Jeff M

The offset cabs were not built to improve visibility. They were like that because the nose was shorter which pushed the engine (and its doghouse) farther back into the cab, robbing footroom from the driver. Therefore, offsetting the cab meant that the driver gained back the lost footroom. However, passenger's footroom in an offset was poor. I drove many offsets (all DM's) over the years.

Can't say as I've ever seen a tachograph that only registered to 35 mph. 🙂

I drove GM buses in the 70's and that's exactly how they worked.

I was thinking the same thing.

Look at that vintage dash--the truck sports the signal switch to the left of the steering wheel which was a very clever idea that Mack came up with--and only Mack had it for many years.

Changeover from the green steel dash to beige wrap-around happened halfway through the '73 model year.

Jojo, Maietta doesn't run any more DM's that I'm aware of--jumped ship to PACCAR. Blue Rock in Westbrook ran a bunch of DM's through the years, but they've downsized to a granite countertop business. Their big quarry on Main St on the Portland Westbrook line is now a shopping complex, believe it or not. The aqua-colored trucks belonged to Les Wilson and Sons of Westbrook who are still in business and they still paint everything they have that distinctive color (it must cost them a fortune over the years). Shaw Brothers has very few Macks, perhaps a few Granites now...they're now running KW's, and they have a LOT of them. They're one of the biggest contractors in the state. PACCAR has made HUGE inroads into the vocational truck market in these parts. In the 70's I first drove for Portland Sand and Gravel who had their trucks serviced at Maine Mack, which is now O'Connor Motors. I later drove for Shaw's Supermarkets who bought and occasionally had their Volvos serviced out of O'Connor's on Warren Ave.

That DMM in the field also has the reverse scoop--can't say as I've ever seen one on a steel nose. What a find!! Also, good research on your part, Vlad.

I believe it's owned by a towing company in Newland, North Carolina.

This popped up on a Facebook page, some of you may know of it. Nice build, and the thing I find most interesting is the way the fuel tank has been modified to apparently fit under the cab--never seen that before. They said it originally had color-matched steel wheels (which I would prefer) and I don't really care for the silly bumper, either. Nice Lund visor, though--those must be getting hard to find. All in all a great looking R model. IMHO.

Beautiful model, very well done. I've done a couple over the past few years but none as nice as that one, particularly with the mods you've made to it. Nice job!!

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/5134237239964311/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3Acf1b4e5b-1f35-4322-ba4b-4fc8c51c035f

You guys need to ease up about that seat. It is/was a Bostrom Westcoaster, not the lowly Viking T-bar. Good seat.....in its day.... 🙂

R model with factory 413. I've never seen one "in the flesh." https://nh.craigslist.org/hvo/d/weare-1969-mack-tow-truck/7378257522.html

It looks.....super!!!! 🙂

OK. The DM and R model Macks I drove in the early to mid 70's were 237 Maxidynes and all had gold bulldogs on the hood and doors. A 285 I drove also had the gold bulldogs. The company also had an older R with a Thermodyne which had chrome dogs. That's my clear recollection from that time, but apparently Mack changed how they did the bulldogs later on.

I believe it was felt that the steel hood was more suitable in vocational usage where things might get dropped on the hood or fenders, resulting in a dent rather than cracked fiberglass.

The RD gavelled at $69,000. I sure hope we can find out where it ended up.

No, I'm afraid I didn't.

Well well well, I found my lost pics. Let's see if this works... https://postimg.cc/gallery/Y0p89Nj

I drove up to see this today, took a bunch of pics and have apparently deleted them by mistake, grrrrrrr. At any rate, I'm very sure the mileage shown on the odo is original. The clutch pedal rubber shows slight wear but is not new, so that would make it original to the truck. The drive tires are Michelin M+S's, about half worn out, so my guess is that they too are original. There is, however, no sign of any weather cracking. The steer Michelins appear to be newer, again with no weather cracking. I'd attribute this to constant inside storage. I can't explain the paint wear on the shift lever; perhaps one of the assigned drivers had extra long fingernails or something, who knows. Aside from that, the truck looks completely original. It does not have an air ride cab, and the possible bubbling at the bottom of one of the doors isn't there. The red paint is slightly faded on the front of the hood and on the headlight surrounds, that's all. This thing is a rare, original condition beauty. If someone on this forum buys it (you can bid online) I hereby volunteer to drive it to you anywhere in the country at no charge (I have over 4 million safe driving miles).

Looks like 1258 on the tach

I'm with you, Paul. I like the short wheelbase, the 5 speed, and the total originality. What a find.

This truck will be auctioned off next weekend at the annual New England Auto Auction in Owl's Head, Maine. Even though I have no intention of bidding, I believe I'll head up there this week just to view this beauty. It has to be about the nicest original R on the planet. https://auction.owlshead.org/listing/1986-mack/?fbclid=IwAR1TzuP5YdVaoDUWbmNj5bqQiWKqzI_3RRCFSHkYhaOtHTZeQm3UKZ6wX9I

Gold bulldog meant it was a Maxidyne, and would also have them on the doors. Your hood may not be original to the truck as it has the larger Mack lettering which began I believe in mid '73 and may explain the chrome dog on the hood, but who knows about the ones on the doors. Nice truck any way you look at it.