Quackpot: Treat a truck right, this way
Army Conservation Project No. 121-O-21 sheet. A cartoon duck in a scarf and cap drives a battered, iced-up jeep loaded with 'Rumor spikes', 'One dozen fox holes' and a cleaning rod, saying 'I'm a ramblin' wreck from daily neglect and a helluva 4x4'. Below, a smiling soldier points to five numbered driving rules. The technique is name-calling: carelessness is personified as a ridiculed 'Quackpot'.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1944
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Army, Army Conservation Program
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- War and the military, Home front
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
U.S. Army, Army Conservation Program. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1600 (NAID 515265).
Text on the object
QUACKPOT MAINTENANCE I'M A RAMBLIN' WRECK FROM DAILY NEGLECT AND A HELLUVA 4×4 RUMOR SPIKES ONE DOZEN FOX HOLES 1 ea. MI-CLEANER TEN MINUTE BREAK WITH CARE, HANDLE EXAUSTED PIPE SPAN[illegible] TREAT A TRUCK RIGHT --- THIS WAY 1 Load your vehicle correctly to avoid damage from overloading and load shifting 2 Warm-up your engine at a moderately fast idle before you drive away 3 Show you are an expert driver by starting smoothly and shifting silently 4 Shift to a lower gear when necessary to avoid straining the engine 5 Take it easy on the brakes—no skidding on turns, and don't ride the clutch DAILY CARE SAVES WEAR! Little things like checking tires, lubricants, batteries, brakes, and cooling systems save big repair jobs. Always perform the daily preventive maintenance service listed on the back of your Driver's Trip Ticket and P. M. Service Record—W. D. Form 48. U·S·ARMY SAVE CONSERVATION PROGRAM [imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE · 1944—O—612414 [imprint:] ARMY CONSERVATION PROJECT NO. 121-O-21
