You never know what you’ll find on Facebook Marketplace: for example, this “Shirley Shuttle Bus” jet truck for $6,500.
It appears to be a Chevy AK Series truck from the ’40s with a jet engine (or at least something that looks like a jet engine) strapped to the back. According to the seller, it served as an outdoor attraction for the Vintage Red Rooster antique store but has become “a centerpiece of Shirley history now.”
Spacer
There also happens to be a whiskey barrel in the space between the jet engine and the cab. Because where else would a whiskey barrel go if not in between the jet engine that’s attached to your truck and the cab of said truck?
Per the listing, “…it’s time to let it go to the next business or private owners where it’s sure to continue adding skid marks to your street from people stopping by to look and photograph it.”
This being a display piece, the Chevy does not run at all, let alone on jet fuel. But that sounds like a challenge. Maybe not for me, but for one of you out there. Source a real jet engine/fix up this one, mount it more sturdily than the current “dual rope” setup, change the tires … how hard could it be?
Oh, and before you ask if you can just take the truck and leave the ostensible jet engine behind, no dice: interested buyers must take the jet engine as well. “Please don’t ask to sell the truck separately as the ropes holding the jet motor and whiskey barrel on have petrified into stone by now.”
Converting the Red Rooster’s jet truck outdoor display into something actually jet-powered and functional is admittedly a tall order (some say too tall) but one can dream. If one of you ends up snagging this bit of Shirley, AR history, do not hesitate to hit us up.
Find an old race track drying truck. Penske made them, according to teh Googlez. Those even have thrust vectoring from the jet engine. Although it’s mainly aimed down at the ground, because reasons.
I might know a guy.
I think to describe it as adding skid marks to a street is, well, wrong. I don’t think there’s any suggestion there the the jet engine is driving any wheels, and without driven wheels, you’re not really going to making skid marks!
If only this had come up when DT was still single…
AK = Alaska
AR = Arkansas
“…it’s time to let it go to the next business or private owners where it’s sure to continue adding skid marks to your street from people stopping by to look and photograph it.”
Fire up that jet and you’ll have an entirely different type of skidmarks to deal with…
I saw this on my way into the mountains in Arkansas.
Did not look like a working jet or rocket engine to me, but I’m no expert on antique models.
It’s dramatic, all right!
I have a friend with a working modern jet engine, so they are obtainable.
He uses his for pyrotechnics.
Just be aware you’ll be buying jet fuel by the drum.
A friend has a helicopter turbine he bought surplus brand new from the military.
Possibly more practical for a vehicle, but they need a hell of a transmission.
He sold a 68 Jaguar roadster to buy it!
If you go to see this truck, you’re headed into narrow roads with a 30 foot limit on trailers due to hairpins next to cliffs.
I suggest approaching from Little Rock to avoid the really bad roads with thousands foot drops and 10 mph speed limits.
I missed my turn and hit the danger point where they have carved deep rumble strips into the highway.
Reached a sign with a truck going down a 45 degree incline and couldn’t see over the dropoff, so I backed up.
After I bought the trailer I came for, I encountered a lost semi with a 53 foot trailer and nowhere to turn around.
We both thought we had hit each other, but somehow didn’t.
For all I know, that semi is still trapped there!
I got the trailer because even people in the area wouldn’t drive into those roads to see it.
Mountain roads in a hauler are very different from driving in a sports car.
I drove out very slowly.
I don’t think AK is Arkansas.
I know a guy.
https://youtu.be/gAKekhmTRaY
Pulse rocket?
BRC?
Cool stuff!
Whoever buys this should use it to fight crime or the rest of us will be disappointed.
I’m not in the market, but if I was, this would be the perfect vehicle to get running (probably just on the internal combustion engine) and take to Wasteland Weekend.