Long-Lost Ford Turbine Semi Truck ‘Big Red’ Has Finally Been Found
The owner of the Ford turbine semi truck dubbed “Big Red” has kept it hidden from public view for decades.
Last August, we reported on the ongoing saga of the Ford turbine semi truck known as “Big Red,” a giant concept vehicle that debuted alongside the Ford Mustang at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City. Following a short tour around the country, Big Red was rendered irrelevant when automakers figured out that turbine power was not the wave of the future, and since the late 1970s, it’s been basically missing in action.
Most figured that the giant, 96 foot long and 13 foot high Ford turbine semi truck, as well as its 600 horsepower and 855 pound-feet of torque engine, was gone forever. However, The Drive did a little digging and discovered that it was actually still around, sitting in the garage of a secretive collector in North Carolina. But even after making this startling discovery, they didn’t stop.
The Drive has indeed confirmed that Big Red is not only alive and well, but now they’ve tracked down the owner as well. Unfortunately, the owner wants to remain anonymous and did not provide any new and updated photos of his now-restored rig, but he was happy to provide a few details about the former show truck and where it’s been.
As the story goes, Big Red’s turbine engine melted down when it was started after the oil was drained, and following the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970, Ford simply rid itself of the problem by letting its factory-sponsored race team at the time – Holman Moody – keep it. The new owner purchased the rig from H&M in the early 1980s and he promptly set about restoring it.
The original 705 turbine engine was long gone, but the owner was able to secure a later version dubbed 707. He also traveled to Ford’s headquarters in Dearborn to collect information on the truck to ensure that he returned it to its original spec. As one might imagine, the bodywork was a much larger endeavor, and straightening out the semi and repainting it took six months to complete.
As for Big Red’s two original trailers, well, they’ve yet to be found. The truck itself is still reportedly in immaculate condition and sitting in a custom-built garage, but it hasn’t been driven since 2000. The owner said that he might be willing to take some updated pictures of Ford’s famous turbine-powered semi this spring, and admits that perhaps it should be on display at The Henry Ford. So for now, we’ll just have to wait a bit longer to see this piece of Blue Oval history reemerge.
Photos: Ford
Join the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forums now!
