Vintage Dumper: 1940 Brockway 220X Dump Truck
Like many manufacturers, the Brockway Motor Company could trace its roots back to the era of carriages. Formed by Willam Brockway in 1875, the company turned its attention to truck production in 1912. Many of their creations were custom orders, although they were contracted to produce military vehicles during World War II. This Brockway 220X Dump Truck appears to be largely original, and while it shows the ravages of time, it is a solid vehicle that would make an interesting restoration project. The owner has occasionally used it as garden art but feels that it needs to head to a new home where someone is willing to return it to its former glory. It is located in Pleasantville, Pennsylvania, and has been listed for sale here on Barn Finds Classifieds. The owner has listed this gentle giant for $4,500 OBO.
Due to the almost bespoke nature of their business model, Brockway’s model range during its lifetime was enormous. It covered nearly every category that you could imagine within the heavy vehicle sphere. The 220X could be ordered in a couple of variations, but depending on the spring package chosen by the buyer, the Dump Truck derivative had a load capacity of between 7½ and 10 tons. In researching this story, I made an interesting discovery. While the owner believes that the vehicle may be a 1940 model but isn’t completely sure, the Serial Number suggests that Brockway probably rolled it out the door in 1941. Our feature Dumper looks like it would form the sound foundation for a restoration project. Its frame is rock-solid, and like its panels, carries little more than some surface corrosion. Since the buyer will probably tackle this as a frame-off project, that will provide the ideal opportunity to media-blast and return the frame to a factory-fresh state. The panels have accumulated their share of dings and dents over the years, but a patient person should be able to address these with few problems. What is reassuring is the lack of penetrating rust. The exterior wears a heavy coating of surface corrosion, but there is no penetration that the buyer would need to patch or repair. Some of the timber pieces have rotted, but the owner believes they would effectively serve as templates for producing replacement parts. All of the glass is present, but its condition is not great. The saving grace is that it is all flat, so sourcing something better should not be difficult or expensive. As a slice of food for thought, many people would consider tackling a project like this as an overwhelming prospect. The reality is that restoring a heavy vehicle is no more difficult than for any other classic. In some cases, it can be easier due to the more rudimentary design and engineering that these types of vehicles feature. Owners aren’t faced with complex electrical systems or extravagant interior trim. Everything is simple, basic, and designed for ease of maintenance. That makes vehicles like this Brockway excellent restoration projects.
While Brockway predominantly used engines sourced from Detroit Diesels or Cummins, they also fitted engines supplied by the Continental Motors Company. Continental’s range was diverse and covered the spectrum from stationary pump and generator engines to aircraft motors. Our 220X rolled out of Brockway’s factory in Cortland, New York, with a Continental 34B 21R motor hiding under its enormous hood. It appears that this motor remains in situ today, and it is a gentle giant. It is a six-cylinder OHV gasoline unit with a capacity of 428ci. It would’ve been producing around 130hp in its prime, but its great strength in this application is that it churned out some significant torque from low in its rev range. However, I have had difficulty pinning down an exact figure because, like Brockway itself, there is a lack of information on some Continental engines of this era. The news with this engine is mixed, but it doesn’t seem horrendous. It appears that the motor may have been stuck, but the owner applied a liberal dose of PB B’laster and let it soak for around nine months. The engine now turns freely, but it shows no inclination to roar back to life due to a lack of spark. Otherwise, the tires hold air, and the vehicle rolls free. That means that the buyer should have no issues loading it up to take it home.
Brockway Motor Company remained an independent heavy vehicle producer from 1912 until 1956. At that point, the company was purchased by and integrated into the Mack empire. However, all good things must come to an end, and Mack closed the doors on Brockway for the final time in mid-1977. It isn’t clear how many of these pre-Mach trucks exist today, and this is only the second Brockway of any description that we have seen here at Barn Finds in ten years. The person who rescues it will probably be a heavy vehicle enthusiast, but that doesn’t mean that those with a leaning towards smaller classics should rule it out. As I previously stated, restoring a vehicle of this type is no more difficult than any other classic. Sometimes it can be easier due to the fundamental nature of their specifications. All a reader needs to do is scale up their thinking, and they will be on the way to returning this 220X to its former glory. Could you be up for the challenge?
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Comments
Don’t believe they used diesels until the 60’s. I’ve always wanted to take an early one like this and install a rollback and Detroit diesel to haul my other resto projects. Just too busy to do so. Been a Brockway fan my whole life as I grew up riding shotgun with my old man in the family’s excavation business.
Actually I had the opportunity to buy a number of old Brockways in Eastern PA two years ago. One 1940s model did have a Waukesha diesel in it.
I have a 1938 1 ton brockway dump truck.. it has a 290 flat head with a cracked block. hoping to find a good engine. Any leads?
48 seconds in, me, me, me,,:), a Brockway, or Bruckvey, as an old Jewish doctor my parents knew, called them, by gar, I didn’t think I’d see something like this, just when my hopes of vintage trucks appearing fade, Ta-da! Thanks Adam!
Brockway, always identified by it’s signature windshield design, was primarily an east coast make. It was more than a “Mack on steroids”. They had many features Mack didn’t have, like “Husky-Drive”, a type of transmission setup. Mack used Bulldogs, and Brockway used the Alaskan Husky, to promote toughness. We never saw’r a Brockway in the MIdwest, and I would notice such things. Year shouldn’t be a big deal, I read, during the onset of Dubja, Dubja 2, der, manufacturers were making trucks so fast, serial numbers did get messed up. Most of these were blown to smithereens anyway,( hopefully the driver got out) or remained in Europe after the war. The ones that didn’t go overseas, usually ended up as municipal trucks. Too bad there’s no interior shots, Brockway always had a nice dash and 4 spoke steering wheel. To be clear, diesels were a ways off for this model, most all were gas jobs until Mack took them on in the 50’s. Out east, Brockway was a household name, I bet some in other parts never heard of them. Great find, stuff like this has almost all but been found. About 20 years ago, I read an article in some magazine, someone in upstate NY came across an abandoned gravel pit, from the 40’s, with a bunch of dump trucks from the 30’s all over grown. They figured, someone who owned the gravel pit, went to war, and never came back. Adam is right, info on Brockway’s, or most vintage trucks is limited. This probably has a crash box 5 speed, maybe a 2 speed rear, but I doubt it, there was no need for a 2 speed in the 40’s and certainly needs updating from the gearbox back, the motor is fine, but is a low rpm engine, with torque under 3,000, so gearing for today, is a must. If you have the slightest hankering for an old dump truck, I wouldn’t dawdle on this one. Redo it as you see fit, but there just can’t be many left like this. Great find, and only on BarnFinds!!!
You’re right Howard. I don’t recall seeing a Brockway out west until the 80s in (I believe) Shelton WA, during a truck show. I’d heard of them and saw pictures but that was the first time I saw them in the flesh. I didn’t think that they used the dual ignition system on anything but fire trucks and aircraft but I’m sure I could be proven wrong. Nice restoration candidate. If I had the facilities…
Sorry about the interior shots being absent, I was having trouble with the size of my pics. I will try to add some here. Thanks for your interest.
Thanks, Jack, I thought most had a 4 spoke wheel. Just a little side note, I agree with Geo, I don’t recall many Continental motors with dual ignition, unless it was a fire engine motor, so it’s possible this was not an original motor? No matter, stout units. It clearly has a “set of clubs”, ( 2 shifters, H-L, ?)) so probably a “Brownie” Aux. trans, but with low rear gearing, 40-45 tops, I bet. Love the defroster fan and the 1/4 barrel fuel tank,,nice!!! Good luck with the sale, someone is going to get a sweetheart.
I was excited about this until my wife looked over my shoulder and said, “I don’t think so!”
Yes, dear,,,I used to bring this stuff home, THEN ask.
Any information you need would probably be here :
https://cnylivinghistory.org/
Hope this helps.
Sporty. It must do zero to 60 in never.
It has dual ignition
On the second Saturday in August there is a Brockway truck show in Cortland, NY. Usually about a hundred trucks make the trip.
Interesting motor. I think I counted 8 plug wires. First motor I had seen with 2 coils. I,d like to trying and work on this truck. Be interesting in what all a person could learn. A friend of mine had a 59 model. His dad needed a dozer hauled in from Charleston ,W.Va. The had one big hill to climb on highway 19 south. Off of Interstate 79. The son wanted to haul it,but his dad said it couldn,t get the dozer up Pals Mountain. Its about a 4-5 mile up hill all the way. So he got his brother-in-law .With his late model tractor. Well the late model one made it about half way and ran out of power. So the son talked his dad into letting him try. The old 6 cylinder hooked to the late model tractor with dozer on the trailer and pulled it with ease. The old 59 looked like hell,but it done what it was called to do .
Not sure, but I was able to count 11 wires in that pile, so I’m wondering if it’s a 12 cylinder?
It’s an inline 6 with dual ignition. It has 6 plugs down the left side of the head and 6 down the right side. Both coils serve one distributer cap that has a rotor with two pickups.
Also used Hall-Scott engines.
In a restaurant in Santiago Chile, I saw an old photo of the Eiffel built main railroad station with a line of Brockway busses in front. Until then, I had never heard of the make; the photo dated from the mid.20´s.
The clearcoat ruins it for me. But then what do you do with a truck like this? To old to use for commercial work, to rare and expensive to use for daily driver, I think the only thing is use it for advertising purposes, occasionally take it to a show or parade, but unless you’ve got a large garage or warehouse where you going to park it?
God bless America
That clear coat went away when the sun came out and dried the rain…really.
It’s true, what DO you do with it? That, and where to keep it, is usually a deal breaker on these big units. This old gals working days are long past, and it’s merely a toy for today. Anything for commercial use today has to be volume. Loads this old horse would shutter at, but in 1940, make no mistake, this was state of the art. You hauled 10 tons of material,( I believe it was measured in yards then) that was a BIG load. Huge construction projects had army’s of these trucks, and it was trucks like this, not necessarily dump configurations, that helped win the war.
Today, I know the farm I lived on used a dump truck on occasion, hauling wood, or debris, and if you’re lucky, that kid cousin from the city just might learn something about old trucks.
I just came here for the “Vintage Dumper” jokes.
The Black widow drove a Brockway in the movie Convoy until she flipped it over (which was an accident but they kept it in the movie). There’s your useless trivia for the week:-)
Great time of year to visit Cortland. November, not so much. Be sure to get some apples!
Appears to be a six with dual ignition. Hence the two coils and 12 plug wires. Other plugs are on the other side of the engine. Is my guess, of course.
See my reply to Andy B
Howard A, if it’s the same Continental that builds aircraft engines, they have dual ignition, though magneto fired. With two magnetos. I can’t quite get my head around dual ignition from one distributor cap accepting two coils….!
I believe they used a dual point ignition as well.
I wish!! Being a Brockway myself this would be awesome!
My Uncle Jim swore by the Brockway dump trucks back n the 60’s-80’s.
When ordering concrete from the Bayless concrete plant in St. Louis, if we were in a bad spot or it was muddy as hades they had some 4 axle drive, front discharge concrete trucks that were Brocks that could go anywhere. I personally never seen one hung up and would pull the Macks out. And Mack back then ruled the trucking industry.
I wore a Brockway ball cap that was one of a kind very cool back in the 70’s, wish I had it now. Had a big bad husky on the front pulling a sled.