Running Relic: 1941 Ford Marmon-Herrington
Originally used as a tanker truck for the Rockport, Manitoba Canadian fire department, this 1941 Ford Marmon-Herrington 6×6 was well maintained. It currently resides in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but will be shipped out of Pembina, North Dakota if purchased by a U.S. buyer. The title is said to be clear for worldwide registration. There is a BIN of $7,450, or you can place a bid with a reserve. Thank you, Ikey H, for the tip. You can view more on eBay.
According to the listing, the Flathead V8 does run. They claim that service has been applied to the engine recently, but they do not go into detail on what services were performed. I hefty four-speed manual transmission is what gets this truck moving. There are photos of the interior showing instructions on the dashboard of where the gearing positions are. They do make a note that the brakes could use work.
Beyond the diagrams for the transmission operations, there are also photos of the speedometer and other gauges and levers in the cab. The green bench seat looks to be in decent condition. According to the listing, there is some minor rust on the corner of the cab and some very small holes on the driver side floor. As you can see from the photos, the truck is quite complete and would be easy to enjoy quickly.
This is an incredible truck in decent condition. For the BIN price, you will have yourself a wonderful piece of enjoyable history. Since Marmon-Herrington is still producing military grade products to this day, this vehicle could very well be something you could work in tandem with them to get rebuilt and restored. Nostalgia is very trendy right now, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they would want to showcase just how far their products have come and how long they last.
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Comments
Actually I’m inclined to disagree with the vintage of this truck. I’m going to say that it’s a ’42. 1942 was the year the ‘jailbar grill’ came out. The cab was the same as the ’40 and stayed in production until ’47.
Now that I’ve said that. I wish I was in a position to take this truck home and fix it. I haven’t the foggiest idea what I would do with it but it’s special. Put a deck of some kind on it, or even mount a ramp. I would find something to do with it. Otherwise it would be like the trucks in a collection not too far from me: one helluva great conversation piece. Like I said: I wish I could take a project like this on…
Agreed, this is a ’42-’47 style truck. What do you want to bet that the department bought it new in the late summer or fall of 1941 when the new ’42s came out and thus that’s what is on the registration?
This would be a perfect basis for my retro motorhome dreams and the M-H conversion would mean we could camp in some pretty rustic locations. Might have to pull the V-8 in favor of a 300-cu.in. Ford straight six, though, just to have ready access to parts on the road.
Hi David. I can agree with the 300 six if you’re going to take it back into the boonies. And that’s coming from a knock-down and drag-out purist. The flathead is a good workhorse but it’s rather difficult to get parts at the Inter-Mountain, Autoparts, Bait and Tackle Shop…
Hi David ( are you THE David Conwill?) I don’t think it’s a ’42, regardless of the grill. Could it be added later? I read, production for all Ford cars and trucks ended Feb. 10, 1942, and very few 1942 trucks were built for the civilian market. The only way you could get one is if you could prove your business needed it for the war effort. Since most of these AWD units went overseas, I doubt anybody, even fire departments could get one after 1941. It lasted through 1944, when the “War Board” relaxed some of the rules for heavy duty trucks.
Hi Howard. I’ve never thought of myself as THE David Conwill, but I suppose I might be!
I wrote this: https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/the-myths-of-1942/
A fair number of farmers and fire departments were able to get trucks during the war years. It’s possible this is a ’41 with later front sheetmetal–as geomechs points out, the cabs are the same–but things were a little different in Canada anyway. Did you know they actually resumed racing up there before the end of the war?
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2018/09/13/the-mystery-racer-of-edmonton/
Thanks David, here I’m telling you. I always enjoy your contributions to the Big H. BF’s is very privileged to have an esteemed writer like you chime in. ( Does the boss know you’re here?) I would have thought, ANY M-H conversion was destined for military around that time, these folks were probably considered lucky to get this one. Thanks for the info, I may scratch the surface with these posts, but I can trust you know what you’re talking about.
Actually production of commercial and emergency trucks carried on in limited numbers throughout the war. Carrier operators and emergency services had to apply for a permit and once authorized could order a new truck. It took longer but it was still available. This is the’42 – ‘47 truck. See my first post for a’40-‘41.
Hi Geomechs doesn’t look like a lot of interest on this truck. I think it’s a very interesting truck I’m especially curious about the rear axle assemblies I’ve never seen anything like it. I to haven’t the foggiest idea as to what could be done with it, but it is pretty cool nevertheless.
Hi Mark. Yeah, I thought there would be more action regarding this truck. Seem to be lacking some enthusiasts or people that are attracted to products of some off-track thinking. Howard was always good to get the debates started, especially on trucks like this one. You know, you get on a site like this and it seems like no time at all you have a little cluster of like-minded enthusiasts who log on, not only to see what new things are out there, but who’s already been here. It’s kind of a cyber coffee row that you look forward to each day. And when one backs away for whatever reason, it seems to affect a lot of others. I’ve been a regular on this site for a number of years now and I’ve looked forward to meeting the others who show up, just like I look forward to my Friday morning coffee crowd; It’s become an institution. We come from all over the place but we all have a couple of things in common: Old and interesting modes of transport. And regular contact with good friends. Anyways, I’m going to continue to haunt this site, and I hope that you and all the other friends I’ve met do too. Although my wife occasionally let’s out the odd tsk, she would rather see me spend some time here than in the bar. And I’ve already spent too much time there…
So have you ever seen a tandem rig like this it’s a new one on me. Front axles in backwards and the two share a sort of transfer case to drive them. I was curious as to weather that unit was chain or gear drive. Any thoughts on that Geomechs. And the axles look like old split housing Tee axles, very different. Oh and ya I’ve been missing Howard on here too.
It was a concoction that all got cobbled together and it worked. Like I mentioned to Howard I’m sure the basic axle assemblies were supplied by Ford. MH and Thorton made it all work. And I think it was all a gear drive; nothing like getting all those gears to whine away; they might even drown out the basic T-9 crashbox ahead of it…
I have to agree with and thank you. I am inexperienced in the area of older vehicles and this is an amazing resource to see what is out there and the reading is always informative and entertaining. I enjoy jumping onto this site close to daily to read and learn. There is a huge wealth of knowledge between everyone on this site and it is appreciated. Thank you
Haven’t we all at one point in time. LOL
Wish I had the money…
These old trucks look nothin but tough, with all that air between the front fenders and tires. I for one always appreciate the knowledge and insight you older gents bring to the forum, try to take it all in like a sponge. Always somethin to learn.keep right on haunting. BTW, what happened to Howard? God Bless…
Still here, haven’t commented. 1st, an apology ,of sorts to Jesse, if I’m allowed back. I suggested to a seller to go elsewhere, as tactfully as I could, but I realize I was out of line. It’s none of my business who sells what to who. I do miss my friends here, enemies, if any, not so much. It’s postings like this when I can’t help but comment. Thanks to all, especially geomechs.
This truck is pretty unique. If it is a ’41, I read could be one of the 1st M-H conversions. Also, it has “Thorton Drive”. Thorton was company out of Detroit that in conjunction with M-H, made the 1st “twin screw” non-slip axles for the military, seen here. This truck does have an aux. trans. according to the diagram, a 2 speed, giving 8 forward speeds and 2 reverse. More gears does not mean more speed, however and with low axle ratio,( 5:38) the speedo tells all, 35 max.
So, yeah, the eternal question, what to do with it? Being an ex-fire dept. truck, the miles are true, and generally, fire trucks make the best candidates, and it would be a shame to not utilize the all wheel drive, I say make a dump truck out of it for slow hauling. Be an easy swap, and a hit with any gearjammer.
Ok, I’m going to hit post, let’s see what happens. Peace.
Hi Howard. Good to see you back amongst the ranks of the hopeless gearheads. And this feature definitely brings out the gearhead in all of us. Thorton? I was thinking Brown and Lipe but I have to agree with you. Rockwell supplied (and still does) 4×4 components too but this dropbox has features that are unfamiliar to me. I think Ford supplied the basic axle assemblies. From the 1928 AA until around 1952 that 2-piece pumpkin was a Ford trademark. But it was a single speed; if you wanted a 2-speed they supplied an Eaton. The 2-speed here would likely be direct and super-granny; you could farm with this. I’m wondering if a Minneapolis UDLX would pass it on the road? LOL.
Thanks, further reading shows, it was a 2 speed transfer case, not an aux. trans. so to speak, although, they did make a splitter for non-AWD applications like semi tractors. So it really was a 4 speed as the author says. Even the best gearjammers would have a hard time split shifting a transfer case, although, I’ve done it on a Willys, for fun. I believe it was M-H from the transfer case forward and Thorton to the back. It was a stout unit and they supplied other WW2 truck makers, as well. Eaton supplied the axles.
Hi Howard I can be pretty out spoken too, sometimes it’s hard to colour between the lines sorta speed.Great to see your posting again
Great to see you back Howard! I do not always understand what you and George talk about on some of these old rigs, like today. But I do enjoy reading the comments. You know, now that weed/hemp is legal to grow in Wisconsin now, put a stake bed on it for the hemp harvest. Head East comes to mind. Welcome back.
Howard,
Great to see you back
You Geomechs and some of the others are a great resource
I came up as an equipment mechanic for a guy who purchased almost solely used or military surplus equipment and cut my teeth on old mechanical stuff like this. Wish I could own it but shipping to Japan would be expensive besides surface roads here have an average speed limit of 50KPH so this would fit right in
Got friends here who regularly drive stock Model-Ts and Model- A’s just because they aren’t to slow for here.
Welcome back Howard.
Rolling history, for sure. M-H trucks do have a devoted fan base, perhaps not as many fans as the NAPCOs but they are out there. Hope it gets preserved and used.
Enjoy all the comments about this rig,used to see a single axel farm truck hauling grain into the local elevator years ago with this M-H conversion. Most likely a fire truck originally. I always wanted to get a look at the drive lines but never had the chance,The oldest twin screw I looked at while wrenching in town had a transfer case that sent power back with two drive lines,one into the front driver,another sent power around the side of the front differential and then angled back into the rear, This stuff has always fascinated me.
Hi KS. I saw that arrangement on earlier Binders. There’s a collector I know, has a ’40 IH D245 with that setup. It’s sure different if you’re used to the interaxle differential that is common today…
Put a tilting flatbed on it and you’ve got one heck of a car hauler. If you plan to do a lot of traveling, consider upgrading the drivetrain and brakes to more economically compatible form, just don’t hack up what you have doing it.
If I had the time, money, and storage space for it, I’d be seriously looking at it.
Think you are right about what I saw so many years ago being a I H C ,its hard to imagine how far we have advanced with truck technology,on the other hand yesterday I looked at a 09 Pete being junked out, nice low mileage,cab,interior good as new , Cat engine junk,emission system malfunction took the whole thing down,thats not progress in my mind,sad.
Hi Mike! Did you ever set the valves in
your flattie? When you wrote me, you
were pretty much beside yourself trying
to get it done. I was gonna say this was
a ’42, but you’ve already said it. Hi Howard, welcome back! Wondered what
happened to you! Hadn’t seen you in ages! Could you imagine what an uproar
there would be if you took this truck to a
Early Ford V-8 Club meet?!! In all my years following their events, (over 50
years now).have I ever seen anything
like this. I’d put either a stake bed on
this or a 5th wheel to tow semi trailers.
Whatever you use it for, you’d have a
really cool truck to do it with.
Nobody seems to know what to do with this truck, it’s so slow you wouldn’t want to drive it on a public highway, so maybe it could be used as a log hauler in the mountains. Or just to look at and study. When this was built motorized vehicles were still in their infancy, roads were minimal so as a firefighter it would be used off road. At any rate it’s cool.
God bless America
Welcome back Howard
Welcome back Howard! There are a bunch of people on this website that I have learned from, & you are one of them. I truly appreciate all of you!
Looks like it could be a ’42 model. Perhaps bought in ’41 and registered and titled for that year. What a Beast!
I saw, and also rode, in a fair number of wartime Ford and Chevy 4×4 single axle trucks as a kid, but never a truck like this. In the late 50s, I was in the cadets and in the army reserves, and those trucks were being slowly being replaced, but were still being used.
I don’t know anything of the mechanics of the trucks, other than to state they were cool, but not a pleasure to drive, either on the highway or in the woods. They certainly did the job. They were built in Canada for the Canadian military, as well as for export to the UK during the war.
The front axle on the listed truck, looks similar, if not identical to the one on these CMP trucks.
It states in the link I am posting, that the Canadian Army was looking for a 6×6 back in 1938, and in the link, it shows the picture of a 42 6×6 next to a CMP 4×4.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Military_Pattern_truck
I think this truck is fantastic. I am having visions about how to install the hiab off my F600.
Bob
Hello all it was fun reading all of your comments. I enjoy everyone’s enthusiasm into the rare stuff. I happen to know the person who is selling this truck and I’ve also been watching this truck for a few years as I know they have had it hiding before selling. I’ve known them in the vehicle Community for selling as they get ahold of some pretty awesome trucks. I myself I’m a collector of Oddball rare things. And I’m completely obsessed with these types of trucks. I will be the new owner it is actively forsale still right now but it won’t be for long. I haven’t told anyone yet but my Instagram is where I keep many photos of all my rare vehicles tons of great pictures and write ups on them. If this interests you you should definitely take a look at my Instagram I guarantee you will see something that interests you!
My Instagram is @Schule388 you can expect posts from this truck in the future when I get to set my eyes on it finally.
Hey Chase, that’s pretty cool, I hope it works out for you. Any idea what you plan to do with it? Looking forward to updates. There’s a wealth of knowledge here, geomechs, for example, has forgotten more than I know, and I myself have been around trucks since before birth, I was told. If you have any questions, let us know. I am trying to get more trucks here, and will renew my membership to do so ( next special).
If I may, with a name like Chase ( as opposed to Howard or Festus) you must be a younger person. If so, I can die a happy man knowing younger people are interested in old trucks.
Hey there! I have actually been on the hunt for one of these exact trucks for a while I don’t think I had a exact plan for something I wanted to make out of it. I am just a Avid Enthusiast when it comes to Ford and especially Marmon Herrington and things alike and Thornton Drives. I have another Marmon Herrington myself. And I’m been on the lead for others for years.
I’m going to let the ideas for this truck come naturally and slowly. It was originally a fire truck I actually have pictures of the fire bed bumper unit that was on the back it was actually just on the truck not too long ago. But the sellers took it off because they figured no one would want it and it makes it easier to ship. I for one probably would have wanted it left on it. But not sure what I would have done with it if it would have been on there then.
And yes! By age I am pretty young compared to most I’m 25. But I’m a very old soul haha. I am super passionate about vehicles and preserving them and their history!
That’s great to hear, tip of the iceberg if you’re into old trucks. Personally, I’m partial to Diamond T, had a ’49 201 pickup, had my own Western Star( actually made money with that truck) and several Peterbilts.( not so much). The M-H conversion is pretty rare, a place I worked for years ago had a ’55 Ford F-500 as the snowplow, it’s how I learned about them, stout unit, it was, and should be retained for historical value. The biggest problem you’ll encounter with old trucks is the gearing. There are several ways to remedy that, but not without going modern. Many will tell you the ” Cummins/F350″ swap is the only way. Us oldsters disagree, and it’s just not that kind of vehicle. Old flatheads run just fine. ( Hope you are adept at “crash box” shifting too) I don’t know if you can get highway ratios for those old Eaton pumpkins, and probably just as well. They just weren’t designed for fast travel. Apparently, I was wrong about municipalities getting these ( thanks geo and David) I found several on images. Keep in touch.
http://mystarcollectorcar.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/SDC11208.jpg
That’s awesome! I absolutely love Diamond tees I’ve been hunting one down for quite some time now. I have lots of other rare things I keep letting that one Escape me for a bit till I find the right one!
And yes these trucks always have low miles and are mostly untouched and just sitting because of the gearing they have and the fact that none of them can never get up to a high speed
I actually have a 1954 big job Marmon Herrington that needs work. Has a giant Digger unit on the back of it used to dig telephone pole holes
Chase, you really are an old soul, and that is a compliment. Very cool! I wish my son had the interests you have. He prefers his Honda Civic with the big tin can exhaust, looking all “Fast & Furious”. You have great taste in vehicles!
Haha thank you! There are definitely a few crowds when it comes to the tuner cars ones that I like to make more of a joke about it. But I still applaud anyone working on anything but actually has passion for it and wants to put in the time and love.
Congrats! Ended:Oct 26, 2019 , 8:31PM
Winning bid:US $7,600.00
[ 13 bids ]