The Trucks of 'Da Yoop' in Michigan
Words and photos by Robby DeGraff
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is home to some of the wackiest,coolest and most bizarre vehicles I’ve ever seen. You can find everything from alifted Chevy Silverado that proudly plays in mud while wearing Confederate flaglivery to rusty Jeep CJs sitting in peoples’ front yards, combating theovergrown grass, just waiting to be sold.
I’ve always enjoyed searching for the four-wheeled hidden treasures thatlurk behind used-car lots, inside old barns and off the beaten path. As agearhead, you become excited when you discover something that once had a greatpast.
It’s a quest to find out everything you can, by looking through photos,wiping the dust off the VIN and talking with other enthusiasts. The UP — or “DaYoop,” as spoken by the locals — was a perfect place for this.
I stopped at Lutey’s Heritage Motors to check out a 1929 Ford half-tonpickup with an aftermarket snowmobile conversion. After a few helpful emails with thedealership, I learned a bit more about this unique pickup.
Kits like the oneseen on this pickup were popular among rural mail carriers, commercial fishermen,woodworkers and farmers who lived in the Northern snowy areas of the country. Althoughthere were several styles of snowmobile conversions for the Model A and T, theone pictured here features the easy conversion kit with removable front skis,along with a second rear axle for the longer tracks. Some snow kits even had permanentlymounted skis up front. Seems like a perfect vehicle for the stormy winters inthe UP.
Toward the back of the lot was a tan 1967 Jeepster Commandowagon still wearing Michigan plates from 1979. Under a tree and fading away inthe sun was a 1950s Willys Jeep pickup begging for restoration.
“Christine on Steroids,” as Da Yoopers would call it, caughtmy eye as I passed through Ishpeming. I pulled over to stop at Da YoopersTourist Trap, an outdoor collection of hilariously strange vehicles and figurines. (Who areDa Yoopers? Head over to YouTube and search for “Rusty Chevrolet.”)
Back to Christine, that’s a 1957 Buick Special mounted ontoa 1974 Chevrolet three-quarter-ton truck frame. Who wouldn’t want to plow with that beast?
A small-block Chevy V-8 powers “Big Gus,” the world’slargest chainsaw. It’s a whopping 22 feet long and 6 feet tall. Then you’llstumble across a big 1947-49 International KB-5 with the world’s largest firinggun mounted on the rear flatbed. That 35-foot gun is called “Big Ernie.”
Tell us: What’s been the craziest or most unique truckyou’ve seen on your vacation?
