I saw this lovely adver-painting for Austin FG-series trucks on this old 1963 brochure, and was struck by a lot of things, but mostly the weird tension of the scene, most likely unintended. I know, rationally, that’s a friendly wave from the dude entering the yellow truck and the expression on the faces of the people in the other truck – who are just driving by – are meant to be friendly.
But it doesn’t really feel that way. It looks like yellow truck guy is waving his hand in a bit of a panic, because in this reading, the red and black truck is barreling right at him, and the expressions on the faces of those inside are ones of maniacal laughter! It feels like a scene from some ’60s crime drama.
Run, yellow truck guy! Get the hell out of there!
I’d watch whatever movie that is, though.
Of course, the trucks themselves are pretty incredible; the FG series of trucks (and their Morris siblings) went into production in 1960 and were pretty advanced cab-over trucks of the era. They were really thoughtful designs for trucks designed to operate in a lot of tight, congested spaces. Look how that cab door opens: suicide-style but also angled so the door doesn’t protrude past the widest point of the truck!
If you can get that truck in a given parking spot, you know you can get the door all the way open.
Those big corner windows down low are also a big deal when it comes to driving in narrow streets full of cyclists and pedestrians and dogs and whatever. Also, if you look right behind the window up there, you can see the big turn indicator, set low, so people on the street can see that a truck may be intending to turn, and know to get the hell out of the way. It’s thoughtful!
I like the inside of the cab, too. Not overly plush but comfortable in that workhorse way. And the seats are suspended on springs!
You can really see the unusual door position in this side-view here. And that low window! Also, I wonder why that slatted design stuck around for so long. Are those sides wood? I think so. Was that cheaper than stamped metal?
I’d like a really short wheelbase version of one of these, I think, even if it’d be pretty undrivable, most likely.
Anyway, I hope that dude didn’t get run over.
Absolutely wonderful design, loads to enjoy aesthetically but a look that says “I am here to get the job done“.
I can’t say about the seats having springs, but the scissor lift for vertical adjustment is pretty cool.
The bed appears to be a drop-side. Pull the pins fore and aft, and then it swings down on the hinges at the bottom of each vertical strap. Given the length of those sides, I could see the horizontal slats being wood rather metal in order to be light enough for the side to be hoisted back up more easily. Unless they went with alumin(i)um.
That shifter position looks really awkward, though unavoidable with the doghouse there. I can imagine the drivers developing weird elbow problems.
If you want to see really awkward shifter position – look no further than GAZ 66:
https://1cars.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/GAZ-66-4-2.jpg
They had to make a dent in rear wall of a cab, as an afterthought to make shifting even possible 😉
Those Austin FG trucks seem to have perfect ergonomcs in comparison. Lower front windows and fancy doors are really cool and well thought out.
Is that Mack Hardigraw climbing in that yellow truck?
FGs! Awesome and terrible all at once! Funky low windows! With a doghouse in the cab, so you can hot-rag start it easily in the cold by holding a flaming torch over the intake! Ahhh, I know them well, and remember them kinda fondly…
Despite being a UK brand, these Austin lorries never caught on in Scotland. Something about low windows and kilts.
Nothing’s worn under an FG.
Everything is in perfect working order.
Hot damn, (as an artist) all I can think about when looking at these ads is how AMAZING these painters were. Absolute masters at a largely unappreciated craft.
It’s all double Dutch to me, and I should know, I studied Dutch in college. This is all I can recall: Een ezel stoot zich niet twee keer aan dezelfde steen.
What did that stone ever do to that donkey ?
Not sure, think it has something to do with being a wise ass.
And it has a radio! Driver comfort indeed.
More cars need ankle windows!
Certain modern vehicles could really use them
the ladies love to see these calves – give them their own window!
The images remind me of the sort of animated series “Clutch Cargo”.
These definitely looks like storyboards for Clouzot’s Wages of Fear.
Clouzot’s “Wages of Fear” meets Steve King’s “Maximum Overdrive”:
Not only are the newly sentient trucks homicidal, they’re loaded with nitroglycrine!
I wonder if the cabs on these were as cold as the IH Sightliners were said to be with that glass down by the driver’s feet.
Well tou have a lovely warm engine cover for one of your legs at least 😉
Metal one too, no fancy heat absorbing fibreglass for these intrepid highway warriors
It really does look like a poster for some kind of Dutch remake of Sorcerer.
Tovenaar
Juuuuust about remember some of these still being on the road when I was little.
Young whippersnapper, the pig bin man had one, so did the parcel man. The film that sprung to mind was Hell Drivers, but then I realised that I am an idiot. Hell Drivers was made in 19577! How silly of me.
“when I was little.” evokes cognitive dissonance.
I was actually created in a top secret NHS experimental laboratory (mental being the operative part of the word).
Cognitive consonance restored!
I ran away to join the hippies at the free festivals in 1990. These were everywhere.