RoadwayR

But somehow Jeep has figured out a way to get the Hemi into a Wrangler......

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/navistar-rejects-tratons-buyout-offer-122638772.html

The GM deal with Nikola is interesting. Basically GM agrees to build Nikola's pickup truck and supply batteries and fuel cells for their semi in exchange for an 11% stake in Nikola (worth $2B at the moment) and a board seat. If Nikola fails GM isn't out anything, if they make it the deal could be worth billions going forward. Given the nature of Nikola up to this point, it was a deal they had to make. Gravity powered semi's can only roll so far......

Local dealer had a tandem tractor they couldn't get rid of.....

This comes at an awkward time: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/vw-man-truckmaker-cut-many-063144346.html I wonder what IG Metall will have to say about this. Cutting jobs at home while buying a foreign manufacturer?

It would be back to the future!

Here we go: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/vw-traton-boosts-bid-rest-142648352.html

LG will produce the cells until the joint venture LG/GM factory in Ohio comes on line. Somewhat strangely Ford is going to rely on vendors exclusively to supply their BEV batteries, Hackett does not see a need (or profit) for Ford to produce batteries. I have no doubt that's true in the short run, but could be a real problem as the bulk of vehicle sales become BEV's in the future. Then again, should Ford become part of VW at some point......

Part of the deal includes GM supplying batteries and fuel cells for Nikola's class 8 trucks.

Looks like it's actually not Icahn, it's Rachesky.

Wasn't the Condor James Hebe's baby? It sort of followed him around. I remember the COF-5370. Basically a wide Cargostar cab on a Paystar chassis.

Ford raised up the roof on those twice for more clearance. The truck in the first picture has the tallest roof. I helped a friend restore a 1965 F-100. Nice little truck, but that cab was small and tinny compared to GM and Dodge those years. Really rust-prone in the A pillars and step wells too.

Yes, it was done to clear the 8V-71 and fit a larger radiator. I think the high cab version could also take the NTC-335 and 903 Cummins.

"Win over management and the main shareholders". The previous offer was too low. Traton needs Navistar, but won't or can't pay for what it's worth. Icahn knows this.

What happened to these guys? Have not heard anything since last year, this is likely why: https://tlinetrucks.com/home/

That's a picture of the first one. From what I understand, it was sold to a Bekins mover on the west coast, repainted white and a sleeper was installed. I think the truck still exists someplace, there is/was a guy in Georgia that collected those things and I think he had it. Anyway, I only saw a couple of them and they were quite a bit different than the Dodge C series trucks. Cab was a bit similar but had a different dash and no doghouse. Heard it wasn't a bad truck.

So much for that. No problem, just buy the new Autocar conventional or the International HX

It probably is a mistake, but DTNA needs to convince Freightliner dealers to sell the things. Only 35 Freightliner dealers sell Sprinters? Yes, the Bullet should have continued as a Freightliner, but I think corporate politics got in the way of that. It was a messy divorce. Don't get me started on the whole DaimlerChrysler thing. Jurgen Schrempp was a genius and Daimler + Chrysler was a brilliant idea. The whole thing was sabotaged from inside Daimler and used in a coup to get rid of Schrempp. Daimler was also able to empty Chrysler's bank account in the process to bail out a failing Mercedes Benz. Supposedly Freightliner helped in the development of the Ram 4500/5500. There were also rumors that the 'Sterling' truck line was almost going to be named 'Ram'!

They will not sell any less Sprinters, they are just rationalizing their dealer network. The Mercedes version continues. I see lots of Sprinters every day, but all Mercedes branded. I don't think any Freightliner dealers around me carry them.

The HX is earning a good reputation.

I think #3. "All but dead" is an interesting phrase to use here.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cummins-navistar-announce-long-term-113000748.html I was expecting more MAN engines.

Loud, noisy, and uncomfortable, but the SOB's would RUN.

These Otosan 'Fords' are indeed very impressive, and seem to have been done with little or no help from Dearborn. Though they are growing, they are still a relatively small regional builder. Long term I think they may need to align with a large global heavy truck manufacturer to stay viable.

That might be doable. I keep hearing that NAV and GM are eager to do more joint venture vehicles, so maybe...... Not that it means anything, but the best thing you can do to an old Scout is ditch the IH boat anchor V-8 and install a GM LS V-8!