GM Futurliner Progress Photos GM Futurliner Restoration Project National Automotive and Truck Museum of the United States

GM Futurliner Progress Photos
GM Futurliner Restoration Project
National Automotive and Truck Museum of the United States

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2008 - Photos - 2008
Spring Cleaning AACA Grand National AACA Melbourne Show AACA Southeastern Meet NATMUS CCCA National Fleetwood	Dean Tryon Article Sloan Museum Traverse City Pebble Beach More Pebble Beach Grand Rapids Metro Cruise Grand Rapids GM Plant	Lansing GM Plant

The Futurliner did a quick turn-around from its California trip and was displayed at the Grand Rapids area 28th Street Metro Cruise the next weekend. In the picture above the Futurliner was hauled with a 1953 GMC tractor with a big GM diesel under the hood. The trip was only about 10 miles from storage but the driver said the tractor pulled the 32,000 lb. Futurliner without straining. Another remarkable thing about this tractor is that it has an automatic transmission. We thank Weller Truck parts for matching these two vehicles up for the show. Our chief mechanic, Del Carpenter, was very impressed with the tractor and thought they made a great display together.
We were honored by a very unexpected visitor, Raffe Johns, the Parader presented on the Futurliner DVD. Mr. Johns was part of the original Parade of Progress when it traveled from town to town.	The fourth annual Grand Rapids area Metro Cruise along 28th Street has become a premier West Michigan event for old cars. Throngs of people mob the approximate 10 mile long strip to watch cars cruise by and look at them in various parking lots.
Because the show was local, we brought out our display of left over Futurliner parts. Well, 'left-over' is probably not the best description of the display as some of the components are considered 'spare-parts'. We have a spare engine and transmission which power a working generator that can put out 30 amps. The large generator and power box came with the Futurliner but it was decided not to install them so this rolling display was devised and put together under the direction of Del Carpenter.	We had a little problem with the starter on the display engine. It started once in the morning then wouldn't kick over after that. The starter was pulled and disassembled and we found a small piece of metal had somehow found its way between the stator and armature and jammed it up. We chiseled it out with a screwdriver, reassembled it and it worked just fine.
	Our unsung heroes of the show are the volunteers who help with memorabilia sales. These sales provide visitors with a little bit of history and help defray some of the maintenance and show related expenses. Many vehicles are static displays at a show but because of the role this magnificent vehicle played in GM's history, the volunteers who restored feel that it warrants a little explanation and travel with it from show to show.