57 bcr

I gotta dig up that issue of the BULLDOG where E.K. writes a letter (via Western-Union) to Z.C.R. Hansen about his first impression of his new Maxidyne Powered Western F Model MACK. Its pretty cool! I think it was a 300 series (285hp) Maxidyne.

That is a cool DM! That dump body looks like it too,is built like a tank!

I'm not much for the color blue,Mark.But I agree,this one looks good! No sweat,Jim.Glad you like 'em.

Interesting truck,for sure!

I paid $70 a piece (with core,on sale) for 900CCA group 31's at a local Intertrashonal dealer last spring.The best battery value I think I ever got though,was the 2 group 31 blems I bought 14 years ago from Interstate,for my first B model.These 2 batteries are still in the B C R today! They told me they were warranty returns that they recharge and test,then sell with no warrany.I paid 30 bucks a piece for those.They are now up to 60 for their blems.Put 2 more in the KW, 2 years ago.So far,so good.

We have them everywhere around here (Northern Illinois),mackman. It seems that about 10-15 years ago a few local farmers had bought some older Cummins powered (Jake equipped)road trucks,and put some younger farm kids in as drivers.As soon as they got these old "road whores",the first thing they would do was pull the mufflers off & put straight pipes on 'em (I'm not opposed to this,when driven right).Then they would run 'em like their Chevy,Dodge ,or Ford pickups on a Saturday night,and in the small quiet towns while going 35mph,felt the need to let everybody know they were here,by hitting their Jakes.Not everybody needed to know,and now we have signs in a bunch of towns around here.I've seen signs that read "NO ENGINE BRAKING" or "USE OF COMPRESSION BRAKES PROHIBITED".I think the most reasonable sign I've seen is "ENGINE BRAKING IN EMERGENCY ONLY". I think thats fair,as a former user of the Jake Brake (both of my MACKs had 'em). The argument has been around since the '60's when the Jake really hit the scene.When abused,its a problem.When used as NEEDED,it can be a life saving & brake saving tool for the truck owner.

No problem mackey58!

More "Hank's" (as the locals call 'em)....

And your Chicago area R model of the day goes to: Mike Dhamer's little brother,Jim (who had the blue/white Hendrickson before this one)

Don't think so,Trent.Only seen the 2 trucks ,also. Good eyes,I too,seen the non-DOT approved green marker lights!

Comes with your choice of axles too, 12k or 16k front with the also "adjustable" 38 or 44 rears (depending on which country you will be operating said truck in)!! A unique truck by all accounts!!

HEY,COME ON....the frame has only got "a 1' crack in it" and it is toward the rear of the truck! Better yet,"NO OIL LICK"! The hits just keep on comin'!! It does have about the most intact headliner on an '80 R model,that I've seen in a lonnnng time,though! Usually the speakers (when it still has them) are hanging down like airplane oxygen masks Like I said,looks pretty clean,didn't say it was a good deal!!

Glad to hear evryones OK ,Randy! Every year we have a Mine Safety Refresher Course and they always remind us about the dangers of live wires.Nothin' to mess with!

VA-VA-VA-VOOM!!

That U has Vinny written all over it!!

I like the 3 different model #'s posted! What is it? An R690ST (not,they didin't make 'em in '80),R686(not,would have been intercooled in '80),R685ST(I think we have a winner!).Boy is some guy gonna be pissed when he finds out his 355hp R model is really a 237hp R model! All in all,looks pretty clean as you said Jake!

Here's another shot of it,mackey..........

I don't know?The caption under it suggested it was from Vlad's homeland,but it could be anywhere old truckers meet to talk about the good old days, and then drink themselves silly!

Here is your Chicago area R model of the day.. Arrow Marine Transport.They ran a bunch of '70's vintage R's until the early 2000's! All CH's now.They haul bulk cement,sand & gravel,precast concrete,and large boats (where they got their name).Bill Bedell photo

Glad you like them as much as I do,Jake! I'll keep posting them until I run out.Remember, a lot of the pictures I am posting are from the '70's-'90's when these trucks were newer.There are a few exceptions,though.Yes,driver pride has a lot to do with the way a truck looks, and how it is driven.When you don't have pride, you get whats left.....nothing! You're right,I hate to see what the future will bring sometimes.I always hated talking to the guys who told you,"yeah,I couldn't get a job doing what I wanted to, do so I'm driving a truck". Like you say,we have Vinny & Ben and a few more MACK guys to keep this going.There is a few bright spots out there,for the future!

OH NUTS! Sorry to hear that!

More Hendricksons

No Brad,but we did hit the "beer park" pretty hard!!

Thanks guys! Had a great weekend as macknutt & I had a banquet to go to for the Southern Wisconsin Chapter-ATHS last night in the Wisconsin Dells (tourist trap! LOL!).A great bunch of folks up there as well! Thanks for the pictures,guys! There must be a requirement for BCR's to have some GREEN paint on them! That red one (Davenport's) is sure pretty in red/black,love it!

And your Chicago area R model of the day is.... Mike Dhamer's R688ST.Always liked this truck,especially the color of it.Like an olive metallic green.