57 bcr

Wait...........let me get my hand sanitizer and a dust mask on ................OK Randy,go ahead!

No sweat,Ron! Not only was it sold as kind of a "Glider Kit",but MACK had run out of assembled B cabs quicker than expected,and had to offer something as a replacement! Thats just what I heard-you know how that goes!! Could be on "Ripley's Believe it or Not",I guess?

"U" sure can,Mr. U Model.

No,this one had an ENDT673C (250hp) with a quad box! Think it was an R711ST.I had all the particulars when it went up for auction.

Nice! Looks pretty straight from here.You're on the east side of 41,north of town,aren't you?

Good eye,Vinster! Yep, there is a B-81 back there.They have a few left as water trucks,dump trucks,fuel trucks, and the like.They won't get rid of 'em either.Surprized they let this R-700 low boy truck go.It still kind of rough when you got up close,but these pictures really were flattering!

OK guys,heres for the Hendrickson lovers out there.These won't be just Chicago Hendricksons (although they were built just outside, in Lyons),but Hendricksons in general. We're going to start off with a '48 Hendrickson that used the old K-model IH cab. This one was the pride and joy of the late Gene "Buck" Buchanan whom we just lost a week ago today.This was an old Crystal Lake Trucking truck.I believe it has a 175 or 180hp CUMMINS in it.Originally a 5 X 3,the auxillary was missing when he got it,so it was just a straight 5 speed.The truck was sold to Dan Pegram of Lincoln,Il.,who now carries the torch as "Mr. Hendrickson" in the antique truck world.Dan has the largest collection of restored Hendricksons,I know of.

OK, we'll start a new thread in the "other makes column"! But for now,your Chicago R model of the day goes to This one belonged to Rossi Contractors.This picture was right after they gave it a new dress and put 'er on the auction block.Surprized we didn't see it in that video Vinny posted! Check out the B's in background.

Brochure says 60 hours of labor.Price for kit-$3000.00. All to get that '70's look!

Good luck,man! Hope you get back on your feet!

Cool, Josh! Thanks for posting. Al

Now its my turn to play Vinny....................Got any pictures of the BCR?

I seen the new name on Brians and other trucks down the street from you guys,yesterday,Brad.Sign of the times.

Not of that particular truck,Mike.However,I do have some more of those Axle Equipment postcards (featuring Hendricksons) which I could start up a new thread with,on the "Brand X" portion of BMT! Just say the word. ........Al

Sorry,Mike.Same truck! '71 H-Model Hendrickson.It does have the Fleetstar Cab.Earlier models did have the R series International (Comfo-Vision) cab on them.In '71 Hendrickson was building both styles.

That is one of the questions I had,Jake.The B-53/57 had a better frame set( up like a DM).I never broke my 3/8" X 10" rails on my RD,but then mine wasn't a company truck.A buddy of mine wasn't happy with the RD frame either,and started to build an RD on a DM frame.Turns out they needed the engine out of it,then the trans,and before you knew it,the truck was pushed outside & eventually cut up.I would have liked to see that thing completed.

This is your Chicago area R model of the day.. Commodity Transit

Mark. Yes, that is a '71 H-model Hendrickson with a 318DD/13 speed in it.Sorry folks,NOT the R model of the day!

An outfit out of Iowa,Art Pape Transfer had a few Value-Liners with 36" bunks,leased to them in the early 80's.Always liked that truck!

James.Yes,I do work for Meyer.I work on the stripping crew,driving a 40 ton John Deere haul truck.Dennis Spoerlien was forced into retirement last year.We got bought out by a foreign outfit a few years back,and alot of the management got the axe.There was a picture of a fleet of Meyer B-61's sitting at a gravel pile that was on an office wall in Algonquin.I am trying to figure out where that picture went.

That is a sweetheart! Let me know if you don't buy it!

And your Chicago area R model of the day belongs to.. Meyer Material Co.(my employer).This was a Hybrid-All-Wheel Drive RD (around a '90 model),that Meyer's former owner,The Marmon Group of Companies (Marmon-Harrington) put together for a test truck.Our in house body shop (no longer in operation),took a DMM hood and the stock RD hood of the truck and came up with this arrangement so the headlights would not over the roof of the car in front of it! The truck worked out OK,but as I recall had frame issues,so it was retired.Don't know where it ever ended up.They usually saved the MACKs for use as water truck chassis,so maybe it got sent to another facility.I'll check into that!

James, Meyer Wheeling-Yd.# 2 is still at Dundee Rd. (Il Rte. 68 & Wheeling Rd.). There is a Metra(former Chi.& Northwestern commuter) Station to the south of it now.

Ken, I think they were scattered all over the place really,but mostly west.I recall seeing Hayward built MACKs with Dayton wheels,destined for the east.In fact when MACK closed Hayward,they cited one reason for closing and bringing the line to Macungie,was the fact that most of the Super-,Cruise-,and Value-Liners were coming back east to MACK customers! I want to say the last Western R (Value-Liner) was built in '89.When I went to order my 1990 RD,I wanted to get an RS600LS.The salesman told me they had quit building it and were switching to the RD "Western Contractor" model (straight hood).I have a picture of one,but I'll have to dig.

I'm sorry,Jim! I feel for you,brother......sniff...sniff...!!! Thats why I have my antique trucks.When I get tired of driving their crap,at least I can still have fun in my old stuff!!