Detroit’s WJR radio reports tonight from the Detroit Auto Show that Ford is introducing a concept truck - the F250 Super Chief. They report it is designed to look like a locomotive. I can’t quite get my head around that. Ditch lights, maybe? How about a flat nose with a door in the front? Warbonnet paint? Or could it be a steamer with a barrel shaped nose? And a single headlight.
If Ford asked you to design such a truck, what would you feature?
(muttering) … a five chime air horn…[;)]
Oh Lord I hope not…
For '07 the entire superduty lineup (250 - 550) is gettin a body style refresh (more excuse to jack the price) and a brand new diesel engine. They’re scrappin the four year old 6.0L Powerstroke for a 6.4L twin turbo. This is simply turnin into a wizzin contest for horsepower and torque between the duramax and cummins. All the while givin the axe to the fuel milage that diesels were known for
What do I want? The moderate power stock, but great fuel milage of the ole 7.3L. Selectable horsepower tuning that can be adjusted to the task at hand, just like the big trucks. Monster diesel power for smokin the ricers and sports cars. Big torque for towin. And cut back fuel settings for just highway cruzin. All this can be had with aftermarket chips and tuners, but I would like it stock and warrentied from the factory.
Adrianspeeder
Most of my customers drive big ol’ honkin’ crew cab pick ups that look like locomotives anyway.[:)]
LOts of them around here, too. Dulies, what a pain in the Parking Lot! [%-)][%-)][%-)][banghead]
It depends entirely on how well it’s executed. Cars of the late Fifties–especially Cadillacs–looked like jet fighters; they antagonized the critics but now hold iconic status. In the early Sixties critics said the Mustang would bomb because young people either wanted a larger “family car” or a British roadster. The thing was only forty percent new sheet metal and it MADE money as well as Lee Iacocca’s career. Critics said the PT Cruiser wouldn’t work because it wasn’t as practical as a minivan and nobody wanted to carry Forties nostalgia THAT far. More recently the Chrysler 300M was supposed to bomb because “nobody wants a pimpmobile.”
Will a “Super Chief” truck grille be an homage or a botch? I have no idea but I give Ford credit for trying.
I agree with you completely, Adrian, it’s getting to be overkill with the power and torque ratings. I think the manufacturers need to offer optional diesel engines again, like what Dodge was doing for a few years with their standard and high-output versions. In the meantime, I’ll keep my 2001 Dodge 2500 with the standard Cummins, 235 horse, 460 ft-lb of torque, and 20 miles to the gallon.
I still like the print advertisment Dodge did in the ninties with the Cummins–‘It’s what you get when you cross a diesel locomotive with a really nice sofa’.
Randy
Or take the Dodge Magnum…who in their right mind would build a station wagon, and who would buy it?
Dodge did, and I bought one…most fun I have had with my clothes on in a long while.
The Magnum, Charger and the 300, all on the LX platform, are three of the major reason Chrysler is still in the black.
And look for a two door Challenger, on the LX platform, next year…prototype cars have all the fun styling of the 70 Challenger, which, if you can find one in “good” shape, sell in the 30 to 40 thousand dollar range today.
Ed
But it’s still a dodge… 
Adrianspeeder
Ford had locomotives with automobile styling that eventually wound up on WAG. Why not turn the tables and have a truck look like a locomotive.
(Of course it will look like a breakdown prone GE![:D][:D][:D]
If it’s any consolation, Land Rover (now owned by Ford) seem to be going the same way. Only the Defender can still do a day’s work without getting damaged, the rest are falling into SUV territory rather than the serious off-roaders that they used to build. When the Series 2 Discovery came out they ran a world tour using two of them to prove the strength of the vehicle, no sign of anything like that for the Series 3 version. It now weighs a lot more than the original but having had a nose around the new one I really can’t see the point. I have a '96 300 TDI (Series 1), and can’t see the newer models offering anything I want.
Here is a picture link:
http://fp.images.autos.msn.com/merismus/as/autoshow2006/photos/l_Ford_F-250_Super_Chief_Concept_02.jpg
Very streamlined like the Super Chief. Looks to have “suicide doors” for the back seat passengers though.
Mike
Yeah, just like any auto maker, the prototypes are just to go “ooooo” over.
Heres was the '05 concept, “Tonka”
This was the '05 with it’s new grill…
Here is the “new” redesigned '07 spy photos out testin the new 6.4L PSD
Adrianspeeder
Dem’s fightin’ words!![:D][:D]
Randy
Found this article on it
http://www.blueovalnews.com/index.php?categoryid=12&p2_articleid=92
[:0]Wow! I know it is a concept car but I have to say that it is pretty intriguing. The engine is interesting enough on its own but with the interior and the ceiling/roof. Wow.[:0]
And I’m a GM automotive fan.
Thanks for the link
Mike
Hey, when you drive a hybrid like I do, it’s great to watch all those pickup trucks pull off at exits to get more gasoline or, even worse, diesel!
It’s also great when it snows, when I have to tow, and when little cars pull in front of me…
Ed you are absolutely correct. Bought a brand new 1967 Plymouth Belvedere GTX with 426 hemi for $5,350.00 new sold one month ago for $38,700.00. Pays to hold onto some old Chrysler products.
You know…maybe it’s just me, but if you took the Ford “Super Chief” and extended the roofline all the way back, from the side I could see it resembling an ALCo PA. Throw a warbonnet paint job on it and it would certainly be a unique ride!
Those WA&G engine were tough as nails! But they rode that way, too since they were switchers, not road locomotives. They managed to keep going until they were nearly 35 years old,(the WAG didn’t last long enough for one to achieve 40 years in service) which is not bad at all for such an early design! They out lived lots of EMC NCs,NWs,SCs and SWs with Winton power plants. Yes, EMD did give incentives to those engine’s owners to upgrade them to SW900s,SW900ms or SW1200s. BTW a truck that looks like a locomotive would have a sales problem in this day and age (gas will be $3.009 in this overtaxed (NY) state before the month is out)![banghead]
