1964 Arkla Gas Company "Handywagon"

[CorollaNut68]

I've been using a trailer for years that I got when my grandfather died. All I had heard was that it was made from some kind of little truck the ARKLA gas company used back in the sixties. I had pictured something like the 3 wheeled cushman things the ticket writers downtown use. As it turns out, these were designed by a couple of the guys at the gas company and a company engineer named Ed Handy. Thus they became known as HandyWagons They imported parts from Holland and built them in a nearby boat factory. They were for company use only and built in 1964 around Malvern, Arkansas. They had a 2 cylinder 30hp engine, a 900lb capacity, four wheel independent suspension. Only 97 were ever produced and they were phased out after 10 years or so. There are only 3 known left in the world...2 here in Arkansas and one in Holland...but now I know there are 3 and a Half!

I plan to restore it and use it again this summer. I had stored the original sides, they were (are) pretty rough but will clean up nicely.

It is the perfect size for towing behind the KE10.

Here's one to show you the scale of the truck, some had wood sides, some had fiberglass.

My trailer is most likely made from one of the trucks in this picture below

[Marjanne]

 

 

Hey mate

 

It looks like its built using the motor, gearbox, wheels, steeringwheel etc of a DAF 32 (Daffoldil) or a 33. It had a full variomatic (automatic belt driven) gear box.

 

Cheers

Edited April 16, 2012 by philbey

[CorollaNut68]

That sounds about right...the parts were Dutch...(Van Doorne Automobielfabrieken of Endhovenwhen), I took apart the wheels, it has Volvo brakes. Cool to know, thanks.

Edited April 18, 2012 by CorollaNut69

[Marjanne]

http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=5531#

 

The Volvo brakes must be a later addition. Volvo did take over DAF but that was around 1978.

 

Endhovenwhen.....= Eindhoven. Its even spelled wrong in the link above....