When Mack Roamed Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Western Asia

[kscarbel]

Few Americans realize the massive global presence that Mack Trucks once had. Mack established a name for itself from Western Europe to Iran with the indestructible Mack NR series military 6x4s that were left abroad and converted to civilian use (and were operated for decades).

As Mack Trucks ramped up international sales in the 1960s and 1970s, Mack products like the legendary F-model (axle forward) and FM-model (axle back) made a name for themselves all across Europe from the UK, Scandinavia, Germany and Greece to the Middle East, Iran and North Africa.

If you consider the European trucks of the time including the Volvo F88/89, Scania 1 series, Mercedes-Benz L and NG series, MAN F8 and Fiat 600 series, it is clear that Mack engineering and reliability (what we once called American truck know-how) were superior to all the European heavy trucks offerings. No other truck could match the durability and fuel efficiency of the Mack truck.

Speaking of the Middle East, can you imagine the sight of these Mack F-models coming over the desert horizon where literally, there were no roads? It was indeed under these grueling conditions where owning a Mack truck paid off for the savvy operator.

For the Mack brand, the epitome icon of America’s truck industry, to now be nothing more than a brand owned by Sweden’s Volvo, this is a massive and insulting step backwards for the America that we, our fathers and their fathers worked so hard to build.

My passion for what the former Mack Trucks represented, and our great country, is not about living in the past. Rather, it concerns the present and the future. The alarming trend of increasing foreign industrial ownership in America should concern us all.

• Volvo owns Mack (and terminated White and GMC).
• Daimler owns Freightliner, Western Star, Detroit Diesel and Thomas Built Buses (and terminated Ford/Sterling).
• Fiat owns Chrysler

Do Americans want to cast off our industrial might to the history books and allow foreign companies to dominate our industries? Certainly, their core loyalties lie abroad in their home countries. Inherently so, only Americans have America’s best interest at heart.

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[2stacksuperdog]

Doesn't mack still sadly roam Africa?

[staxx]

Awsome pics like the mud crossing , whats the end picture story ?

[kscarbel]

Doesn't mack still sadly roam Africa?

No. Volvo has decided to promote the Volvo brand in Africa. At the 2011 Johannesburg Motor Show, every heavy truckmaker was there in force, including M-B, MAN, Volvo, Scania, DAF, UD, Hino, Isuzu and Mitsubishi. The Mack brand was not represented. If you search for Mack in Africa, you are directed to the Volvo Africa website which has no mention of the Mack brand.

[kscarbel]

Awsome pics like the mud crossing , whats the end picture story ?

Note that many of these F-models are V-8s (V-8s being popular in Europe, especially at that time).

[kscarbel]

A few more. Mack's ran from the UK and European mainland to countries throughout the Middle East and Western Asia including Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

[RFCDrum]

Note that many of these F-models are V-8s (V-8s being popular in Europe, especially at that time).

Later on it was the Maxidynes with the 2 stick six speeds that were popular. I love all of those Swiss Macks on the Middle East run.

[Timothy Maikshilo]

Great pictures and interesting text. Never saw an F model with a set back axle.

[41180]

i have a friend in nigeria that runs a ch sleeper cab mack and loves it .

[kscarbel]

On 3/19/2013 at 7:39 AM, Timothy Maikshilo said:

Great pictures and interesting text. Never saw an F model with a set back axle.

FM's used to be a common sight in Allentown on their way to Europe. Here's a little more info on the set-back front axle Mack model FM, and a good factory picture of the CAS58 F-model two-man double bunk (high roof) cab option (rarely seen in the U.S. market).

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[RFCDrum]

Mike Lawrence's Mack was featured in Trucking International it has 58 rears in it.

[kscarbel]

In addition to the Cruise-Liner and Ultra-Liner, even the Mack N-model was no stranger to the global market.

I recall a large order of Macungie-built Cruise-Liners with 44 rears for an international customer who requested used (worn out) tires be installed by Mack, as the customer planned to install his own tires upon delivery. The trucks were sitting all over the Allentown Howard Sober storage yard with flat tires.

Owing partially to Mack's success in neighboring Iran, Turkey became a huge market for Mack Trucks.

Quite a few Turkish Cruise-Liners were ordered with the short 76 inch sleeper cab (as opposed to the more common 90 inch sleeper cab).

[kscarbel]

And of course, you have the heavies.

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[ap40rocktruck]

Fantastic, on the F-900SX of Transmosa, was that a factory build or customer re-build?

Rick

[kscarbel]

Fantastic, on the F-900SX of Transmosa, was that a factory build or customer re-build?

Rick

The two Transmosa trucks were factory-built (Pedigreed Mack engineering impresses!).

They were delivered in 1974 to Transmodernos of Barcelona, Spain, which later became Transmosa.

My understanding is they were F-9976SX models with Mack ENDT866 375hp Thermodyne V-8s.

And of course these units all have Mack's signature "Planidrive" 110,000lb planetary hub reduction axles (Mack axles for Mack trucks - No Finnish Sisu axles or other)

[Timothy Maikshilo]

Yes, Fantastic pictures and text. Thanks for the info on the FM too. The FM looks a lot better than Internationals version with the set back axle that JB Hunt roamed the road with. Also that Mammoet DM with the widened cab 6 window configuration is very nice.

[kscarbel]

Yes, Fantastic pictures and text. Thanks for the info on the FM too. The FM looks a lot better than Internationals version with the set back axle that JB Hunt roamed the road with. Also that Mammoet DM with the widened cab 6 window configuration is very nice.

The Mammoet has a hybrid cab, combining the rear half of an F-model with the front half of a DM. But Mammoet had standard cab DMs as well.

This truck began life as a DM-611SX and was re-powered with a V-12 Detroit Diesel.

[umodelnut]

Great pictures. It'd be interesting to get up close to that V12 DM and see how they put it together. I would have never thought a V12 would fit in a DM's little snout.

[mackniac]

wow , what a trek around the globe for those Mack's , amazing , thank you for sharing .

[ap40rocktruck]

The Transmosa trucks were factory-built (Pedigreed Mack engineering impresses!).

But I'm not clear if the Transmosa trucks are F-800 or F-900 series (e.g. F-8956SX or F-9956SX).

OK & thanks, V-8 powered? what were the axles & tire size?

Rick

[RFCDrum]

I like the pic of Bozo Bear you have in there. A lot of history of that truck.

Cheers, Rob

[mack4ever]

some of the macks in the pictures are stil in the netherlands.

they are restored and repainted but stil alive.

leon.

[kscarbel]

Speaking of heavies, I should mention the Mack-Hayes W-HDX that were sold in Europe. In 1969, Mack Trucks purchased a majority interest in Hayes Manufacturing (renamed Hayes Trucks Ltd. in 1971).

Transmodernos of Barcelona, Spain (which later became Transmosa) took delivery of these units in 1974. Paired to a Spanish Trabosa modular trailer for GCWs up to 2,205,000 pounds, they were purchased to meet a contract for the construction of the Almarez nuclear power plant.

Note the Mack emblems on the trucks.

With Cummins VTA1700C engines and Clark CL 16820-9 transmissions, these massive trucks were equipped with Mack 110,000lb "Planidrive" planetary hub reduction axles (as was the Canadian market Mack CL-350ST logging tractor). The front drive axles of these 6x6 units were Clark FDS 22610s.

[Timothy Maikshilo]

Very nice! Love This topic!

[RFCDrum]

I like the pic of Bozo Bear you have in there. A lot of history of that truck.

Cheers, Rob

Bonzo Bear my fat fingers.