1976 - Ark II

 

The vehicle from Ark II (1976) is a truly unique and futuristic piece of 1970s sci-fi television history. The show aired on CBS and was produced by Filmation, the same company behind He-Man and Fat Albert, but Ark II was aimed at kids with a more serious tone and environmental message.

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The Ark II Vehicle

• Base Vehicle: Custom-built on a 1955 Ford C-600 cab-over truck chassis.

• Body: The outer shell was a completely custom fiberglass body, designed to look futuristic and self-sufficient.

• Dimensions: Approximately 44 feet long and over 8 feet high — massive for a TV production vehicle.

• Drive Capability: It was fully drivable and not just a prop. It could be driven on highways and used in actual filming on desert roads.

 Design Features:

• Sleek, curved futuristic body with large side windows and bubble cockpit.

• Integrated ladder and observation platform.

• Rear-mounted pod that could detach (used in a few episodes).

• Housed futuristic tech like:

  • Computers (with blinking lights!)

  • A lab/workspace

  • Sleeping quarters

  • Communications and scanning gear

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In-Show Purpose

• Setting: A post-apocalyptic Earth in the 25th century, recovering from environmental collapse.

• Mission: Ark II was a mobile command center for a small team of young scientists (and a talking chimpanzee named Adam) who traveled around helping isolated communities rebuild civilization.

• Crew:

  • Jonah (the leader)

  • Ruth (scientist)

  • Samuel (young tech-savvy boy)

  • Adam (the chimp)

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Fun Facts:

• The vehicle was so striking that it was reused in other shows:

  • Appeared in Logan's Run (TV series).

  • Also seen in the Power Rangers Time Force episode "Clash for the Crown".

• The design is considered one of the most original sci-fi vehicles created for television, especially for a kids’ show.

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Cultural Legacy

Despite only having 15 episodes, Ark II gained a cult following due to its imaginative premise and striking vehicle. It stands out as an early attempt at eco-conscious science fiction on TV.

Where is it now?
After the show, the Ark II ceased to exist as a full vehicle. Its fiberglass front nose was salvaged and later repurposed as part of the “Seeker” spacecraft prop for other Filmation series (Space Academy and Jason of Star Command)
The rest of the chassis and body was simply dismantled or disposed of, meaning you can't see the complete vehicle anywhere today