Red Horse

Rich -Looking good-very good!

Here is a great piece that was in Business Insider. The Silicon Valley explanation is sexier but wrong. Since Tesla's ascent as a wildly volatile investment opportunity began in 2013, we've repeatedly been told the auto industry is about to be rapidly remade by technology. Initially, the action was all about electric cars, but they have largely been a bust. Tesla occupies a market of one. Uber and its $60 billion to $70 billion valuation lent credence to the oft-debated notion that younger people would swear off driving and car ownership. But young people are now getting older and buying more cars. Uber is also in a state of near-continual crisis, and it has wasted an enormous amount of cash trying to be that thing Silicon Valley prizes above all else: an uncontested monopoly. Lyft, unfortunately, hasn't cooperated. The third narrative pivot involved self-driving cars. This has been the latest gold rush, but if Fields lost his job because Ford couldn't figure out how to effectively communicate its efforts in this space, then we should really take a closer look at Silicon Valley's almost total inability to create any kind of logical business case around autonomy. Google's self-driving podmobiles have been racking up miles, but as promising as the tech looks, its no closer to being widely commercialized than it was before Alphabet renamed its car business Waymo. Apple has ditched its car plans and now appears to be developing some kind of in-vehicle, self-driving interface. If there's a go-to-market, it's years off. A lot of people think there's a business with this stuff, but, thus far, there just hasn't been.

What I think is really scary is this self driving car thing is an invention of Silicon Valley and the hi tech world. Who needs it? Who wants it. Crash avoidance technology is one thing. a self driving car-or truck? Something else. Unfortunately Detroit seems to have swallowed this hook, line and sinker IMO

Wow-looks like the 4400-7400 cab on a custom chassis. I would think this says a lot about the capability of that cab or they have beefed it up to handle that chassis. Either way says good things about the cab-or am I dreaming?

Scary thing I read earlier associated with Fields departure was they might think of getting out of small cars. Brilliant! until the Iranians sink a few VLCC's in strait of Hormuz. But the idiot press will applaud for "prompt decisive action".... or some other similar bullsh*t.

So Rich where did that single ale A- car come from?

Well guys I do know a guy who has recently constructed a hydrogen receipt facility of some sort just off I-495 just before Lowell MA. He did the civil work (ground, concrete). I think the customer may have been Praxair. Obviously this thin g was not built because of "hydrogen class 8s" but there are other needs for hydrogen. I'll see if I can get more details.

My point is not what Ford (or should I say Jac the Knife) wanted to do-it is what Daimler did for a mere 300 million-like I said they eliminated a competitor that had close to 10% of class 8 and 20% of class 7. Now the argument that Ford made more on Super duty pick ups? No Argument. But if you buy that logic than everyone should shed all assets other than the one that makes the greatest return. We would end up with nothing but "specialists". That logic says Fields should stop building all cars because nothing makes Ford as much money today as loaded F-150s and 250s.

Hmm-- Somewhere in Sweden, I think there is a copy of the Daimler playbook..." Chapter X-How to Capture Ford's Class 7 and 8 Market Share and Avoid Being Sued by the Dealers"

Matt-what was the donor truck?

Hippy-keep your eyes peeled for those red, white and green trucks-but I'm dreaming-after all this time I'm sure they are Chinese steel!

Matt-just out of curiosity did you ever price out rails from P.G. Adams?

Jim, Right on! I could not think of the guys name. It would have been around 1980-85. But for sure I remember the Colonials-I think there was at least one Biederman in the bunch. Trailer was used to mount a processing tank. Today you call someone up and in a couple of hours you have a frac tank on site!

Hippy-that the yard that was on the east side of 93? Big Gulf station on the west side of 93. I don't remember the name but I bought a 40' drop frame from the guy. I remember he still had a bunch of old Colonial Sand & Stone stuff from NYC.

Jim-Beautiful. Do you know its original history? What was that Louisville parked next to you. I've never been to that show but looking at Truckluvers video, its amazing the number of trucks that you see for first time. You would think in our small geography you would know them all Bob

I hear yah-and its back now. Talked to one of the call guys the other day and he agrees the 4 WD is only going to let some guys think they can go anywhere

I hate to say it but at times I think we give people too many ideas or encourgement. Catch 22 situation- good to point out a flaw or risk-bad to give the bad guys the idea of just how big a threat it is.

Congrats!

Someone told me the other day it is back at Greenwood-"electrical issues"

Kevin-point of clarification-I'm not suggesting a new chassis-just standardizing on one cab. And if it WAS a completely new medium duty cab, we would be back to the old days when the "pick up cab was 100 (150) to 350 and F-600, F-700 had that cab (modified I'm sure) with a third cab for F-800 and above. Agree 100% that the ISB/Allison combo is needed and if not the ISB one of Ford's Otosan options. Many say Ford can't "afford" the cost of adding those options however IMO the incremental cost would be more than offset by the sales gains.

Note following line in this press release.....The laid-off employees are expected to return to work this fall when Ford begins building redesigned versions of the models, the spokeswoman said. Is this a reference to the minor changes KSC posted the other day OR could this mean that 650-750 will get the aluminum cab. Keep in mind 350-450-550 chassis cabs ar now built in this plant. seems to me it would make sense to eliminate the steel cab still being used on 650-750. Or could it even mean an all new medium cab 350-750 chassis as well as the e series cut away??

Very nice-looks super clean- talk about "short wheelbase"!

As always Kevin thx for taking the time out of your schedule to keep us "civilians" updated.

ugh-don't do that same analysis this morning-NAV 27.65, Ford 11.09. Bring Alan back!

Nice-how many additional pounds you adding to the front axle load? eep the pix coming.