1933 Twin Coach

This 1933 Twin Coach is said to have been part of a fleet of stand-and-drive delivery trucks manufactured by Twin Coach of Kent, Ohio, in the 1930s for Helms Bakery, an industrial baker servicing the Los Angeles, California-area. The seller purchased the truck in 2008, and subsequent refurbishment work included a repaint in the Helms Bakery livery, refinishing work on the interior cabinets, and a rebuild of the 199ci Hercules inline-four. According to the seller, the truck was used for promotional displays and driven in parades during current ownership. Equipment includes a three-speed manual transmission, a 12-volt electrical system with an alternator, and a fold-away driver’s seat. The truck is outfitted for bakery delivery service with wooden shelves, cabinets, and sliding glass-front drawers that can be locked for transport. This Twin Coach is now offered with copies of factory literature, service records since 2008, and a clean California title in the seller’s name. The truck was refinished in the Helms Bakery yellow and blue livery during the refurbishment commissioned during current ownership. Metal repairs prior to paint included steel patches on the front panel, the engine hood, and the doors. The interior aluminum door panels were replaced, one bumper was repaired, and one bumper was custom fabricated to duplicate the factory bumper. 18″ Dayton steel-spoked wheels are wrapped in S.T.A. Super Transport tires. Braking is handled by four-wheel hydraulic drums with exposed shoes and wheel cylinders. The suspension utilizes solid axles and leaf springs at the front and the rear. The cabin features wooden flooring, shelving, and cabinets that were refinished during current ownership. The sliding drawers feature glass fronts and can be locked for driving via a central locking mechanism. The bicycle-style seat is mounted to a folding base that can be moved for entry and egress. The “Stand and Drive” configuration is facilitated by a combination brake/clutch pedal that acts as a clutch release during the first part of its travel and engages the brakes as it continues moving down. Instrumentation consists of a barrel-style speedometer along with Stewart Warner gauges for amperage, oil pressure, and coolant temperature. The five-digit odometer shows 19k miles, only 30 of which were added by the seller since 2008. The Hercules 199ci flathead inline-four utilizes a single Zenith 94-T carburetor and was rated by the manufacturer at 37.5 horsepower and 124 lb-ft of torque. The engine was rebuilt by Engine Components and Machine of Santa Ana, California, in 2009, and a 12-volt electric fuel pump has been fitted along with a Delco alternator in place of the factory generator. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a Brown Lipe three-speed manual transmission. The rear axle was serviced and re-sealed in 2010.