Oliver Doodlebug Built For Fun
Jim and Kay Plagemann have a blast with their twin seat tractor-like doodlebug. One of 7 similar rigs built in the area, Jim’s is based on an old Chevy truck. With its 4-speed transmission, he could roll along at road speeds. However, he tries to keep it under 25 mph to comply with his slow moving vehicle status and Oliver tractor appearance.
“I found a 1954 Chevy truck lying in the weeds and salvaged the chassis, engine and drivetrain,” says Plagemann. “Even the original radiator and wheels were useable.”
Plagemann cut the frame by the back axle and shortened it up, raising it to allow for larger tires on the original rear wheels. He also did some brake work on the rear end. “It only had 26,000 miles on it and didn’t require much work,” says Plagemann. “I rewired the engine and put on all new hoses and cables, but that was it.”
To prepare it for a new body, he sandblasted everything and repainted the components.
Plagemann turned to Stan Brookner, a friend in the area, to do the body work. Brookner is the local expert, having done or helped with the 6 other tractor/truck combinations, all of which are unique.
“We went to a junkyard and found a 1655 Oliver tractor and took the front end, hood and grill,” says Plagemann. “Stan made a platform to set the grill on and cut the hood a bit to fit it. He also made the cowling ahead of the dash where the steering comes through. We made the operator’s platform and installed bucket seats from an old Blazer.”
He also added flashers, lights and other safety gear. With running board steps and fenders for the rear wheels, the doodlebug was just about ready to go.
“We installed a stereo so we can play music for parades and a 1654 decal combining the Oliver model number with the 4 from the 1954 Chevy,” notes Plagemann.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jim Plagemann, 22606 County Road X, Kiel, Wis. 53042 (ph 920 905-0200; kayplagemann@yahoo.com).
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Oliver Doodlebug Built For Fun TRACTORS Antiques Jim and Kay Plagemann have a blast with their twin seat tractor-like doodlebug One of 7 similar rigs built in the area Jim’s is based on an old Chevy truck With its 4-speed transmission he could roll along at road speeds However he tries to keep it under 25 mph to comply with his slow moving vehicle status and Oliver tractor appearance “I found a 1954 Chevy truck lying in the weeds and salvaged the chassis engine and drivetrain ” says Plagemann “Even the original radiator and wheels were useable ” Plagemann cut the frame by the back axle and shortened it up raising it to allow for larger tires on the original rear wheels He also did some brake work on the rear end “It only had 26 000 miles on it and didn’t require much work ” says Plagemann “I rewired the engine and put on all new hoses and cables but that was it ” To prepare it for a new body he sandblasted everything and repainted the components Plagemann turned to Stan Brookner a friend in the area to do the body work Brookner is the local expert having done or helped with the 6 other tractor/truck combinations all of which are unique “We went to a junkyard and found a 1655 Oliver tractor and took the front end hood and grill ” says Plagemann “Stan made a platform to set the grill on and cut the hood a bit to fit it He also made the cowling ahead of the dash where the steering comes through We made the operator’s platform and installed bucket seats from an old Blazer ” He also added flashers lights and other safety gear With running board steps and fenders for the rear wheels the doodlebug was just about ready to go “We installed a stereo so we can play music for parades and a 1654 decal combining the Oliver model number with the 4 from the 1954 Chevy ” notes Plagemann Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jim Plagemann 22606 County Road X Kiel Wis 53042 ph 920 905-0200; kayplagemann@yahoo com
