Sometimes, what seens like a good idea can generate more problems than it solves. Take for example the 1957 International Harvester Sightliner.
For decades, cab-over-engine trucks and tractors were often created in a straightforward way: the manufacturer simply took a conventional truck cab minus the nose and front doghouse and moved it up and forward, perching it atop the engine room. This produced a fully functional cabover truck to improve manueverability and meet highway regulations for total vehicle length—even if the appearance was a little peculiar. International Harvester refined that configuration, if you will, with the 1957 Sightliner.
For the Sightliner, International took the very same approach, borrowing the cab and doors from its conventional medium and heavy trucks to create a tilt-cab COE. Minus the optional sleeper unit, the total cab length was a compact 48 inches. But instead of an awkward-looking plain, flat closeout panel at the front of the cab, I-H designers came up with an innovation: a pair of large windows of laminated safety glass at the driver’s ankle height. The objective, of course, was to improve forward visibility, especially at street level, and an auxiliary pair of windscreen wipers was thoughtfully provided.
Officially known as the ACO (two-axle) and ACOF (three-axle) series, the Sightliner could be fitted out in most any conceivable configuration, like any commercial chassis-cab combination. There were straight trucks and semi-tractors, usually with gasoline or LPG power, for nearly any purpose, from mobile home toters to concrete transit mixers.
What a great idea—except that drivers didn’t care for it at all. Nicknames for the Sightliner cabs included “greenhouse” and “fishbowl.” The extra glass allowed sunlight to heat up the cabin to uncomfortable levels, created a creepy lack of privacy for some, and at night, the headlamps of oncoming vehicles blinded the drivers with glare and reflections. Operators were known to block off the windows with cardboard or sheet metal inside the cab or to paint them over. The Sightliner was discontinued by 1964, replaced by the CO cabover series.
MCG will sure surprise ya’. A trucking company in Reedsburg, Wis., home to Skinner Transport. The founder of the company had an all IH fleet in the 50s-70s. After the old man retired, he amassed quite a collection of vintage IH road tractors. The “Westcoasters” were his favorite, all red, but he did have a Sightliner he took to truck shows in the Midwest. While a bit before my time, it’s the only time I ever saw one. Many attempts at shorter tractors for longer trailers were tried. The “2 Story Falcon”, the 1961 Ford H series( 1st Ford with a diesel) was another. I believe the Emeryville replaced the these, which led to the Transtar, and a much better unit. After Pa Skinner died, most of the trucks were sold.
Overall length laws were abolished I believe in 1982, and no longer was a cabover needed, and fell out of favor pretty quick. Some loved a cabover, others would quit the job if asked to drive one. I drove maybe half a dozen, out of dozens and disliked everyone. I hope this is cool, but my favorite video, getting hard to find,, look at all the cabovers, circa 1974. And a major blooper, it’s a cabover Freightliner with a reefer on, not a Pete. This is how it was, except I don’t recall the Nat. Guard. Good friends, broke every rule that would bend, didn’t kill anyone, just got the job done. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else for so many years. Today? Not a chance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVifNkBrn7E
OMG, it’s Howard A! I too read MMCG and I am wondering if Mr.A will see this as I throw out a howdy friend glad you’re still around. Love MMCG and read it daily although it was crazy busy today so no comments until late this evening!