My newest toy; Kalamazoo anyone?

[timp]

Hey everybody, been a while since I've hung around these parts much, but I thought I'd let you all see the pictures of what I handed cash over for a few weeks back. Let me know what you think, I'm very interested to hear how you guys feel about it.











It's a 1990 Kalamazoo Burden Carrier. I don't know a whole lot about it, but a previous owner used to tow his personal airplane out of the hanger with it... judging by the stickers and markings on it, it was also once owned by a company that leased it out.

It was built by the Kalamazoo Manufacturing Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They had been around for just over 100 years (building rail cars, pump cars, small warehouse hauler type vehicles) when they closed doors in the early 90's so quietly that local press didn't even cover it. Practically no paperwork survived the company, and I can't find much info about this particular type of truck anywhere... so it's my belief that it's a fairly rare find.

It's got a 2-cylinder gas Kohler Magnum 18 motor in it. 3-speed manual trans (pretty sure). Rated to carry more than it weighs itself. It's about 4 feet wide by 10 feet long. Here's a picture of me looking goofy next to it. I'm 5'6".



The guy I bought it from had it running last year and was driving it around. He says it moves. My plan is to rip the whole thing apart, give it a good sand blasting/rust proofing, and repaint it... I'm thinking purple with bright green/yellow/white flames maybe... I really doubt I can get it registered on the road, but it'll be fun for car shows/parades/whatever. A couple friends have mentioned maybe registering it as an ATV, but I have no clue what that entails, I'd have to look more into it... It would be a good dragster tow vehicle... I have more ideas than I have time or money, but hey, I'm a dreamer.

So, what do you think?

[lownslow95]

Its interesting to say the least. In for sure on this one.

[JDMTyler3326]

Um yeah it's cool. What's your plans for it?

[blkZ06]

how much did that bundle of joy cost

[DumpdBassetHound]

whatttt this things sick hahah someone i live near has one

[03MSP]

Originally Posted by JDMTyler3326

Um yeah it's cool. What's your plans for it?

"My plan is to rip the whole thing apart, give it a good sand blasting/rust proofing, and repaint it... I'm thinking purple with bright green/yellow/white flames maybe... I really doubt I can get it registered on the road, but it'll be fun for car shows/parades/whatever."

i know those paragraphs are pretty tough to get through

[telopyros]

what a crazy little toy

[Teku18]

Judging buy the rust I hope it was not a lot. However that thing is awesome. You should try and fit some sort of bike motor in it. Then it would haul ass. This will be interesting to see where this goes from here.

[cupofnoodles]

hahah that thing is awesome

[Foolinaround]

drop a turbo I4 or maybe a v6?

[blkZ06]

streetbike motor

[Foolinaround]

^
1300cc.

[blkZ06]

with a snail on it

[Foolinaround]

and a small shot of nitrous.

[blkZ06]

running on c16

[Foolinaround]

slicks.

[420sx]

Hydraulic driven?

Its definitely interesting. Im interested to see what youre gonna turn it into.

[g0dzuki]

paint it lime green, hyabusa motor, turbo it

your golden

[ravens9322]

that thing needs bagged on the ground

[CHR!S]

i think it will be awesome restored if you dont paint it those ridiculous colors