Quick, think of a cool-looking vehicle – car, truck, motorcycle, ATV, anything. Got one? OK, good.
I’m betting your squishy skull stuff has conjured something intended by its manufacturer to look (and hopefully be) some variety of cool. Since we’re Autopians, your idea of cool may be a Pagani or a Peugeot, a Bugatti or bug-eye Sprite, a Cadillac or a Cavalier (Z24, probably), but still, something meant to evoke some kind of coolness, a shape intended to look good for the sake of looking good.
You probably did not think of a farm tractor or a forklift or some other work vehicle or wheeled/tracked driver-operated utility thing. But those types of machines can indeed look pretty doggone cool! And that’s where we’re at with today’s Autopian Asks. We want you to tell us about the utility and work vehicles you think look way cooler than they should, ought to, or need to.
Let’s see what the gang at your favorite website thinks! No, this website. Who said Angie’s List? Weirdo.
I’ll go first. Ever since David wrote about the Clarktor CT-6 airport tug, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. It looks like it came from a parallel universe where WWII was decided by lawn care. It’s fantastic. Just look at that guy driving it. He can’t believe his good luck. Best day of his life. And did the CT-6 inspire the BMW Grille Design Team, if only in scale? Maybe.
Incredibly, I’m not the only airport tug fan here. Your favorite Daydreaming Designer, The Bishop, professed his love for the modern low-slung tugs that push and pull jetliners, and eloquently described them as “sci-fi shit.”
Sci-fi shit indeed! To wit, the Armored Personnel Carrier that took Ripley and the Colonial Marines in and out of LV-426‘s Weyland Yutani-built atmosphere processor in Aliens was in fact a Hunslet ATT77 Air Towing Tractor. The tug’s APC costume covers every bit of it, but there’s no mistaking those proportions and the massive counter-steering front and rear wheels. Love it.
Whereas the APC was packed with Marines (never mind the fact that the APC interior was far larger than what the actual vehicle could fit inside), the ATT77 airport tug is packed with … all that stuff above. Click to enlarge, it’s fascinating!
The Bish also dropped the shot above as a coolest-looking-vehicle-that-doesn’t-need-to-look-cool nominee. It’s an Oshkosh Striker 4500 Aircraft Rescue And Fire Fighting vehicle (ARFF for short). That’s a good acronym, and I assume those are jets of water and flame-retarding foam blasting from the cannons – but they could just as easily be particle beams if you squint (or click this link). Or, hear me out, this truck could be deployed to help make colossal tacos and sundaes as the SAWCAT (Sour And Whipped Cream Application Truck). I’m full of great ideas.
Resident world-traveling Australian engineer rock star Lewin Day came in hot with the Hardi sprayer. Says Lewin, “They’re monstrous, with the biggest models like the Rubicon 9000 hitting over 50 km/h with huge hydraulic motors in each wheel. Watching the giant boom skate over the terrain at speed is wild.” Watch indeed!
David dropped the photo below as a workin’ machine he loves, and man, I get it. That thing looks ready to flatten all comers under those tracks, and the design is all business with nary a curved panel in sight. It’s a Tucker Sno-Cat 1600 operated by Nova Guides, set up for touring Vail, Colorado, and I would absolutely like a ride.
Says David, “I mean just look at it. It’s humongous, and looks as silly as it does menacing, with a super basic, almost shed-like two-box design, four sets of tracks, and an enormity that’s almost laughable.” I dare you to laugh, DT!
I’ll chalk it up to being blinded by the tracked spectacle that is the Sn0-Cat 1600, but I was surprised David didn’t call out the all-time GOAT of vehicles designed purely to perform a job that not only went on to do the job but also succeeded in being incredibly, indelibly, durably cool decade after decade – I speak of the Jeep, of course, in its wonderful, original Willys MB spec. I especially like it with its jaunty fabric top. “Iconic,” to use a much-overused word, but none could be more apt.
Your turn: what are the working machines that hit your cool button? See you in the comments!
My dad was an owner/operator and drove for over 45 years, and all of us boys have our CDLs, I didnt make a career out of it, but always have and always will love trucks (real class 8 trucks, not lifted truck nutted “pickups”).
My vote is the Strick Cab-Under.
https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/66566-strick-cab-under/
Only time I’ve seen an Oshkosh Striker up close and personal happened when the small commuter plane I was on started filling with smoke. We did an emergency landing at the nearest airport, and as soon as we landed and stopped moving, the Striker roared up, along with what looked like most of the county deputies in pursuit. The striker was an amazing menacing looking machine. Cool, very cool.
Also like to propose for second place the legged tree harvesters
The Sherp ATV.
Oh man, you just reminded me that I absolutely loved snocats when I was little. We once stayed at a slopeside hotel and I spent most of the night watching the “orange trucks” drive around grooming the hill.
You hit the spot with crash tender vehicles, and if you write about them those units are like a ultimate fire truck as it must have robotic water cannons, all terrain capabilities and even “sport” capabilities, all that while being ready 24/7 and must complain the hardest design requirements…. anytime!!! Im a DESIGNER of this vehicles.
I want to read this article!! These vehicles are absolutely fascinating. Many moons ago I was given one of these trucks to play with for a few days when hired (absurdly) to provide crash cover for the landing of the president of a small, poor country at an improvised remote airstrip. We were city firefighters with no ARFF training and no manual for the truck. Going through the truck to figure out what everything was and guess at why it might be there was one of the most interesting mechanical experiences of my life (under-rig nozzles! On the fly tire pressure adjustment! cutting blades on the undercarriage!) Would love an actual explanation. Our exploration also resulted in us accidentally blasting a densely packed neighborhood with the dry chem nozzle….ooops.
Awsome units, the base truck must have at least 600 hp coming over to 1500hp in the 8×8, and every firefighting unit could ask for whatever equipment they want, like punching robotic arms, dual water canons, robotic ilumination, even busher removals!!!, all while must being ready ro hit 0-80 Mph in under 21 seconds. are the top of all trucks, even there are some with real monster truck tires!!!
Yeah, after driving a normal city pumper driving the ARFF felt like driving a sports car. A sports car that was also a tank and also maybe a spaceship.
https://www.theoldrobots.com/Walking-Robot2.html
Legged lumber harvesting equipment is sick.
Aerial – The SR-71. Something designed to take pictures at high altitude should not look as cool as it does.
ON the more terrestrial front- pecan tree shakers. Watching that boom snake out and grab a tree, then making the tree look like it is a stick in a terrier’s mouth as the dog shakes off from being wet is never not amusing.
The Oregon Roadrunner hay squeeze. Basically a forklift designed to move whole hay stacks, then drive backwards down the highway at 70 to the next field. The manufacturer has put effort into giving them style, and has an extensive customisation list. Drop visors, chicken lights, custom paint.
https://oregonroadrunner.com/gallery/
Edit: holy cow, my company’s new squeeze appears in that gallery! White with dark and light blue stepped stripes, at the pump!
There are a lot of vehicles where somehow despite function being far more critical than form resulted in it being awesome to look at anyway. Good spotlight.
The Boeing Long-Load Steer Car.
It’s for transporting very long things like airplane fuselages. The rear of the semi trailer needs to be steerable, so they built this to drive the loads like a hook and ladder fire truck.
Always thought it looked like you could take it racing after you drop off the load.
okay, that one is awesome.
Utility Line Clearance Tractors are where its at! Check out the Kershaw SkyTrim 75 G3!
https://www.progressrail.com/en/Segments/Infrastructure/Kershaw/VegetationEquipment/SkyTrim_75G3.html