[60Buick]

I wanted to share something you don't see eveyday. It is my 52 F8 Tanker. It took me 25 years to find this old girl. My first truck was a 52 F1, I also love tanker trucks. A 52 Tanker was something I have been after but didn't think existed anymore. There were not many built and even fewer left. Tankers were used until the truck wore out, they scrap the truck and put the tank and pumps on a new chassis. I have seen 50 year old tanks on modern trucks. This truck is very unusual to survive as built with the original tank.

This truck is unrestored with 19,000 miles on it. Originally it was a red Esso Aviation Fuel truck. It was ordered new by an airport in West Virginia and was used to fuel Piedmont Airlines DC3's. The airport retired it in the early 1970's, a mining company purchased it and repainted it in their company colors. It was used to fuel the Huey helicopters the mining company had as well as the owners personal helicopter. When he sold the company he retained the truck and put it in his barn to fuel his personal aircraft. When he passed away it was sold to a blue berry farm to fuel tractors. It was filled and never put in service as shortly after the acquisition the new owner passed away.

The truck is retired now and to the delight of my neighbors sits in my driveway asserting it's dominance over all the other vehicles in my neighborhood. She will be indoors in a month or so , just as soon as our new shop building is finished. The original 317 Cargo King Lincoln motor is still running like new as is the original unsyncronized 5 speed Clark transmission. The top speed is 40 mph, if you ain't moving you ain't turning and on a typical day I get 3-5 mpg. F8's came with either an OD transmission or 2 speed rear end, or both. Being ordered for an airport, it got neither. But it did get the heavy duty front axle and the ability to carry 11,000lbs of fuel. I use it for local errands and car shows. If I can make an excuse to drive it, I will.

I consider myself lucky to own it as it had a ton of interest from other buyers. They killed the ad after half a day because it was non stop messages. The owners wife said I was the only one that appreciated it as is and didn't want to make a camper, motorcycle hauler, rollback or rat rod it. So my offer was the one considered. I honestly think I stole this truck but offered everything I had short of my underwear. Her husband would have wanted it taken care of and not modified, so I got it. I have had it almost a year now and it is the jewel of my collection, I plan to take care of it as long as I am above ground and able.