Brands - Mack

There were several Mack R797RS heavy haulage tractor units powered by Mack's 375 horsepower ENDTB866 Thermodyne V8 supplied to earthmoving, heavy haulage and house moving contractors in the period 1975-1978. There were 5 sold new in the South Island-with big Macks going to earthmoving contractors F.A. Willetts from Nelson, J.R. Bishop from Oamaru and the Ministry of Works in Christchurch. Heavy haulage and general transport operators Durham's Transport of Christchurch and Burnett Transport at Ashburton took the other two. There were 5 supplied for heavy haulage duties in the North Island as well with Dale's Freightways in Auckland and Johnson's House Removals in Hamilton having two each with the other one going to Auckland based earthmoving contractors, Green & McCahill. They were all very capable trucks, but this truck, a 1977 R797RSX was the the biggest Big Daddy of them all being the only 375 V8 RSX model sold here. It is pictured here on the Wellington waterfront with a large piece of electrical equipment on its Drake type 4 rows of 8 transporter with load divider. This truck is reputed to have had a 138 ton gross combination weight rating.

A very nice painting by Paul Astwood of Burnett's Mack R797RSX carting one of the Ministry of Works Marion 111-M cable operated excavator/cranes loaded sideways across the Drake trailer.

Sometimes mistaken for an Australian AACO/ACCO International, this very interesting truck is a Mack based N.Z. special. This truck had a long and convoluted history as a heavy haulage tractor unit starting out as a normal control World War 2 era Mack NO model 6x6 powered by a Mack Thermodyne 707 cubic inches 6 cylinder overhead valve petrol engine. While the Mack NM series 6x6 wartime trucks with similar Thermodyne petrol engines featured Timken drive axles, the NO series were all Mack using a unique triple reduction front axle arrangement with drive to the wheels through the kingpins. Ray Vincent had imported this truck along with several other heavy trucks and surplus military equipment after World War 2. It was first operated by contractors, McJorrow Bros. from Ashburton. Originally it was an open cabbed truck and McJorrows fitted a basic closed cab during their ownership. Next it went to Southland based earthmoving contractor, L.D. (Dick) Collis. After Dick Collis it passed to North Otago earthmoving contractors Roadways, based at Oamaru and Otematata during the Benmore and Aviemore Dam construction period. It was during this time that it went through quite a transformation with its thirsty petrol engine replaced with an ex-military 6.71 GM 2 stroke diesel and it was reconfigured as a forward control truck with a not unattractive locally made cab utilising AACO International doors and bonnet. It also became a 6x4 with the Mack driven front axle replaced by a Timken non-driven front axle of the type fitted to the Federal 604 tank transporter tractor. Next owners were Burnett's Motors, Ashburton where it assisted their Kenworth L924R and International F230D on heavy hauls as well as pulling a tipulator on the Timaru breakwater job. While with Burnetts the Mack tandem with its distinctive witches hat hubs was replaced with a Timken double reduction rear end. Other owners of this impressive truck that combined U.S. quality and toughness with Kiwi ingenuity were A.V. Martyn & Co. at Timaru and Burns' Transport at Wyndham.

Sometimes mistaken for an Australian AACO/ACCO International, this very interesting truck is a Mack based N.Z. special. This truck had a long and convoluted history as a heavy haulage tractor unit starting out as a normal control World War 2 era Mack NO model 6x6 powered by a Mack Thermodyne 707 cubic inches 6 cylinder overhead valve petrol engine. While the Mack NM series 6x6 wartime trucks with similar Thermodyne petrol engines featured Timken drive axles, the NO series were all Mack using a unique triple reduction front axle arrangement with drive to the wheels through the kingpins. Ray Vincent had imported this truck along with several other heavy trucks and surplus military equipment after World War 2. It was first operated by contractors, McJorrow Bros. from Ashburton. Originally it was an open cabbed truck and McJorrows fitted a basic closed cab during their ownership. Next it went to Southland based earthmoving contractor, L.D. (Dick) Collis. After Dick Collis it passed to North Otago earthmoving contractors Roadways, based at Oamaru and Otematata during the Benmore and Aviemore Dam construction period. It was during this time that it went through quite a transformation with its thirsty petrol engine replaced with an ex-military 6.71 GM 2 stroke diesel and it was reconfigured as a forward control truck with a not unattractive locally made cab utilising AACO International doors and bonnet. It also became a 6x4 with the Mack driven front axle replaced by a Timken non-driven front axle of the type fitted to the Federal 604 tank transporter tractor. Next owners were Burnett's Motors, Ashburton where it assisted their Kenworth L924R and International F230D on heavy hauls as well as pulling a tipulator on the Timaru breakwater job. While with Burnetts the Mack tandem with its distinctive witches hat hubs was replaced with a Timken double reduction rear end. Other owners of this impressive truck that combined U.S. quality and toughness with Kiwi ingenuity were A.V. Martyn & Co. at Timaru and Burns' Transport at Wyndham. It is pictured along with the Kenworth hitched up to a towed scraper with plenty of ballast over the tandems to assist traction.

N.Z. Roadmakers ex-W.W.II Mack NM series hauling an Allis Chalmers HD21 dozer. Cable Price Landrover support vehicle for the shift.

N.Z. Roadmakers ex-W.W.II Mack NM series hauling an Allis Chalmers HD21 dozer.

N.Z. Roadmakers ex-W.W.II Mack NM series hauling an Allis Chalmers HD21 dozer.

N.Z. Roadmakers ex-W.W.II Mack NM series hauling an Allis Chalmers HD21 dozer.

A bulldozer loaded onto a transporter hitched to N.Z. Roadmakers' ex-military Mack NM series 6x6. The big NM series Macks were widely used in World War II as 6 ton heavy cargo trucks. Powered by a big Mack EY series Thermodyne 707 cubic inches petrol engine, they would have had a prodigious thirst with many being repowered with cheaper to run diesels in later civilian life. Most Mack military trucks of the era used Mack's own axles, but the NM series was an exception in that all 3 axles were Timken. With a sturdy Timken SD353 double reduction tandem, Bendix-Westinghouse full air brakes and a driven front axle these trucks were extremely capable heavy haulers.

A bulldozer being loaded onto a transporter hitched to N.Z. Roadmakers' ex-military Mack NM series 6x6. The big NM series Macks were widely used in World War II as 6 ton heavy cargo trucks. Powered by a big Mack EY series Thermodyne 707 cubic inches petrol engine, they would have had a prodigious thirst with many being repowered with cheaper to run diesels in later civilian life. Most Mack military trucks of the era used Mack's own axles, but the NM series was an exception in that all 3 axles were Timken. With a sturdy Timken SD353 double reduction tandem, Bendix-Westinghouse full air brakes and a driven front axle these trucks were extremely capable heavy haulers.

A rare photograph of a fully dressed D10 Caterpillar bulldozer being shifted over the Deadman's Point Bridge at Cromwell during the construction of the Clyde Dam era. Burnetts supplied the Mack transporter and this was shot about 1982 and is a photo that will never be repeated. Normally the 'dozer would be broken down into transportable items, however, as the Cat was only being shifted from one side of the river to the other, special permission was obtained to move it fully dressed (blade, rippers attached.)

A rare photograph of a fully dressed D10 Caterpillar bulldozer being shifted over the Deadman's Point Bridge at Cromwell during the construction of the Clyde Dam era. Burnetts supplied the Mack transporter and this was shot about 1982 and is a photo that will never be repeated. Normally the 'dozer would be broken down into transportable items, however, as the Cat was only being shifted from one side of the river to the other, special permission was obtained to move it fully dressed (blade, rippers attached.)

A rare photograph of a fully dressed D10 Caterpillar bulldozer being shifted over the Deadman's Point Bridge at Cromwell during the construction of the Clyde Dam era. Burnetts supplied the Mack transporter and this was shot about 1982 and is a photo that will never be repeated. Normally the 'dozer would be broken down into transportable items, however, as the Cat was only being shifted from one side of the river to the other, special permission was obtained to move it fully dressed (blade, rippers attached.)

Peter Vincent's 1970 Leyland Octopus with Clive Taylor's 1954 Mack B41X on its back in Kaikoura.

An impressive turn out of Allied Concrete Mack Metroliner ready mix concrete trucks in the parade.

Clive Taylor with his 1954 Mack B41X. Clive imported this truck from the U.S.A. in the 1990s. It is quite a rare model as it has the older type Mack-Lanova END510 indirect injection diesel engine. There were only 220 B41 models built in 1953 and 1954. The introduction of the B series trucks in 1953 coincided with the release of Mack's new Thermodyne direct injection diesels. Although most diesel powered B models had the new Themodyne diesels there were some models powered by the earlier Lanova type engines.

Clive Taylor's 1954 Mack B41X. Clive imported this truck from the U.S.A. in the 1990s. It is quite a rare model as it has the older type Mack-Lanova END510 indirect injection diesel engine. There were only 220 B41 models built in 1953 and 1954. The introduction of the B series trucks in 1953 coincided with the release of Mack's new Thermodyne direct injection diesels. Although most diesel powered B models had the new Themodyne diesels there were some models powered by the earlier Lanova type engines.

Plenty of variety. Keith McLeod in a 1948 Ford F47 pickup followed by Clive Taylor's B model Mack and Noel Galloway's Perkins powered Commer V series.

Barry Westrupp from Motueka with his 1965 Mack B61T. Barry imported this truck from Australia-it is a single drive with a tag axle. Now owned by Allan Dippie of Wanaka.

New to Allied Concrete as a concrete mixer truck at the Invercargill branch in 1980. Now fitted with a tilting/telescoping deck and ramps and having had a wheelbase extension the Mack A8MCE685RST became Bill Richardson's truck and machinery transporter after it was retired from ready mix duties.

1955 Mack B653LT from the Bill Richardson collection. Bill imported this truck from the U.S. in the 1990s after purchasing it at a truck show. Powered by a 205 horsepower turbocharged Mack Themodyne ENDT673 engine with 10 speed Mack Duplex gearbox with Uni-Shift air splitter. The single stick air shifted splitter gearbox had been developed by Mack engineers in the 1940s when it was known as Mono-Shift. Although it must have been an advancement when working correctly many operators and drivers still preferred the completely mechanical twin stick transmissions for years after. Mechanically this truck would have been a revelation compared to the big Leylands, Fodens, AECs and Albions available in N.Z. in 1955-definitely no turbochargers or air split gearboxes in the big British trucks of the era.

This 1984 320 horsepower Mack R612RS(E) was the second R model bought new by Hayes Logging & Transport of Milton, South Otago. Their first was a 1979 285 horsepower R686RS. The letter E in the model designation of this truck identifies it as one of the trucks that were destined to fill a large order of R models for Ecuador. When the order was cancelled Mack in the U.S. was left with the CKD kits and no buyer. The kits to build the Ecuadorean Macks ended up being shipped to New Zealand where Motor Truck Distributors in Palmerston North were able to offer them to Kiwi buyers at a good price. There were a few minor differences between most E series and normal N.Z. market R models such as a bonnet scoop to provide air for the tip turbine fan intercooler as opposed to 2 intake outlets on the driver's side mounted air cleaner or 2 separate air cleaners on either side of the cab, one just providing air to the intercooler.

1974 Mack FR785RST with 237 horsepower ENDT675 Maxidyne engine owned by B. Docherty of Christchurch and contracted to Mainfreight. This Mack started its working life with Transport Nelson, later passing to Thames Freightlines. In this night shot it is picking up a Mainfreight shipping container with a Steelbro sidelifter. It later went to Stirling Contracting at Drummond in Southland where it hauled a lowbed transporter.

Part of a penstock for the Manapouri Power Project on a 4 axle low bed transporter with a load divider crossing a bridge on the Wilmot Pass Rd. It is being hauled by the ex-Burnett's Motors International RDF210-H, now with joint venture company, Utah Williamson Burnett and Burnett's Motors 1966 Canadian Kenworth L924R hitched together with the much modified ex-W.W.II Mack NO tractor unit assisting from behind. The Mack was originally a heavy duty petrol engined, bonneted 6x6. Some of the operators of this truck over the years were McJorrow Bros. from Ashburton, Southland based earthmoving contractor, L.D. (Dick) Collis, Roadways N.Z. at Oamaru and Otematata, Burnett's Motors, Ashburton, A.V. Martyn & Co. at Timaru and Burns Transport at Wyndham. Along the way it had the Mack Thermodyne petrol engine replaced with a GM 6.71 2 stroke diesel. It had the driven front axle replaced with a non-driving axle and was converted to a cab over engine configuration by Roadways and fitted with a cab fabricated in Oamaru-(while it resembles an AACO International cab, the only AACO parts are the doors.)

F.A. (Fred) Willetts, earthmoving contractors from Richmond, Nelson purchased this Mack R797RS new in 1975. It is seen here moving the hull of a large catamaran with Willett's Drake type transporter and load divider which was manufactured under licence from Drake Trailers in Queensland by a Nelson engineering firm. Before buying the big Mack, Willetts operated the ex-Titan Plant Services 8V71 Detroit Diesel powered Titan Dart on heavy haulage duties.

This Mack tractor unit hitched to a folding gooseneck transporter operated by the heavy haulage division of Child Freighters, Palmerston North began life as a very different truck to how it appears in this picture. Originally modified and rebuilt by Southland Excavating of InvercargillI it came to N.Z. as an ex-U.S. military World War 2 Mack model NM 6x6 with Timken driving axles, Mack Thermodyne 6 cylinder petrol engine and open cab. It was repowered with a GM Diesel 6.71, was recabbed with an International Comfo-Vision cab as fitted to U.S. built L Line and R Line trucks and had the driven front axle replaced with a Timken conventional axle. A very smart looking truck was created in the process and it just shows what could be achieved with a bit of Kiwi ingenuity and war surplus components in the post war years when new trucks of this size were hard to get and very expensive.

Mack SuperLiner Tuapeka Transport Lawrence circa 1985 LZ7862