![Fabco_Two_Headed_Tunnel_Washer[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/Fabco_Two_Headed_Tunnel_Washer%5B1%5D.jpg)
Tony Miller has e-mail me this commercial vehicle curiosity and to say: "I thoroughly enjoy your well put together and informative blog on big and unusual trucks. Here are a couple strange ones my company, Fabco Automotive Corp, built in the 1960's. The 'two headed' vehicle was built by Fabco to clean tunnels in the San Francisco Bay Area."
![Tunnel_Washer[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/Tunnel_Washer%5B1%5D.jpg)
And how about that MP? All of which begs the question what truck chassis was it based on Tony? Meanwhile he says: "I have hundreds of photos, brochures and article about unusual or extreme vehicles we built of have been involved with since 1917. I'll see about gathering up some for your site if you like. Best regards, Tony." Well naturally I LIKE very much Tony, Please fire them over as they sound perfect Biglorryblog fodder..and to prove it click through here for another of Tony's odd-ball trucks which you can see by clicking through here....
Tony adds: "The multi-wheel vehicle was built for the US Navy to test the effects of vehicle ground pressure (for operating on iced over bodies of water) " Anyone of the Anorak army seen this thing before?
Hi Brian,
Third picture down not seen before, but it looks remarkably like a HUSKY, made in Canada, who make multi-wheeled and tracked vehicles for use in Low Ground pressure environments like Snow, Ice or Mud.
All of which are current production models for Husky.
Kibd Regards
Mike Ponsonby BA
The photos of the Fabco equipment brought back many memories for me. Fabco designed and built only the chassis for the Tunnel Washer, the brushes and washing equipment were designed and built by the California Department of Highways. It was a prototype for use throughout California. Unfortunately only the one unit was bult.
The chassis had 8 wheels but only one driven axle, and could operate equally in both directions. The upper cabs elevated to alow the operator a view as he was operating the washer and brushes.
It was in service for a considerable time but no subsequent units were ordered.
The third photo shows a special vehicle Fabco built for the US. Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory in Port Hueneme, California. It was an Ultra Low Ground Pressure Vehicle, approx. 2psi, for use in the Antarctic as a crash/rescue vehicle should there be an air accident away from the McMurdo base.
It had 16 wheels, all driven, all steering, and was air transportable. It operated at McMurdo for for several years and was eventually returned to the US. and sold privately.
Fabco sold many rubber tired vehicles to USNCEL for use in Antarctica.
You may be interested to know Fabco supplied many hundreds of front driving axles to Mack Trucks (Australia) for use in the army 10ton truck.