Oil Soap to all that wood in the back to see if it would gleam again. Some modest updates to make the brakes and engine safe to drive. Throw a Mexican blanket on the seat and just drive it to local swaps meets and shows (whenever they start up again). Happy Thanksgiving 2020 everyone!
No, no. You need Tung oil.
It has a polymer effect on wood and rejuvenates!
Made from the tung tree berry. Grows in China where else?
Looks like this might have been (or could/should be) a dually. Comments?
Well why not Jesse and Josh? Show us followers of your Barn Finds that you’re into it and not just write about it. Oh, I apologize, I forgot about your recent project, how’s that coming along? Love you guys and this forum. Today is a great day with lots of vehicles to choose from. Keep up the good work. Happy Thansgiving to all.
God bless America
I always thought bread trucks have it so easy. It’s bread, it’s not heavy. And always filled with the smell of fresh baked bread. You just know they give out a quiet “Yes!” when they find out who their new owner is.
Common misconception, true, one loaf of bread doesn’t weigh much, but stacked in those trays, I think it was 15 loaves per tray, and like 15 high, on those square cart things with square wheels, it does get heavy. As for the smell, when I got the Brownberry job, naturally, the smell was delicious. The boss said, that goes away after a while. I thought , no way, but it did.
From my experience as a kid working in a grocery store, I can tell you YES bread stacked gets very heavy. Every one thought the bread guy had it made until they had to move the stacks of bread crates. Was liking the truck, even got to day dreaming of driving it home to Fl. Staying off mandatory speed roads and taking a few weeks on town roads camping in the rear coming home. Then the dog barked and brought me back to realty. Was a pleasant though though.
Jeeze- What a bunch of loafers. Get busy!!
I live about two and a half miles from the old Rhoades {Bambi} bakery as it was also known. When I was a kid ,I lived straight across from where I now live. I would love to bring this piece of Olean history back home Olean,NY. I would love to make a camper/swap meet hauler out of it.