Unusual Corbitt Semi Draws Interest At Shows

1999 - Volume #23, Issue #2, Page #23

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If you're a Southerner, you're probably more familiar with this rare classic semi truck than your Northern neighbors since it was manufactured in North Carolina.
  Stanley Hogg, Worthington, Minn., has learned a lot about Corbitt trucks since he found his 1951 Corbitt G 101 T22 semi tractor in a junk yard in New Castle, Wyo., in 1986. It had first been used as an over-the-road tractor to pull a 30-ft. freight trailer, then as a lumber truck with the frame lengthened and the 5th wheel removed.
  To restore the truck, he rebuilt the frame to its original 137-in. wheelbase. He pulled and rebuilt the 330 cu. in. Continental gas engine and 5-speed Clark transmission. He replaced the original 18,000-lb. differential with a larger, 22,000-lb. differential. He completely rewired and repainted the cab. The work took three years.
  Since then he's shown it at a dozen antique truck exhibitions from Spokane, Wash., to Boston, Mass., to Greensboro, N.C.
  As for the history of these rare trucks, they were produced by the Corbitt Truck Company, Henderson, N.C., between 1910 and the mid 1950's. That's when the company liquidated its assets. The trucks followed production of Corbitt buggies in the late 1800's and a crude Corbitt automobile in the early 1900's. The Corbitt company also went on to build farm tractors similar in design to the Cockshutt in the early 1950's, most of which were exported to other countries.
  Although the total number of Corbitt trucks built is unknown, the company had its best year in 1946 when it sold over 600 units. Five basic models were available with variations. The trucks were either diesel-powered, mostly using Cummins engines, or gas-powered, mostly using Continental engines.
  While there were few notable engineering innovations packed into the trucks, they were known as exceptionally well-built. They were also known as a great value, priced comparably to a Federal but well below a Mack, a White or a Diamond T.
  Fewer than 100 of the trucks remain in existence and not enough of them ever change hands to gauge exactly how much they've appreciated in value.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Stanley Hogg, P.O. Box 152, Worthington, Minn. 56187.

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Unusual Corbitt Semi Draws Interest At Shows TRUCKS Miscellaneous 23-2-23 If you're a Southerner, you're probably more familiar with this rare classic semi truck than your Northern neighbors since it was manufactured in North Carolina. Stanley Hogg, Worthington, Minn., has learned a lot about Corbitt trucks since he found his 1951 Corbitt G 101 T22 semi tractor in a junk yard in New Castle, Wyo., in 1986. It had first been used as an over-the-road tractor to pull a 30-ft. freight trailer, then as a lumber truck with the frame lengthened and the 5th wheel removed. To restore the truck, he rebuilt the frame to its original 137-in. wheelbase. He pulled and rebuilt the 330 cu. in. Continental gas engine and 5-speed Clark transmission. He replaced the original 18,000-lb. differential with a larger, 22,000-lb. differential. He completely rewired and repainted the cab. The work took three years. Since then he's shown it at a dozen antique truck exhibitions from Spokane, Wash., to Boston, Mass., to Greensboro, N.C. As for the history of these rare trucks, they were produced by the Corbitt Truck Company, Henderson, N.C., between 1910 and the mid 1950's. That's when the company liquidated its assets. The trucks followed production of Corbitt buggies in the late 1800's and a crude Corbitt automobile in the early 1900's. The Corbitt company also went on to build farm tractors similar in design to the Cockshutt in the early 1950's, most of which were exported to other countries. Although the total number of Corbitt trucks built is unknown, the company had its best year in 1946 when it sold over 600 units. Five basic models were available with variations. The trucks were either diesel-powered, mostly using Cummins engines, or gas-powered, mostly using Continental engines. While there were few notable engineering innovations packed into the trucks, they were known as exceptionally well-built. They were also known as a great value, priced comparably to a Federal but well below a Mack, a White or a Diamond T. Fewer than 100 of the trucks remain in existence and not enough of them ever change hands to gauge exactly how much they've appreciated in value. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Stanley Hogg, P.O. Box 152, Worthington, Minn. 56187.

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