Special feature: Iconic big Mack

Deals on Wheels revisits an R-Series Mack that was a familiar sight on the roads of Manawatū, Wairarapa, and further afield

Iconic is an over-used term these days, but for us older truck tragics, who grew up in an era where basic old-school cool trucks shaped our love for trucking, it holds a special place, especially when talking about the Mack R Series.

During the 1970s and 1980s, the beloved Mack R Series was truly iconic with the golden bulldog sitting proudly atop the big bonnet.

In New Zealand, the Mack R Series became a fleet favourite, whether hauling stock, bulk goods, tankers, or logs — basically wherever a reliable and seemingly unbreakable truck was needed. I was lucky (or not) to save one particular model from scrap, the 1975 R685RST that spent most of its life in the Transport Wairarapa fleet.

Originally brought by G&S Transport Feilding for stock and bulk work, it was sold to Hargreaves Transport Group, and the Mack eventually was relocated to their Eketahuna and Masterton branches. The truck was driven primarily by Gary Hutch (TWL Eketahuna) and Johnny Waters (TWL Masterton) — the two full-time drivers who mastered the Mack over the close-on 20 years it was in the fleet. They were pretty much the only ones assigned to the truck, given its unique twin-stick transmission that was difficult for many to master.

No doubt, having a big bonnet out the front, poor steering lock, basic cab, noisy exhaust, and no air conditioning other than a couple of hand-cranked windows probably didn’t endear it to the later drivers but it did have the bird-scaring air starter.

Fleet Number 70 saw plenty of work towing a three-axle stock trailer, originally with an over-the-cab triple-deck sheep crate before it was transitioned to a two-deck truck and two- or three-deck trailer configuration. The modest (but trusty) 237hp rig made its way all over the North Island. The Mack was never designed to go fast, but it got the job done, slowly getting around. The small engine, by today’s standards, wasn’t to be sneezed at and certainly benefited from a strong tailwind. Some 30 years on, anything below 600hp is a pretender and it’s a reminder of how far trucking has come along.

The tipper deck was also put to good use for bulk fertiliser, lime, wool, posts, machinery, and more. All were transported as was the norm for a rural carrier. Corrosion from years of fertiliser and stock got to the chassis rails and wiring, but the cab is still in pretty good nick.

In those days, the total GCW allowed was 39 tonnes and with heavy chassis and steel crates, the payload was around 20 tonnes.

Once Transport Wairarapa/Hargreaves Transport went to the Eastern Equities Farmers Transport empire, the Mack, along with a lot of the local fleet, was auctioned off.

Apparently, a local contractor used it for a short time in Featherston, then Mark Moody Transport, Horowhenua (a well-known Mack man) put it into service on much the same work as TWL, with an engine rebuild giving it another life.

After a spell there, it was sold to R J Stephenson from Dannevirke on farm and local work until it fell into a drain and was damaged. The cab, mirrors, doors, and guard sustained damage, and the engine didn’t like running on its side either, but then again, there’s nothing that can’t be fixed, thanks to a Lotto-sized bank account.

A few months ago, the truck was cleaned and covered for winter but will soon see another summer season roll around. With a spare bonnet, doors, and mirrors, it will eventually be restored to TWL colours, including the crate.

It may not get back to a road legal standard, but if it’s finished for a museum or man cave, then others can admire the rugged reliability of this iconic truck — and yes, in this case, the word ‘iconic’ does somehow seem appropriate.

Owners

• G&S Transport Feilding
• Transport Wairarapa Ltd/Hargreaves Transport Group Eketahuna and Masterton
• Mark Moody Transport Levin
• P G Farrier Featherston
• R J Stephenson Dannevirke

Images by Rod Simmonds