Milk Truck - Dan Woods

As observed by Pat Ganahl in his book, “American Custom Car”, Dan Woods’ famous Model T C-Cab known as the “Milk Truck” heralded an era of “Silly Show Cars” like the Red Baron. The Milk Truck’s cartoonish appearance was distinctive, memorable and had terrific kid appeal: all adding up to draw big crowds to car shows where it appeared, thus earning young Dan money as the creator of a feature car.

While Dan Woods went on to work with Ed “Big Daddy” Roth in the creation of some of his feature cars, to me he’s most notable as the builder of a generation of innovative T-Buckets of the highest quality through his Contemporary Carriage Works. And he deserves a great deal of additional respect because as Ganahl notes, he gave credit for the inspiration of his 1964 Milk Truck build to a model car he’d seen. But, which model car?

The easy answer to Dan’s model car inspiration is the C-Cab scratch built by Bernard Bauerle and featured in the February, 1963 issue of Car Craft magazine in Pat Brollier’s “Modeling the ‘Milk Truck'” photo essay

Dan created a strikingly accurate full-scale representation of Bernard’s creation, even down to the dual racing stripes running the length of the C-Cab’s roof. But, where did Bernard Bauerle’s inspiration come from?

You see, the July, 1962 issue of Car Craft included the photo above of what was identified as Paul Johnson’s “Pie Wagon” and the similarities to Bauerle’s Milk Truck are so strong that one might only conclude that a) Car Craft misidentified the builder in either ’62 or ’63 or b) Bernard Bauerle bought Paul Johnson’s Pie Wagon C-Cab model and updated it a bit to create his Milk Truck. Who knows? If you can shed some light on this Milk Truck model mystery, please let us know.


http://www.tbucketplans.com/the-milk-truck-mystery/

The 1965 "Milk Truck" is Dan Woods' first Show Rod that he built. Completed in 1965, An eighteen year old Dan Woods debuted it at the Tridents Car Show at the L.A. Sports Arena. It went on to win the Grand Sweepstakes and other awards that weekend. Dan and the "Milk Truck" rolled on from there!

"Rod & Custom" put it on the cover of their August, 1965 issue with a detailed feature inside. They received such a reader response that they did a follow up issue in November of that year, entitled "How to Build Your Own Milk Truck Model".

There happened to be a guy named Ed Roth at the show. He was so taken with the "Milk Truck" that Dan went to work with Big Daddy at Roth Studios for the next decade. Building some of Ed's most famous show rods with him including the Road Agent, Druid Princess and more.

In 1967, Bob Reisner adopted the "Milk Truck". It went on to star in the 1967 Autorama Shows and makes the cover of their annual. In 1968, Bob turned it into a million-selling Eldon Model as part of his California Show Car Series. The "Milk Truck" would tour for a few more years winning too many awards to mention before it was retired.

A few years ago the "Milk Truck" was taken out of unmolested storage and restored by House of Colors Painter of the Year Dave Shutten. Retaining its 1957 Pontiac 347 with Isky cam, Holmes valve covers, and 6-71 Crager blower, all priceless vintage speed equipment, the "Milk Truck" was again one of the stars of the Detriot Autorama and reunited with Roth's Orbitron. Also featured and shown throughout the Dan Woods article in Rodders Journal #43, it was recently on the cover and centerfold of "Hot Rods Deluxe".

The "Milk Truck" will be celebrating its 45th year as Star Show Rod at Russo and Steele, Scottsdale 2010. It is a dazzling show stopper and crowd-pleaser and represents a fabulous addition to any collection or museum. Please note that it is sold on Bill of sale only, no title and hasn't been fired up since restoration, but is capable of running.

http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=Dan_Woods%27_Milk_Truck

In 1965, Dan Woods drives "Milk Truck" to the Tridents Car Show at the L.A. Sports Arena, where he competes that weekend against a George Barris T-Bucket. The Milk Truck goes on to win the Grand Sweepstakes and several other awards that weekend. Dan Woods and the Milk Truck roll from there. Rod & Custom is there and so impressed they put the Milk Truck on the cover of the 1965 August issue with a raving spread and article inside. They get such a response, they do a follow up article in the November issue, "How to build your own Milk Truck Model". Ed Roth was at the show too, he designed the Milk Logo on the side, and he is so impressed with Dan and The Milk Truck, he hires Dan. For the next 10 years Dan worked side by side with Big Daddy building some of his most famous show rods. In 1967, Bill Reisner buys the Milk Truck and has Larry Watson, custom painter, paint it. It becomes one of the stars of the '67 Autorama World of Wheels shows, sharing the cover of their annual with the Bat Mobile, Dragula, and a Starbird Bubble Top. In 1968, The Milk Truck becomes a million selling Eldon model, as part of the California Show Cars series. In 1970, The Milk is in Walt Disney's "Dad Can I Borrow Your Car". In 2008 House of Kolor's prestigious painter, Dave Shuten, does a no-expense, very correct restoration on it, under the guidance of Dan Woods, Larry Watson and Perez, the original interior designer. It makes the cover of the House of Kolor's Calendar. The Rodders Journey does an extensive 10-page feature article on Dan Woods in the #43 issue. There are great archival photos of the Milk Truck throughout the article. In 2009, the Milk Truck stared at the Detroit Autorama and was reunited with Ed Roth's Orbitron. The Milk Truck has been a dazzling show stopper for 47 years now.

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Archive/Event/Item/1965-CUSTOM-BUILT-MILK-TRUCK-137932