There is an optional tour to a missile training silo located inside the base where you can view this truck, a Minuteman Missile and an armored patrol truck.
"The GMC V-12 powered special purpose tractor truck transported the complete Minuteman III missile, without warhead, from the base out to the missile silo. Then the Cessna built monocoque trailer fuselage coupled with pins to huge structural members by the silo. Giant five section hydraulic actuators would then raise the body up vertical, and a winch would lower the missile into the silo. The roll transfer weight including missile and carriages was near 80,000 lbs. and the whole vehicle when loaded weighed about 139,000 lbs.
The truck tractor cab was hand built by GMC and powered by the GMC 702-inch V-12. The cab was magnesium to save weight, and the anonymous author did say that "this thing was really something else."
The units pictured were built in 1961 and 1962 and hauled Minuteman missiles until retirement in 1990. Today, Hill Aerospace Museum in Roy, Utah, has a GMC V-12 powered TEL in place for the world to see. There is also one at Warren AFB, Wyoming, at the front gate and a third GMC V-12 powered Minuteman sits fully restored at Malmstrom AFB in Montana.
If my readers would like to see a YouTube video of the GMC V-12 and the Air Force Missile production, it's called "Minuteman - From Design to Delivery" (1963) about the missiles and vehicle in action. If you go to about 14 minutes into the video, you'll see the truck in action.
I want to thank Thunder V-12, LLC and the U.S. Air Force for supplying interesting information. And thanks again Sgt. John for your info from behind the wheel. Have a great New Year.
- Greg Zyla writes weekly for More Content Now and other Gatehouse Media publications, He welcomes reader questions or comments on collector cars, auto nostalgia or old-time racing at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, Pa. 18840 or email at greg@gregzyla.com."
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