Home » The Mushroomiest Truck You’ve Ever Seen Has An Unfortunate Name: Cold Start

The Mushroomiest Truck You’ve Ever Seen Has An Unfortunate Name: Cold Start

Cs Unictruck Shroom
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That truck is extremely fungal-looking, isn’t it? There’s something just so mushroomy about the cab, with the way the roof extends out over the sides, in an almost architectural manner. This one is a 1962 Unic-Sahara, made by the French company Unic, a name that in English has some generally unpleasant connotations, at least to people in favor of keeping their genitals intact and part of their bodies. They started way back making cars in 1905, but stropped in 1938, then the name was resurrected in 1952 when it became the commercial arm of French carmaker Simca. Then they were bought by Fiat, then got wrapped up into IVECO! Man, what a ride, right?

Anyway, this is a big brute of a truck, even if it does look like a big mechanical mushroom. Cs Unic Details

Vidframe Min Top
Vidframe Min Bottom

The cabin looks nice and roomy, and hot damn that’s a huge an accessible air cleaner! I’m not sure I’m crazy about the prison-style rear windows, though.

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Sklooner
Sklooner
11 months ago
Hugh Crawford
Hugh Crawford
11 months ago
Reply to  Sklooner

POSIX compliant when I had that job.

DysLexus
DysLexus
11 months ago

Little known fact 😉
The architectural designer of this truck went on to design multiple award winning heating and air conditioner units on some of the most famous buildings in Paris in the late 60’s.

Gubbin
Gubbin
11 months ago

And here’s the building to keep it in: https://www.delocht.nl/paddenstoelen/
(Limburg is very proud of their mushroom farming.)

Luxobarge
Luxobarge
11 months ago

If my grade-school French is to be trusted, that company name is probably pronounced something more like “unique” than “eunuch.”

Canopysaurus
Canopysaurus
11 months ago

I guess if they needed to get someplace in a hurry in this thing, they wouldn’t be able to go balls to the wall.

Trust Doesn't Rust
Trust Doesn't Rust
11 months ago

I think I saw Big Mechanical Mushroom open for They Might Be Giants back in the day.

Nic Periton
Nic Periton
11 months ago

I remember seeing what seemed like hundreds of these, they came in different sizes,from ” that’s a big truck” to “dear sweet piskies has that escaped from an open cast mine”. This was in Timbuktu, a fascinating and ancient city full of delightful souks, libraries that pre-date the Romans and houses with exquisite courtyard gardens with gently tinkling fountains. All surrounded by the biggest, roughest and dustiest truck stop imaginable.

Duke of Kent
Duke of Kent
11 months ago

Thanks for bringing this mushroom truck to our attention, Jason. You’re a fun guy.

IRegertNothing, Esq.
IRegertNothing, Esq.
11 months ago
Reply to  Duke of Kent

I’d join you in telling puns, but it’s against my morels.

Beer-light Guidance
Beer-light Guidance
11 months ago

It should be a cremini to make puns this bad

Doug Ward
Doug Ward
11 months ago

Nice to take a break from all the shitake-ng in these comments

Kuruza
Kuruza
11 months ago
Reply to  Doug Ward

It’s all in good fun… at least that’s maitake.

OrigamiSensei
OrigamiSensei
11 months ago
Reply to  Duke of Kent

Amanita minute to process that…

Phantom Pedal Syndrome
Phantom Pedal Syndrome
11 months ago
Reply to  Duke of Kent

Oh put a cap on it.

Flyingstitch
Flyingstitch
11 months ago

Many years ago, a reporter left the newspaper where I worked to join a tech publication called Unix Today. When I told my wife, let’s just say she was hilariously confused and repulsed.

Jakob K's Garage
Jakob K's Garage
11 months ago

If it’s for Sahara use, that is a great idea for a little extra shade for the driver. I bet air conditioning or tinted glass wasn’t a thing on trucks back then.

Vetatur Fumare
Vetatur Fumare
11 months ago

A double roof, so that the sun doesn’t shine directly on the cabin. Still see them today.

Collegiate Autodidact
Collegiate Autodidact
11 months ago

“I’m not sure I’m crazy about the prison-style rear windows, though.”
If you ever have an insufficiently secured load (after all, you do have a history with that, such as the ill-advised attempt to transport an armchair on top of your Beetle https://jalopnik.com/this-was-the-stupidest-thing-i-ever-did-with-a-roof-rac-1846888849) and have to conduct an abrupt braking maneuver or have a head-on collision you’ll be mighty glad to have these prison-style rear windows.

Last edited 11 months ago by Collegiate Autodidact
Austin Thomason
Austin Thomason
11 months ago

Is this the only vehicle that has eaves?

Data
Data
11 months ago
A. Barth
A. Barth
11 months ago

I’m not sure I’m crazy about the prison-style rear windows, though

I think that’s a great feature. According to the brochure, it gives you visibility to maneuver while protecting you from flying debris/material.

And with the white mushroom roof reflecting the sun all around, the cabin temperature can remain lower for driver comfort.

I have to say this truck is a real piece of shiitake. That’s a good thing. 🙂

NewBalanceExtraWide
NewBalanceExtraWide
11 months ago
Reply to  A. Barth

I would name this truck Mike. Mike Ology.

rctothefuture
rctothefuture
11 months ago
IRegertNothing, Esq.
IRegertNothing, Esq.
11 months ago

You see a mushroom, I see a truck that comes with its own hard hat.

DubblewhopperInDubblejeopardy
DubblewhopperInDubblejeopardy
11 months ago

Truck sorta looks like it was in Mario Kart. According to one of the b&w photos, ventilation is an amazing feature!

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