GMC CCKW 2-1/2-Ton 6x6 Cargo Truck

I spotted this GMC CCKW 2-1/2-Ton 6x6 Cargo Truck from World War II in Elbe, Washington, in the summer of 1998. The CCKW was introduced in 1941 with an enclosed cab. The flat vertical windshield indicates that this truck is an open cab version, built between 1943 and 1945, with a solid roof and doors grafted on later. With over a half-million produced, the CCKW was one of the most numerous vehicles built for the U.S. Military during World War II, second only to the Jeep.

1996 Solectria Force

This may look like a Geo Metro sedan, but, in fact, it is an electric car called a Solectria Force. In the 1990s, the Solectria Corporation of Wilmington, Massachusetts, built approximately 400 of these electric cars from brand-new, motor-less 1996 Geo Metros. In place of the gasoline engine and transmission, Solectria installed a 56-horsepower 40-kilowatt three phase alternating current electric motor and a total of 13 12-volt lead-acid gel batteries under the hood and in the trunk. The Solectria Force could reach a top speed of 70 miles per hour, and accelerate from 0 to 30 miles per hour in 8 seconds and 0 to 60 miles per hour in 18 seconds. It had a typical range of 35 to 50 miles on a charge, though one Solectria Force driver set a record of 110 miles on a single charge. With an on-board charger, the Solectria Force could be fully charged in 2.5 hours from a 240-volt outlet or 12 hours from a 110-volt outlet. The Solectria Force also featured advanced regenerative braking, using the car's front wheels to turn the electric motor when coasting or decelerating, using it as a generator to help recharge the batteries and extend the range between charging.

The Solectria Force pictured here belonged to Portland General Electric, which purchased two of the electric cars for its own company fleet. They made appearances at schools and at community events like the Days in the Park Parade in Rainier, Oregon, on July 11, 1998.

1989 Toyota MR2

The Toyota MR2 was introduced in June 1984 for the 1985 model year. The name MR2 may refer to the car's mid-engine layout, rear-wheel drive and two seats. The first-generation MR2 was powered by a 112-horsepower 1,587 cubic centimeter dual overhead-cam inline four-cylinder engine. A 145-horsepower turbocharged version was introduced in 1988 in the United States. The T-Bar roof as seen on this example was introduced in 1987. For 1989, the final year of the first generation model, the side mirrors and door handles matched the paint color.

M88A1 Medium Recovery Vehicle

Rear View of the M88A1

The M88 was originally introduced in 1961 as an armored recovery vehicle for the M48 Patton tank. It was manufactured by Bowen McLoughlin York in York, Pennsylvania, and was powered by a 980-horsepower Continental V-12 supercharged gasoline engine, with a 10-horsepower gasoline auxiliary power unit. The M88A1 was introduced in 1977 as a recovery vehicle for the new M60 tank, and is powered by a 750-horsepower Continental V-12 twin-turbo diesel engine, with a 10-horsepower diesel auxiliary power unit. In addition to newly-built M88A1s, the existing M88s were converted to the new design. Over 3,000 were built for the United States Army and Marine Corps, however they lacked the capacity to recover the M1 Abrams tank, and have since been replaced by the new M88A2.

1942 International-Harvester M-1-4 Ambulance

The International-Harvester M-1-4 is a 1/2-ton truck that was introduced in 1941 and was used exclusively by the United States Navy and Marine Corps. This example from 1942 is a field ambulance with a collapsible ambulance body built by the Boyertown Auto Body Works of Boyertown, Pennsylvania. One of the very few survivors of the nearly 900 built, it is now displayed at the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles. The M-4-1 was also available as a cargo truck with removeable troop seats and sometimes fitted with a canvas top. It was replaced in 1942 by the 1-ton M-2-4, which was nearly identical in appearance.

1997 General Motors EV1

This terrible picture is one that I really wish had turned out, as it shows a General Motors EV1 at the 1998 Portland International Auto Show in Portland, Oregon, the only one I've ever seen. The EV1 was introduced in 1996 as a 1997 model, and was the first modern mass-produced purpose-designed electric car from a major automaker. Powered by a 137-horsepower 3-phase AC induction electric motor with lead-acid batteries, the two-seat EV1 had a standard range between charges of 65 miles in the city to 95 miles on the highway. The EV1 was available only as a three-year lease through select Saturn dealers in California and Arizona, at a cost of about $399 per month in California and about $549 per month in Arizona. This car is apparently a 1997 model, as there were no 1998 models built. The 1999 EV1 would feature improved lead-acid batteries, plus optional Nickel metal hydride batteries (available only in California at a cost of $499) that increased the range to 75 to 140 miles between charges, and allowed the EV1 to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under 8 seconds. The EV1 program was also expanded to Atlanta, Georgia, and additional parts of California. The reason for this EV1 appearing in Portland is unclear. The EV1 was never available for lease in Portland, but perhaps Portland was a potential future market General Motors had been considering for the EV1. As it turned out, production of the EV1 would end in 1999 after a total of 1,117 cars, and General Motors would soon stop offering lease renewals to reclaim them. By the end of 2003, all of the EV1s were off the road. A few were donated to universities and museums; the rest were crushed.

1998 Volkswagen New Beetle

A newcomer for 1998 was the all-new retro-styled Volkswagen New Beetle, which got a lot of attention. Production of the New Beetle began December 1997 at Volkswagen’s plant in Puebla, Mexico, the sole source. Based on Volkswagen’s Golf chassis, it was scheduled to be on sale in the United States by the end of March 1998. Exports to Europe were scheduled for Fall 1998, and the rest of the world in 1999. Based on the Volkswagen Concept 1 that was presented at the 1994 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. The base model starts at $15,700 with a 115-horsepower 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. A 90-horsepower 1.9-liter 4-cylinder Turbo Direct Injection diesel engine was also available, starting at $16,975. A 150-horsepower turbocharged 1.8-liter engine would become available in the fall of 1998. Unlike Volkswagen’s original Beetle, which featured an air-cooled, rear-mounted engine, the New Beetle is front wheel drive with water-cooled engines mounted in the front. With a wheelbase of 98.9 inches, the New Beetle is 161.1 inches long and 67.9 inches wide. Standard features include a fully galvanized body for rust protection, dual front airbags and front seat-mounted side airbags, four-wheel disc brakes, pretensioning front safety belts, front and rear headrests, halogen projector-beam headlights, daytime running lights, air conditioning, pollen and odor filter, six speaker stereo, beverage holders, antitheft alarm system, central locking system with remote, and even a bud vase. Available options included anti-lock brakes, alloy wheels, cruise control, leather upholstery, fog lamps, heated front seats, and power windows.