RoadwayR

Remember that Roosevelt got U.S. manufacturing on a war footing over a year before Pearl Harbor, so negotiating and plant set up happened well before the shooting started for us. Ford did eventually quite a job building B-24 bombers, but read up on how long that project took before the first plane was produced. And how much pacifist Henry Ford drug his feet to hinder it. And how bad the early Ford produced B-24's were. If it wasn't for Edsel Ford and a lot of Federal pressure it probably would have never happened.

Probably the right way to do something like this.

From what I understand, the price tag came from Ventec, not GM. And the problems began when Ventec and GM couldn't get a contract from the Feds so for them it was impossible to hire and tool up not knowing how many ventilators would be purchased (even Trump has questioned how many will be needed), or come up with an accurate cost. Nonetheless, GM figured in any event they would not have enough employees at Kokomo and had begun to hire more to produce the ventilators. Ventec and GM are continuing on ventilator production without a firm contract. GM has also begun production of surgical masks and other supplies at its Warren facility. It will be interesting to see how many ventilators both GM and Ford are able to produce and how soon they will be available. Even if they are not going to be available in large numbers until after the crises has past at least they could be stockpiled in the event a similar pandemic happens again. And while all this has been going on, Elon Musk and Tesla were able to buy large numbers of ventilators from China..............

I wish Ram would do 2 things: Build a 23,000# GVW 6500 series and get rid of the MDS feature on the 6.4L Hemi. No reason for it on a truck that big and I think it's too failure prone.

I have a hunch that it will build an MV replacement that will go from 6 to the lower end of 8.

Wonder what they plan on building there once they do finish it......

https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2020/03/17/coronavirus-concerns-delay-250m-truck-production.html?ana=yahoo&yptr=yahoo

A lot less stress on the shafts.

Yeah, and a visor tilted all the way down so it's almost touching the wipers! I am old school, like to see where I am going, I guess.

While I don't see these trucks as a direct competitor to the lighter M2's or MV's, they are more of a true medium duty than the F-450/550 and Ram 4500/5500. Light duty cab size and visibility is an issue compared to the M2 and MV.. Trucks seem well built, good turning radius, tilt hood a big advantage. Nice ride too. Upfitter says they are very easy to install bodies on. P.T.O. clearance a problem in some applications, but next year they will have the option of both right and left P.T.O. openings. Driver says only issue on ours (2 yard dumps) is the bed cab protector overhangs the sides of the cab and the running board is a little high, so you have to watch your head getting in! Only things I would change would be to offer a gas engine and 22.5" wheels as an option.

So far so good with our Silverado 6500's.

Nice. Now Navistar needs to realize there are other fuels to run a truck on other than diesel.

Want to have some fun? Try replacing the wet/secondary air tank on one of those F-series trucks that has a body that prevents you from sliding the tank out to the rear from under the cab. Good job on the chassis wiring and air line routing guys!

No doubt. Just ask yourself what has a higher margin, a $100,000 electric pickup or a rented scooter....... BTW, I hear the electric Transit will be built at Avon Lake.

Great, now stick the 6.6L gas in the Silverado medium duty and offer 22.5" wheels to get it to 'dock height' and you will really be in business. Wonder what they mean by a "23% increase in hauling capacity"? Left hand P.T.O. is a good move, some are having clearance issues with the right side P.T.O..

I saw that truck at the So. Cal. ATHS show last year.

You are right. I promise to think about Volvo every time I drive past a Freightliner or International dealer. Which is often........ I even know where to buy an Autocar now!

Yawn, GMC did that back in '64 at the World's Fair: https://gmphotostore.com/gmc-tower-of-power-1964-fair-poster/

Hackett continues to mesmerize Bill Ford Jr. I guess at the end of the day that's all that matters, at least until the money runs out.

Maybe Ichan and his banking buddies could finance NAV buying Traton, which might give VW enough money to buy Ford!

At the very least the Ford ought to look better after 10 years, but I think frame rot takes out more F-150's than body rust. I have heard about a very few instances of aluminum oxidation causing the paint to come off Ford pickups, and the only fix seems to be replacement of the affected panels. I know this has been an issue with Mustang hoods and Expedition tailgates.

No sorry. Was referring to Traton's offer for Navistar. And I am with you, an HX with a DD15 would be a sweet truck.

Silence! Guess the offer wasn't good enough?

A local municipality, the City of Santa Monica, has purchased a few CNG powered Xperts. They look pretty good!

I think the 'other' Bronco (to be named Maverick?) is going to be a compact CUV type vehicle, like the Jeep Renegade. It should do well, riding on the image and styling of the big Bronco with a much lower price.