In Barcelos there is a replica “à tuga” of the squadron’s Class A truck

“Wherever you go, everyone waves and has fun.” So says Jorge Carvalho, a 38-year-old entrepreneur based in Gallegos São Martinho, who has been building a replica of the legendary truck from the 1980s American TV series “A-Team” (in Portuguese: Esquadrão Classe A or Soldados da Fortune).

Joca Carvalho’s truck, as he’s known, is a British Bedford—and it’s not the same as the original brand, GMC. “This is an exact copy of the toga, because it is narrower and shorter, not that typical American version that is very long and wide, but with much wider edges and the same panel,” he explains. But some of the extras are already there. He assures that the missing will be there.

The truck has been abandoned in a field in Barcelos for decades. A few years ago, “the opportunity arose” and Juca offered 200 euros to the owner, who agreed to sell.

“Since then, it has been restored and has undergone several applications. You could say that I have already spent a few hundred euros (laughs),” he says, explaining that the “cow slaughter network” is good for the application, but it is still necessary to find a legal way to do it. Until then, additional headlights will be the next step.

Jukka and the first team’s childhood stories intertwine. Born in 1984, the American series, which was broadcast on RTP, was a show of culture that fascinated the businessman and owner of a workshop and car wash in Galegos São Martinho. In addition to the team consisting of “BA Baracus”, Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith, “Cara-de-pau” and “Murdock”, Joca was also an avid consumer of MacGyver, Michael Knight and “Punisher”.

Joca Carvalho drives a mercenary truck and wants to install a net to kill cows. Image courtesy of O MINHO

“As a kid, I was known as BA, because I always liked the A-Squadron class and because I had a motto like his,” he says, remembering that American style has always been “his wave.”

Photo: Team A

Photo: Team A

“I later became known as Rambo,” he recalls, referring to the American childhood culture icon of the Portuguese people now approaching the age of 40.

Image courtesy of O MINHO

In addition to Toga’s replica of a “Hollywood star” truck, he also owns “several Harley motorcycles and a Mustang”—and he just bought an American GMC (the real A-team wagon brand), but in a pick-up version.

Juca Carvalho and one of Harley’s characters. Photo: Dr

“A-Team” in Portuguese “Esquadrão Classe A” or “Soldiers of Fortune” was an American television series produced by NBC, between 1983 and 1987, that told about the adventures of ex-commandos of the United States Army who worked as mercenaries.

It premiered on RTP1 on October 4, 1984 at 21:10 as “Soldados da Fortuna” with original audio commentary and Portuguese subtitles.

Van is an exact copy of the original, but of a different style. Image courtesy of O MINHO

In the 1990s, it began broadcasting on TVI with Brazilian dubbing under the name Esquadrão Classe A.

It was later broadcast, in original audio commentary, subtitled and again as Soldados da Fortuna, on SIC Radical and on RTP Memoria.