Pic Thread: Doodlebugs - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**special-K** · 01-05-2017, 10:20 AM

These are some of my favorite vehicles. You see your first one and you think somebody made a very handy useful thing using their imagnation. Well, I guess that's how it started, but these were built by many all over the place and there were even kits to convert. Basically they start with an obsolete discarded car, then it gets shortened, and a big truck rear with tall tires swapped in. There were utility carts manufactured in time, once someone saw there was a market. Golf courses, etc used such "truckette/tractors"

**special-K** · 01-05-2017, 10:22 AM

I've been wanting to build one

**GOPAPA** · 01-05-2017, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

I've been wanting to build one

My dad had home made tractor that he called the "bug" and it looked like this one shown below,,,, it was 1935 Chevy Truck that was frame shortened up ,,the top of the cab was cut off .. He once put a wooden cable drum on replacing the wheel and had it jacked up so he and I could use the gears to raise and lower the well drilling pipe ,, we drilled down about 90 feet and hit water,, also I would steer it while he ran the slip behind so to level out some garden spot ..

dc68356e68e1da29ff31fda8e567d41a.jpg

**mongocanfly** · 01-05-2017, 03:54 PM

Those are cool

**Ol Blue K20** · 01-05-2017, 04:00 PM

Cool, I want one. Thanks Tim, I really needed another project. LOL...

**special-K** · 01-05-2017, 06:55 PM

Cool isn't always about going fast. And custom isn't always about flashy or shiny. Hey Larry, that's neat to hear you had one in your life growing up. I remember seeing them here and there

61_FL_Apache · 01-05-2017, 07:48 PM

I need one!

63 & 64 Bowties · 01-05-2017, 09:45 PM

Thanks for sharing. I never knew they were called Doodlebugs.
You come up with the neatest stuff, Tim.

**mongocanfly** · 01-05-2017, 10:23 PM

Great!!!...a patina doodlebug..haha

**special-K** · 01-05-2017, 10:42 PM

They were patina when patina wasn't cool

. I don't think you'd ever see any as nice as some of these until these days. I'm glad you like some of the stuff I've shown, Bill. Ever hear about the Model T snowmobile conversions? I know a guy with one. Him and my Model T/Model A buddy were about arm wrestling over this cool antique kerosene heater for that thing. My buddy is building a depot hack from scratch/junk parts. He wants to find a snowmobile rig for it.

How about this get-up? I don't know if it's recent or vintage. But a little diversion from doodlebugs...or is it just a purpose built one?

**Boog** · 01-05-2017, 10:43 PM

It's a, it's a, patoodlebug!

midniteblues · 01-05-2017, 11:03 PM

The farm I bought my older sons 67 at must've had 20-30 of these contraptions laying around.

Most were cut up A's or t's.

I friended the old fella cause he had alot of cool old stuff but the one summer I missed going up there and he passed.

I had heard he willed everything too his church.
What they did with it all I have no idea.

I bugged and bugged ole' man ray too sell me the all original 36 chevy truck he had stashed in a shed, but he would never give me a price.

Places like his are just not around anymore.

I found his place out cruizing just trying too get myself lost on the cycle that day.

**special-K** · 01-05-2017, 11:47 PM

That is cool you got to know that old-timer. I miss guys like that. I have hung with a few old guys over the years. I should have built one back when the "bug" first hit me. Going to be hard to find the old stuff to build one now. It's got to be from the antique parts. I have a Model A rolling chassis that was given to me. And I gave him a cowl, radiator, and radiator shell (truck/painted) I don't think he used. Maybe I can have that, too. I also gave him a Model T chassis, with engine and transmission. He just got into checking that stuff out last weekend. There's a crack in the block, once the head came off, but the transmission is good. He probably has a running engine trans extra I could buy

El Dorado Jim · 01-06-2017, 12:58 AM

some cool old rigs!

63 & 64 Bowties · 01-06-2017, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

I'm glad you like some of the stuff I've shown, Bill.

For sure. Always. You're definitely an asset to this board.

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

Ever hear about the Model T snowmobile conversions?

I've never seen one in person, only pics. But I think this is way cooler....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn5jkXEFTZ4

**special-K** · 01-06-2017, 08:45 AM

I like this place, it's special to me

. Those were quite an innovation. I guess tracks won out over that system. I wonder how that Snow Motor would handle those two sleds of lumber down hill. Would there be enough traction to hold back that load?

At the family place up on the mountain there is a section of frame with a Model A engine with a drive belt pulley to serve as a power source for whatever

**Chevyland** · 01-06-2017, 12:36 PM

Here's one I saw at Iowa 80 truck museum, on my road trip across the country last year.
It's a Ford , but it's so cool

63 & 64 Bowties · 01-06-2017, 03:43 PM

It's almost impossible to find one that doesn't have a Model T or A cowl.

**special-K** · 01-06-2017, 11:13 PM

I want to see that Iowa-80 museum one day. Maybe when I visit Loc Doc for some homemade ice cream with his peaches. That thing is tres cool... US Mail!!

yeah Bill, know what you mean. I think some I have pictures of were made from big trucks. That's one is a fine scratch built. Toto ended up making something like these for golf course maintenance.

**mongocanfly** · 01-07-2017, 04:06 PM

Couple of bigger ones

**mongocanfly** · 01-07-2017, 04:10 PM

And some odd ones

**special-K** · 01-07-2017, 08:41 PM

That Minneapolis Moline is a factory tractor. Aren't they cool?
https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/...&hsimp=yhs-001

More Doodlebugs:

streetrodchev · 01-07-2017, 11:17 PM

**special-K** · 01-08-2017, 10:32 AM

That's a classy one. Now here is one that I'm not sure was so nice when it was being worked. Ya think? I don't consider it a true doodle bug, although it is a Model T converted to tractor. Like I said, there were kits, so perhaps there were conversions that were no more than the car with added tractor rear

**Boog** · 01-08-2017, 01:54 PM

Conversion kits way back then.

01-05-2017, 10:20 AM	#1
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Pic Thread: Doodlebugs These are some of my favorite vehicles. You see your first one and you think somebody made a very handy useful thing using their imagnation. Well, I guess that's how it started, but these were built by many all over the place and there were even kits to convert. Basically they start with an obsolete discarded car, then it gets shortened, and a big truck rear with tall tires swapped in. There were utility carts manufactured in time, once someone saw there was a market. Golf courses, etc used such "truckette/tractors" Attached Images __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ Last edited by special-K; 01-05-2017 at 06:51 PM.

01-05-2017, 10:22 AM	#2
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs I've been wanting to build one Attached Images __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-05-2017, 03:54 PM	#4
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,585	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs Those are cool

01-05-2017, 04:00 PM	#5
Ol Blue K20 Proprietor of Dale's Corner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vacaville , CA Posts: 15,834	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs Cool, I want one. Thanks Tim, I really needed another project. LOL... __________________ "Some Days Chickens And Some Days Feathers" Dale XNGH ECV Sam Brannan 1004 R.I.P. 67ChevyRedneck R.I.P. Grumpy Old Man

01-05-2017, 06:55 PM	#6
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs Cool isn't always about going fast. And custom isn't always about flashy or shiny. Hey Larry, that's neat to hear you had one in your life growing up. I remember seeing them here and there Attached Images __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-05-2017, 07:48 PM	#7
61_FL_Apache Who Me? Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Royal Palm Beach, FL Posts: 4,065	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs I need one! __________________ Steve 1997 Tahoe LT 4D 2WD (DD) 1961 Apache 10 (sold) 1965 C10 Stepper (sold)

01-05-2017, 09:45 PM	#8
63 & 64 Bowties and a few others Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of VA Posts: 5,638	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs Thanks for sharing. I never knew they were called Doodlebugs. You come up with the neatest stuff, Tim. __________________ Bill US Army Vet -193rd Infantry BlueRidgeMuscleCars.com “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” Gandhi

01-05-2017, 10:23 PM	#9
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,585	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs Great!!!...a patina doodlebug..haha Attached Images

01-05-2017, 10:42 PM	#10
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs They were patina when patina wasn't cool . I don't think you'd ever see any as nice as some of these until these days. I'm glad you like some of the stuff I've shown, Bill. Ever hear about the Model T snowmobile conversions? I know a guy with one. Him and my Model T/Model A buddy were about arm wrestling over this cool antique kerosene heater for that thing. My buddy is building a depot hack from scratch/junk parts. He wants to find a snowmobile rig for it. How about this get-up? I don't know if it's recent or vintage. But a little diversion from doodlebugs...or is it just a purpose built one? Attached Images __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-05-2017, 10:43 PM	#11
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 12,957	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs It's a, it's a, patoodlebug! __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

01-05-2017, 11:03 PM	#12
midniteblues Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: strausstown pa Posts: 3,394	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs The farm I bought my older sons 67 at must've had 20-30 of these contraptions laying around. Most were cut up A's or t's. I friended the old fella cause he had alot of cool old stuff but the one summer I missed going up there and he passed. I had heard he willed everything too his church. What they did with it all I have no idea. I bugged and bugged ole' man ray too sell me the all original 36 chevy truck he had stashed in a shed, but he would never give me a price. Places like his are just not around anymore. I found his place out cruizing just trying too get myself lost on the cycle that day. __________________ 81 camaro 355 4/spd 342 posi my first love. 67 swb step 454/4spd ott 373 posi 4/7 drop. 2000 s10 zr2 little blue truck that never gets stuck. '74 heald super bronc vt8. tecumseh powered moon rover.

01-05-2017, 11:47 PM	#13
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs That is cool you got to know that old-timer. I miss guys like that. I have hung with a few old guys over the years. I should have built one back when the "bug" first hit me. Going to be hard to find the old stuff to build one now. It's got to be from the antique parts. I have a Model A rolling chassis that was given to me. And I gave him a cowl, radiator, and radiator shell (truck/painted) I don't think he used. Maybe I can have that, too. I also gave him a Model T chassis, with engine and transmission. He just got into checking that stuff out last weekend. There's a crack in the block, once the head came off, but the transmission is good. He probably has a running engine trans extra I could buy Attached Images __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-06-2017, 12:58 AM	#14
El Dorado Jim Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: El Dorado Ca Posts: 3,374	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs some cool old rigs!

01-06-2017, 08:45 AM	#16
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs I like this place, it's special to me . Those were quite an innovation. I guess tracks won out over that system. I wonder how that Snow Motor would handle those two sleds of lumber down hill. Would there be enough traction to hold back that load? At the family place up on the mountain there is a section of frame with a Model A engine with a drive belt pulley to serve as a power source for whatever Attached Images __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-06-2017, 12:36 PM	#17
Chevyland Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ca. <-> Ma. Posts: 5,691	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs Here's one I saw at Iowa 80 truck museum, on my road trip across the country last year. It's a Ford , but it's so cool Attached Images



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01-06-2017, 03:43 PM	#18
63 & 64 Bowties and a few others Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of VA Posts: 5,638	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs It's almost impossible to find one that doesn't have a Model T or A cowl. Attached Images __________________ Bill US Army Vet -193rd Infantry BlueRidgeMuscleCars.com “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” Gandhi

01-06-2017, 11:13 PM	#19
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs I want to see that Iowa-80 museum one day. Maybe when I visit Loc Doc for some homemade ice cream with his peaches. That thing is tres cool... US Mail!! yeah Bill, know what you mean. I think some I have pictures of were made from big trucks. That's one is a fine scratch built. Toto ended up making something like these for golf course maintenance. Attached Images __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-07-2017, 04:06 PM	#20
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,585	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs Couple of bigger ones Attached Images

01-07-2017, 04:10 PM	#21
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,585	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs And some odd ones Attached Images

01-07-2017, 08:41 PM	#22
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs That Minneapolis Moline is a factory tractor. Aren't they cool? https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/...&hsimp=yhs-001 More Doodlebugs: Attached Images __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-07-2017, 11:17 PM	#23
streetrodchev Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Hustisford, WI Posts: 169	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs __________________ '46 GMC---355,TH400, 9" '66 K20---350, SM420, T221, D44, HO72, 4.56 '87 K30---tbi 350, TH400, NP205 twinstick, D60 powerlok, 14ff Detroit, 4.10

01-08-2017, 10:32 AM	#24
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs That's a classy one. Now here is one that I'm not sure was so nice when it was being worked. Ya think? I don't consider it a true doodle bug, although it is a Model T converted to tractor. Like I said, there were kits, so perhaps there were conversions that were no more than the car with added tractor rear Attached Images __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-08-2017, 01:54 PM	#25
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 12,957	Re: Pic Thread: Doodlebugs Conversion kits way back then. __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

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