American Honda Redesigns Chevy Pickup
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When American Honda Motor Co. Inc. (AHM) started its business in 1959, the company purchased a small fleet of Chevy pickups to deliver motorcycles to its fledgling dealers across Southern California.American Honda restored a truck to authentically match the oAmerican Honda Redesigns Chevy Pickup
When American Honda Motor Co. Inc. (AHM) started its business in 1959, the company purchased a small fleet of Chevy pickups to deliver motorcycles to its fledgling dealers across Southern California.American Honda restored a truck to authentically match the one in an iconic photo circa 1961 in front of AHM's original office at 4077 Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles, to mark the company's 60th anniversary.“Tapping its U.S. archives and memories of retired Honda associates for details, a 1961 Chevy half-ton pickup was found and carefully renovated; replicating the original paint scheme as used by company salesmen delivering motorcycles to dealers to sell on a consignment basis. These trucks helped American Honda quickly establish a U.S. market foothold, starting in Southern California. By 1965, Honda was the best-selling motorcycle brand in America with a market share of almost 72 percent,” says American Honda.The truck was given a mild mechanical freshening makeover besides new factory-correct white paint and hand-painted graphics like the originals. To give the olden days feel, two vintage motorcycles, a Honda 50 and CB160, like those originally carried in the trucks, are placed in the truck bed. The truck along with the bikes is now on display in the lobby of American Honda's Torrance, California headquarters.There is a lot in the pipeline regarding the public display before the truck eventually reaches the American Honda Collection Hall in Torrance, where it will be staged in front of a replica of the company's original Los Angeles office. The display plan includes the 2019 SEMA Show and other events around the country, as well as classic vehicle gatherings around Southern California.Delivery Truck Basic Specs:· Half-ton chassis· 8 ft. bed· 283 cu. in. V8 engine· 160 HP· 3-speed manual transmissionThe two important motorcycles from those early days were also procured, helping recreate what the package looked like as salesmen traveled around the state to support their dealers. A red 1965 Honda 50, known in other parts of the world as the Super Cub, occupies the left side of the truck bed. Honda 50 Basic Specs:· Pressed steel, step-through monocoque frame· 49cc single-cylinder pushrod engine· 3-speed semi-automatic transmission with centrifugal clutchThe other bike is an original 1965 Honda CB160, one of Honda's early small displacement sport bikes.Click on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the truck. https://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder: Louise Blouin Read more