1948 Chevrolet Monster truck puller Coca Cola collectable 12 speed No Reserve

1948 Chevrolet Truck

The Coca Cola Wonder!

This is one of the coolest trucks I have ever owned! After obtaining the truck I knew there had to be more to the story. After doing some detective work I actually found the original owner and builder of Coca-Cola Wonder!

His name is Ray Dodson and he built thetruck in the early 80's. His father was the owner of Roy and Owens tire Service and the name is still on the cab of the truck. His big sponser was Coca Cola!

Ray just happened to have a photo album of the truck in its prime. I copied most of the photos and they will come with the truck to document its great history as one of the first generation of truck pullers.

I do not know where most of the pictures were taken but Ray said the Truck appeared at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, he king Dome in Seattle, egas, he Saddledome, algory, anada and Medford Oregon for the World Pulling Championships!

Ray told me that when they would go to some events a Coca Cola Truck would meet them and he would autograph Six Packs and give them out to the crowds how cool is that!

He also was telling about filming a commercial in the Saddledome for Coke. He said the Truck was almost vertical across the stadium and it was shot before the pull, he crowd was dubbed in after. I have looked on the internet to find some evidence of the commercial but no luck so far.

If you look in the pictures you will see the Mother Jugs and Speed ambulance in the back round WOW!

Ray told me the story of the picture taken in Weiser, daho. They were comming home from a Pull and noticed that a Sand Dune race was going on so they unloaded the Coca Cola Wonder and in Rays words we kicked thier @ss too!

This truck screams Americana! People just stop to take pictures of this beauty!

The truck as it sets today is still in great shape! A little faded with some scratches and dings but still looking like the great truck it has always been. I did not see any rust issues on the truck. The front tires were shot so they have been replaced with vintage correct tires. The rear tires are cracked and worn they still hold air but the passenger side has a slow leak.

Ray took the motor out and sold the truck to another puller in the early 90,S The truck never saw competion again.

The motor run in the Coca Cola Wonder was a 468 CID blown and alcohol injected big block chevy, he esimated 1200 horsepower was routed through a 12 speed road ranger truck transmission to a massive 2.5 Ton rear end. The rear end has customed machined disc brakes and if you look at the pictures of the cab you will notice 2 brake pedals, hese were used to steer the truck when the nose was in the air! I can not imagine the rush of that monster engine and steering that truck in a stadium full of people!

The truck still has the custom made bell housing that bolts to chevrolet engines. The body has a hydrolic lift and the truck opens up like a Funny car.With a little work this old girl could be rolling down the dirt again.

While I was cleaning the dust off of the Dash I noticed a plaque that reads

NFPA/KOBI-TV

Oregon Expo 86

World Pulling Championships

Sept. 4,5,6,7 Medford, regon

I have not been able to find any history on that event or even what NFPA stood for.

If you have any information on this truck It would be great to hear about it so I can pass it along to the new owner.

Please pay close attention to all of the photos they will answer most if not all of your questions. I can be reached at 208-250-4454 Please no questions about reserve If the truck does not meet reserve the high bidder may have the chance to buy it. This truck will be sold with a bill of sale it is not titled for street use.

If you have been waiting for that one of a kind piece of americana Coca Cola history to spend your hard earned money on this is it!

Thanks and enjoy the auction!