Written by Nicole Ellan James
With summer ending in the third week of September, we wanted to look at what keeps people cool besides the top down on their convertible: ice cream.
The melodies played by ice cream trucks conjure up memories of hot summer days, and cool treats that are recognizable to even those who did not have an ice cream truck frequenting their neighborhood.
Ice cream trucks have had a long and sweet history — they evolved from vendors selling ice cream out of pushcarts to the vintage ice cream trucks that have been celebrated on the Barrett-Jackson auction block and beyond. Since their inception, ice cream trucks have continued to make their mark on the sweet-toothed among us.
Ice cream pushcarts with simple coolers for refrigeration first hit the streets during the prohibition era. It was a time when many Americans were eager to find an alternative to alcohol, so they turned to delicious frozen treats. But this presented a problem — the treats were tasty but too messy to handle and often gave people food poisoning.
With the help of his children, Harry Burt developed the Good Humor bar, vanilla ice cream with a hard chocolate shell served on a stick. According to Smithsonian’s extensive history, Good Humor settled on its signature vehicle to showcase this sweet treat by the end of the 1920s: a white pickup truck equipped with a refrigeration unit. The mobile freezers offered a sanitary alternative to the street ice cream sold from pushcarts.
The truck was a success, and in 1932, despite the Great Depression, an ice cream truck driver working on commission would earn $100 a week; that’s over $1,800 in today’s money.
Good Humor and its ice cream trucks continued to expand postwar. By the 1950s, the company had some 2,000 trucks operating nationwide.
By 1961 ice cream trucks were hot, and the competition for customers was fierce. Mister Softee began to sell its products from step vans, which allowed the driver to walk into the freezer area and dispense items directly from a side window. The trend took hold, and the ice cream truck evolved into an ice cream van.
But there’s a problem that’s not so sweet — ice cream trucks of the day were far from being emissions compliant.
Most of the trucks have diesel engines, and they must stay running to keep the ice cream nice and cold even when the trucks are parked. Most trucks also use antiquated equipment that has been in use for years. Though these electrical systems may work, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the air. That said, Nissan is trying to ensure that ice cream trucks don’t become historical relics of a bygone era. In 2019, Nissan revealed its zero-emission ice cream truck, based on the automaker’s e-NV200 electric van. Despite these advancements, the environmental concerns and the rise of brick-and-mortar frozen yogurt and ice cream shops have helped make ice cream trucks obsolete, and thus more collectible.
Here is a look at some of the noteworthy ice cream vehicles of all shapes and sizes, along with significant memorabilia to bring back all the nostalgia:
SCOTTSDALE 2020 – 1948 FORD F-1 GOOD HUMOR ICE CREAM TRUCK
Pictured above, this Good Humor Ice Cream Truck re-creation was given a Resto-Mod upgrade and is powered by 350 TPI fuel-injected engine and a 3-speed automatic transmission. It is equipped with a functional ice box to keep frozen treats ice cold. No Reserve.
ORANGE COUNTY 2011 – SWIFT’S ICE CREAM “DRIVE THRU” DOUBLE-SIDED PORCELAIN NEON SIGN
Stunning and large Swift’s Ice Cream “Drive Thru” double-sided porcelain neon sign. An extremely hard-to-find sign which presents strongly. No Reserve.
SCOTTSDALE 2020 – VINTAGE GOOD HUMOR ICE CREAM VENDOR’S BICYCLE
Marvelous vintage Good Humor Ice Cream restored vendor’s bicycle. All hand-painted graphics and stenciling. No Reserve.
PALM BEACH 2018 – 1966 FORD GOOD HUMOR TRUCK
This Good Humor Ice Cream truck is powered by a 240ci 6-cylinder engine and 3-speed automatic transmission. From the John Staluppi Cars of Dreams Collection. No Reserve.
NORTHEAST 2016 – 1950s DAIRY QUEEN PORCELAIN NEON ICE CREAM CONE SHAPED SIGN
Nifty 1950s Dairy Queen porcelain with neon restored ice cream cone shaped sign. A wonderful icon of the 1950s. No Reserve.
SCOTTSDALE 2017 – 1956 CUSHMAN CUSTOM “GOOD HUMOR” TRUCKSTER
This frame-off restored Cushman Mailster was converted to a Good Humor ice-cream delivery truck. Fully operational, it’s equipped with turn lights, horn, head and taillights. The box was converted to a cooler. No Reserve.
SCOTTSDALE 2016 – 1951 CROSLEY CC ICE CREAM TRUCK
A restored original station wagon, this 1951 Crosley was transformed into an ice cream truck when new by Amerio Refrigerating Equipment Company in Union City, NJ. Features a 4-cylinder engine with 3-speed manual transmission. No Reserve.
PALM BEACH 2018 – 1950s BORDEN’S ICE CREAM SINGLE-SIDED NEON PORCELAIN SIGN FEATURING ELSIE THE COW
Rare 1950s Borden’s Ice Cream single-sided neon porcelain soda fountain sign featuring Elsie the Cow. Very colorful and restored to day-one condition! No Reserve.
SCOTTSDALE 2019 – 1954 CUSHMAN TRUCKSTER ICE CREAM SCOOTER
This 1954 Cushman Ice Cream Truckster is powered by a freshly rebuilt 8hp single-cylinder Husky engine and 3-speed manual transmission with reverse. It features a custom ice cream box with an umbrella, headlights and taillights, and was professionally painted and pinstriped. No Reserve.
SCOTTSDALE 2020 – 1954 CHEVROLET 3100 GOOD HUMOR ICE CREAM TRUCK
This original Good Humor Ice Cream Truck has a fresh body-off restoration. Powered by the original 261ci inline-6 engine and 3-speed manual transmission. Functional ice box to keep contents frozen. No Reserve.
SCOTTSDALE 2020 – 1950s GOOD HUMOR ICE CREAM VENDOR PEDAL CAR
Fun 1950s restored Good Humor Ice Cream Vendor pedal car by Murray. Show-stopping restoration with nice colors and graphics. No Reserve.