# Old TV show, guys drove sci-fi semitrucks? Anyone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 8, 2002, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-tv-show-guys-drove-sci-fi-semitrucks-anyone/135867 "2002-11-08T11:51:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Doc\_Nickel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@Doc\_Nickel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doc_Nickel)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2002, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-tv-show-guys-drove-sci-fi-semitrucks-anyone/135867/1 "2002-11-08T11:51:10Z")
Okay, unfortunately all I have are some dimly-remebered scenes of an old A-Team-era TV show. I can’t even recall the premise, but the lead character was very Mad Max-ish; black leather “armor”, I think, and a sawed off shotgun with a switch on the side to go from “20mm” to “9mm”. Anyway, he/they drove around in one of two (that I remember) semi-tractors. One was a tall bubble-domed thing that, with a few dropped panels and a couple of flipped switches, converted the top to a chopper which could take off on it’s own. And then the other- or perhaps the bottom half of the first?- was a very low thing, looked for all the world like a van with a severe top-chop. Standard size Kenworth tires, but the overall height of the truck was only a little above their tops. Does anyone have the slightest clue what I’m talking about? Mainly I’m looking for a photo of the low-slung “van” tractor. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2002, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-tv-show-guys-drove-sci-fi-semitrucks-anyone/135867/2 "2002-11-08T12:25:47Z")
Sounds vaguely like [The Highwayman](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0094479) (1988) which [IMDB.com](http://IMDB.com) describes as: > [@](#): > > Series starring a big high-tech 18-wheeler. The driver, the title’s ‘Highwayman’ was one of a team of federal marshals empowered to right wrongs “where ordinary laws do not reach” - and to haul special cargo. The truck was heavily armed, and had a cab that turned into a helicopter for quick escapes. I watched it the few times it was on because I thought Jane Badler was hot. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2002, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-tv-show-guys-drove-sci-fi-semitrucks-anyone/135867/3 "2002-11-08T12:29:36Z")
By the way, it also featured Mark ‘Jacko’ Jackson, the Australian who made all those Energizer commericlals: _ **OY!** _ ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2002, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-tv-show-guys-drove-sci-fi-semitrucks-anyone/135867/4 "2002-11-08T15:37:25Z")
Tuvok was in it, too! I must now be on the lookout for the third “Highwayman” reference…strangely enough, I encountered a mention of this show yesterday while discussing Optimus Prime’s new comic book form in a different forum. ---
**Author:** ![oceans\_11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b2d939/32.png) [@oceans\_11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oceans_11)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2002, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-tv-show-guys-drove-sci-fi-semitrucks-anyone/135867/5 "2002-11-08T17:05:21Z")
Some pics [here](http://www.scifi2k.com/highwayman.html). ---
**Author:** ![Doc\_Nickel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@Doc\_Nickel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doc_Nickel)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-tv-show-guys-drove-sci-fi-semitrucks-anyone/135867/6 "2002-11-09T06:10:15Z")
Ah, exactly it. Thanks. I was reminded of it by the latest issue of _Street Rodder_ magazine. In it a guy has an old “tudor” style rod- the 1920’s version of a 4-door stationwagon. Anyway, they don’t give many details, but it seems the dude put a fifth-wheel trailer hitch on the _roof_ of this thing, and built a trailer to match. It’s almost more an articulated bus than a true truck-and-trailer combo. And that reminded me of the old show, and it was annoying to recall certain scenes clearly, but not have a clue what it was, who the players were or whatever. I do recall thinking that a lo-slung truck like that would be cool, but I wonder how steering felt with the wheels entirely behind the driver… ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-tv-show-guys-drove-sci-fi-semitrucks-anyone/135867/7 "2002-11-09T07:03:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Doc Nickel \* > …but I wonder how steering felt with the wheels entirely behind the driver… Get hold of an old Volkswagen bus and find out. The only time you really notice it is in parking lots. When you find a space, it feels like you drive a little bit past it, then crank the steering wheel and it’s a perfect fit.