In a World... [PIC]

where every square inch of shelf, display and storage space is worth its weight in unabtainium, why the hell would I buy one those Acme ramp trucks? I was proud of my firm stance on this issue until they released their 4 millionth iteration... a bloody Ramcharger liveried Dodge D-300. I folded like a cheap suit. {{{sigh}}}

So what are these darned ramp trucks anyway? Are they 'phantoms'? Did/do they even exist? I can't say I found actual 1:1 examples on a Google search... just a million ads for Acme models. I have 3 different liveried Ramcharger Dodges to display it with. The locator holes for the chocks offer no repositioning so I ruled out the AWB Dodge as the the tail would extend past the ramp. I settled on the original Dodge that I saw broken down on a Manhattan street as it was being driven from the Hudson River to the Lincoln Center car show. OK... it looks cool.

As I studied my pics of the set up, looking at the pitch of the ramp and how there's zero margin for error, I had to ask. "Without a winch, how in the world could you get the car in position?" It's too heavy to push up the steep ramp and these drag cars weren't known to be too smooth running at low RPMs. I had to ask myself, "How would Wayne Carini do it?" He's always pulling exotic barn finds up into his super deluxe car carriers. He and his crew might be able to push a Model T up the ramp, but not a 426 Hemi powered 1963 Dodge 330 drag car, then hold it steady to seat the chocks with zero room to maneuver. It also dawned on me that with only the two rear chocks to secure the car, I'd be a bit fearful of traveling on bumpy roads.

Anyway... I called up Wayne and I guess when he saw my name on his caller ID, he never picked up. So... I did the best I could and drove it home at 2 mph.