1931 Ford Truck Abandoned for 75 Years Looks Hopeless, Engine Agrees To Run

Any "Will it run?" video is entertaining if you're into barn finds, but YouTube's "Jennings Motor sports" takes things up a notch. That's because he usually revives vehicles that have been sitting for over 50 years. The dump truck you see here has been off the road for a whopping 75 years.

That's long enough to turn any rig into a rust bucket, but this Model AA took over seven decades of exposure to the elements like a champ, as in it's still in one piece. On the flipside, the hauler sat for some 30 years in a scrapyard, so it's missing quite a few parts, including the front clip and the wheels. All told this 93-year-old Ford looks like a vehicle most people would send to the crusher.

But not our host! He likes a challenge and rescued the truck to give it a second chance at life. And amazingly enough, he brought the old four-cylinder engine back to life, even though it was pretty much flooded with mud and water. But needless to say, it wasn't an easy task.

He kicked things off by heating the nearly frozen oil pan the old-fashioned way. But things got a bit too hot after he poured acetone and transmission fluid inside. The whole unit caught fire. I guess it's an entertaining way to clean things up, but it's something you kids shouldn't try at home.

With everything crispy and easily removable, the engine was partially disassembled and removed. This step was necessary to swap out some transmission components. But the inline-four soon found its way back into the bay, got most of its ancillaries in place and agreed to fire up. Our host did manage to get it idling on its own, but the fact that the unit runs after 75 years is impressive, to say the least.

It's unclear whether this Model AA will actually make it back on the road at some point, but I'm certainly glad it has yet to meet the crusher. These trucks are becoming increasingly more challenging to find nowadays.

Ford introduced the Model AA as a replacement for the Model TT in 1927. As you might have already guessed, the truck shared many parts with the Model A car. The hauler was produced in several body styles through 1932. Ford's iconic 201-cubic-inch (3.3-liter) four-cylinder was the only engine available. But that's enough history for today. Hit the play button below to see this old AA return to life.