Home » This Looks Like An Action Movie Sequence But How About Those Trucks: Cold Start

This Looks Like An Action Movie Sequence But How About Those Trucks: Cold Start

Cs Austintruck Top
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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.

Vidframe Min Top
Vidframe Min Bottom

Run, yellow truck guy! Get the hell out of there!

Cs Austintruck Cover

I’d watch whatever movie that is, though.

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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.

Cs Austintruck Int1

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!

Cs Austintruck Int2

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I like the inside of the cab, too. Not overly plush but comfortable in that workhorse way. And the seats are suspended on springs!

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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.

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Aaronaut
Aaronaut
3 minutes ago

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.

Canopysaurus
Canopysaurus
26 minutes ago

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.

Baltimore Paul
Baltimore Paul
1 hour ago

And it has a radio! Driver comfort indeed.

10001010
10001010
1 hour ago

More cars need ankle windows!

Ranwhenparked
Ranwhenparked
21 minutes ago
Reply to  10001010

Certain modern vehicles could really use them

Aaronaut
Aaronaut
2 minutes ago
Reply to  10001010

the ladies love to see these calves – give them their own window!

VS 57
VS 57
1 hour ago

The images remind me of the sort of animated series “Clutch Cargo”.

Sid Bridge
Sid Bridge
1 hour ago

These definitely looks like storyboards for Clouzot’s Wages of Fear.

Cheap Bastard
Cheap Bastard
26 minutes ago
Reply to  Sid Bridge

Clouzot’s “Wages of Fear” meets Steve King’s “Maximum Overdrive”:

Not only are the newly sentient trucks homicidal, they’re loaded with nitroglycrine!

Idiotking
Idiotking
1 hour ago

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.

Jakob K's Garage
Jakob K's Garage
17 minutes ago
Reply to  Idiotking

Well tou have a lovely warm engine cover for one of your legs at least 😉

El Chubbacabra
El Chubbacabra
1 hour ago

It really does look like a poster for some kind of Dutch remake of Sorcerer.

Bob the Hobo
Bob the Hobo
1 hour ago
Reply to  El Chubbacabra

Tovenaar

Adrian Clarke
Adrian Clarke
1 hour ago

Juuuuust about remember some of these still being on the road when I was little.

Nic Periton
Nic Periton
11 minutes ago
Reply to  Adrian Clarke

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.

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