1947 supercharged pickup

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PhoenixFear

Senior Member
I talked to a guy today that said he inherited a supercharged 1947 pickup. He says it has aluminum heads. His father had mentioned something about him picking it up from a guy in the Detroit area and it was some factory low production pickup. I did some research and it looks like it may have been one of those one of 35 pickups that may or may not be real. I don't have any pics of this truck but I need to get some. IF this truck checks out, where would be a good place to find a serious buyer for it? He isn't sure on what it's worth and I sure don't know either, just trying to help. Thanks.
 
If real, Barret Jackson:) If you can document it, any of the large auction houses, even Ebay, will/should get the coin.
 
So it was five years ago that Ford supposedly bought this pickup or one just like it for over $800,000. What have they done with it since then? Has it been on display at any shows? Is it in the Ford Museum, or another museum? Did they just hide it away after buying it? ..... Oh, I know! They crushed it right after the purchase because it was a 1947 prototype and was not supposed to be sold!!
I find it hard to understand why some guys have to fabricate such wildly fanciful stories, and even harder to understand why anyone believes them, mush less spreads such silliness on the Internet!
 
I'm still trying to get photos, I know this story is extremely hard to believe but I don't hear stories like this first hand too often. It does say one of 35 though. I'm trying to proceed with caution, as should anyone else interested in this truck.
 
51 MERC-CT said:
Rarer still, out of the 35 that were built, eight (8) had a factory installed 200 MPG carburetor.:D
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And of those eight carbs, six were recalled and melted down by Ford because they also had shares in Big Oil and it wasn't in their interests for the 200 MPG technology to become widespread. This truck is one of the two they couldn't find. The other one's still out there somewhere..........
 
It isn't a bad looking truck, although given the lack of weight in the rear, what good does a supercharged pickup do anyway?
 
I am particularly impressed by the "factory" CB radio installed under the dash. Those Ford engineers sure were thinking "out of the box" to anticipate this coming trend!
 
The chrome top radiator tank and the toy on the air cleaner had to have been Edsel's personal touch.
 
Real interesting that Ford engineering would copy Hot Rodders of the day with after market hot rod parts, chrome and custom paint job. What would the point be, that their engineering was not smart enough to build something original and had to copy the Hot Rod crowd?
 
mhsprecher said:
It isn't a bad looking truck, although given the lack of weight in the rear, what good does a supercharged pickup do anyway?
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It would do what a normal pickup would do, only a bit faster. It would flatten the hills a bit too. Pickups are good, powerful pickups are better.
I'd be surprised if the story on this one is true, but what's not to like about a pickup with a bit more get up and go?
Martin.
 
Originally Posted by mhsprecher View Post
It isn't a bad looking truck, although given the lack of weight in the rear, what good does a supercharged pickup do anyway?
Why would he want more weight in the rear, my turbo Ram pick up does just fine without added weight.
 
I believe McCulloch started producing superchargers specific to flatheads for either the 1937 or 1938 engines. The early ones were not water-cooled. I have one. The initial market for them was truck owners, who wanted more than 85 hp. So this truck could have easily been converted with an off-the-shelf after-market unit by anyone, at any time after, say, 1939. Why Ford would bother is to build one a puzzle. By the way, I'm looking to connect with any other s/c owners who have either non- or water-cooled McCullochs. I need any factory spec. sheets, illustrations, etc. Thanks, guys.
 
91A-77B said:
I believe McCulloch started producing superchargers specific to flatheads for either the 1937 or 1938 engines. The early ones were not water-cooled. I have one. The initial market for them was truck owners, who wanted more than 85 hp. So this truck could have easily been converted with an off-the-shelf after-market unit by anyone, at any time after, say, 1939. Why Ford would bother is to build one a puzzle. By the way, I'm looking to connect with any other s/c owners who have either non- or water-cooled McCullochs. I need any factory spec. sheets, illustrations, etc. Thanks, guys.
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I have a 1937 McCulloch supercharger for my 37 flathead but can not help on the specs for you. Gary:)
 

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