Quickly think of a cool looking vehicle – car, truck, motorcycle, ATV, whatever. Do you have one? OK, great.
I bet your squishy skull stuff conjured up something the manufacturer intended (and hopefully Be) a certain kind of coolness. Since we’re autopians, your idea of cool might be a Pagani or a Peugeot, a Bugatti or a googly-eyed Sprite, a Cadillac or a Cavalier (probably Z24), but still something that’s meant to evoke a kind of coolness, a shape that’s meant to look good just for the sake of looking good.
You probably have not Think of a farm tractor, a forklift or other work vehicle, or a wheeled or tracked utility vehicle controlled by a driver. But these types of machines can actually look pretty damn cool! And that’s where we are with today’s Autopian Asks. We want you to tell us about utility and work vehicles that you think look way cooler than they should, need or have to.
Let’s see what people think on your favorite website! No, The Website. Who said Angie’s list? Spinner.
I’ll start. Ever since David wrote about the Clarktor CT-6 airport tug, I can’t stop thinking about it. It looks like it came from a parallel universe where WWII was decided by lawn care. It’s awesome. Just look at the guy driving it. He can’t believe his luck. Best day of his life. And did the CT-6 inspire the BMW Grille Design Team, if only in terms of size? Maybe.
Incredibly, I’m not the only airport tug fan here. Your favorite Daydreaming designer, The Bishop, has expressed his love for the modern, low-slung tugs that push and pull aircraft, aptly calling them “sci-fi shit.”
This is some real sci-fi shit! Specifically, the armored personnel carrier that took Ripley and the Colonial Marines in and out of the Weyland Yutani-built atmospheric processor of the LV-426, in Aliens was actually a Hunslet ATT77 air tug. The tug’s APC costume covers it in every detail, but the proportions and massive, counter-steering front and rear wheels are unmistakable. I love it.
While the APC was packed with Marines (not to mention the interior of the APC was much larger than what could fit in the actual vehicle), the ATT77 airport tug is packed with… all of the stuff above. Click to enlarge, it’s fascinating!
The Bish also nominated the above image as a candidate for coolest vehicle that doesn’t have to look cool. It’s an Oshkosh Striker 4500 Aircraft Rescue And Fire Fighting Vehicle (ARFF for short). That’s a good acronym, and I assume that’s water jets and flame-retardant foam shooting out of the cannons – but it could just as easily be particle beams if you squint (or click on this link). Or, hear me out, this truck could be used as a SAWCAT (Sour And Whipped Cream Application Truck) to make giant tacos and sundaes. I have lots of great ideas.
Australian engineer and rock star Lewin Day, who is based in Australia and travels the world, came with the Hardi sprayer. Lewin says: “They are monstrous and the biggest models like the Rubicon 9000 can do over 50km/h and have huge hydraulic motors in each wheel. Watching the huge boom glide over the terrain at high speed is wild.” Really worth seeing!
David posted the photo below as a work machine he loves, and man, I get it. The thing looks like it would crush anyone under the tracks, and the design is totally businesslike with not a bent plate in sight. It’s a Tucker Sno-Cat 1600 operated by Nova Guides and set up for touring around Vail, Colorado, and I would definitely love to ride it.
David says: “I mean, just look at it. It’s huge and looks as silly as it does menacing, with a super-simple, almost scale-like two-box design, four sets of track and an enormity that’s almost laughable.” I dare you make me laugh, DT!
I put it down to being dazzled by the tracked spectacle of the Sn0-Cat 1600, but I was surprised that David didn’t mention the absolute GOAT of all vehicles that were designed for one purpose and that not only did the job, but remained incredibly, indelibly and enduringly cool decade after decade – I’m talking, of course, the Jeep in its wonderful, original Willys MB guise. I particularly like it with its nifty fabric top. “Cult” to use a word that’s used far too often, but none could be more apt.
Now it’s your turn: Which working machines do you like best? See you in the comments!
