To answer a few questions that I'm sure others know more about than me. The canopy express was used as a "vendor truck", i.e. fruit, vegetables, newspapers and magazines, grocery delivery, etc. There is a great write-up about them on this web site under tech (?) articles or somewhere thereabouts. Think "horse and buggy wagon" with a top on it of the 1800's going through a mechanical evolution until the last one made by Chevy and GM in 1955. These were made in the hundreds each year compared to the tens of thousands of pickups. Very few seemed to have survived for some reason, maybe because of hard use on the farm or elsewhere. Maybe they were looked at as odd as so many other rigs that are way cool to us now, and were first ones to the local crusher. Thanks again for all the great comments, now I know I'm not the only eccentric out there that likes weird stuff!!! I like Jeff's idea of the screened camper- be the first one on your CONTINENT to have one!
Best Regards,
Cap'n Mark
