Weekend Edition Quick Hit – Your chance to own Movie History; A Peterbilt 351, similar to the one in "Duel"

Jim Brennan

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It is not very often one gets the chance to own something that was used as a movie prop, and this isn’t one either, but it’s close. Show of hands… How many of you remember the 1971 made for television movie “Duel”? This was a story about a traveling salesman, played by Dennis Weaver, who is chased across the desert southwest by a maniacal Peterbilt Tanker Truck. I remember it well because I was just becoming aware of vehicles (this was my freshman year of High School) and this movie was directed by a guy who has directed some of the biggest grossing movies ever, Steven Spielberg.

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As you can see, the truck that is for sale looks close enough to the truck used in the movie, it’s rather uncanny. According to the listing for the truck that’s for sale:

1950’s Peterbilt Model 351
Butterfly Hood
Cummins Power
2 stick transmission …. 5 and a 4
steel frame

would make a great rat rod or ambitious restoration

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There is no asking price for this truck, and the phone number has a Vermont area code, so it’s up to you to find out how much the seller wants. While you’re getting this truck, make sure you have enough cheddar to purchase a matching Plymouth Valiant… See the listing here.

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Oh, and here is a little trivia. The 1978 episode of the Incredible Hulk titled “Never Give a Trucker an Even Break” incorporated quite a few scenes from the Movie “Duel”. The episode storyline was laughable at best, and it was very clear that most of the shots involving the truck and the Plymouth were lifted directly from the movie.

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Jim Brennan

Jim Brennan

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15 responses to “Weekend Edition Quick Hit – Your chance to own Movie History; A Peterbilt 351, similar to the one in "Duel"”

  1. lilpoindexter Avatar
    lilpoindexter

    He should include a red four door Valiant with the purchase of the truck. I saw it many years after it came out…but I think it's one of my favorite movies ever…lots of super cool scenes….when Dennis Weaver was going to get his butt kicked by the truckers in the diner…when the truck smashes up the insect exhibit, and the lady is trying to pick them up…and of course all the scenes where the little red valiant is trying to out run the truck….I would be interested to see what people think the driver of the truck would have looked like. In my mind he probably looked a little like tom wopat from the dukes of hazard, except with real long hair, and face with a scowl that would scare the hardiest inmate at san quentin.

    Reply
  2. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    I have a lot of respect for people who restore trucks and busses – even though there is no talk of restoration here. Personally, I just can't see myself spending time, effort and money on something like that. On the other hand, who here was watching "Downton Abbey"? It includes a very nicely restored 100 year old bus that is always a delight to see:
    <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ENkF7ixP2Ps/T1YDe4h_R3I/AAAAAAAAW9E/B5bHJaZ_iSA/s400/transport+bus.JPG&quot; width="600">

    Reply
  3. racer139 Avatar
    racer139

    I wounder if the cab is sitting on a newer chassis. If not somone went through a bit of hassle to change the two piece wheels to a standard wheel. I dont know if two piece are even road legal anymore but I do know that nobody around here will change tires on them.

    Reply
    1. ZomBee Racer Avatar
      ZomBee Racer

      Split-rims have tried to kill me many times.
      Er, I should say one particular split-rim. Over and over…
      …out for blood, this little demonic contraption is…
      <img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/599650_4414691969994_259308723_n.jpg&quot; width="600">

      Reply
  4. cruisintime Avatar
    cruisintime

    Duel was a Tv movie,I watched it on youtube last winter,it holds up well.

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      It was on ABC's Movie Of The Week. I was a faithful watcher of that series, movies like Crowhaven Farm, Isn't It Shocking? (Alan Alda is a small-town cop trying to figure out who's shocking people to death), Dr. Cook's Garden (Bing Crosby as a kindly old country doctor that's euthanizing people with poisons grown in his garden), Brian's Song (the true story about Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers), and lots of other good stuff.

      Reply
  5. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    Remember It? I watched it the first time it aired. Pretty intense movie for an eleven-year-old.

    Reply
    1. scroggzilla Avatar
      scroggzilla

      Yeah, me too. Except, I was 6. I'm still get uncomfortable every time I have a truck on my 6.

      Reply
  6. frankthecat Avatar
    frankthecat

    Oh, I actually recognize that truck from my frequent travels as a kid around Rutland. Small world I guess.

    Reply
  7. alain Avatar
    alain

    i like duel, there used to be a version of it on youtube i watched just last month, but i look on hemmings blog where i saw the link, and the movie has been taken down. le sigh.

    Reply
  8. parkwood60 Avatar
    parkwood60

    That lifting of pieces of it for the Hulk episode explains why this alternate ending exists, in which the trucker gets Dennis Weaver angry, and you won't like him when he's angry:
    [youtube fjhtr0vTtcw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjhtr0vTtcw youtube]

    Reply
    1. ZomBee Racer Avatar
      ZomBee Racer

      That was something…

      Reply
  9. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
    Irishzombieman☆

    Hmmm. The possibilities. . . . There's some guys up Oregon way that do some interesting stuff with old Petes.
    <img src="http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/images/sneakypete_lg_lg.jpg&quot; width=350>
    <img src="http://www.coolthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/pissdoffpete3.jpg&quot; width=350>

    Reply
    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      Holy crap! They sure look like movie props to me.

      Reply
      1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
        Irishzombieman☆

        No way hombre. They're the real thing, spawn of the Blastolene Brothers, the dudes responsible for the Blastolene Special tank engine car, the B702, the Decoliner, and a bunch of other insanity.
        The Blastolene Special:
        <img src="http://car-historys.com/Images/Logos/jay%20leno-tankcar.jpg&quot; width=350>
        The 1000 hp Frogman trike:
        <img src="http://www.tuningspain.es/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Blastolene-Frogman-Rocket-II-480×274.jpg&quot; width=400>
        Wish I lived next door to these cats.

        Reply