Bob Eckstein's "Phantom 309",revisited!

[Lmackattack]

Someone should build a tribute truck.

I have thought about getting mine painted like this one. I would need to buy a winning lotto ticket,get fiberglass hood work done first. Then find a heated garage to keep it in!

[j hancock]

I usually don't feel sad (mad) walking around Macungie.

[Maddog13407]

gotta say I think I liked it more before they stretched the frame and put the bigger bunk on. also looks like it has tube type on the front in one picture with the white letters painted on the tires? the more I look the more cool features I see like the chrome lockin strip around the windshield rubber or the chrome Dayton rims on the back

[57 bcr]

Yes,sadly it was cut up and scrapped. The guy who brought it to Macungie a few years back said he bought it for junk as it had belonged to a relative of Bob's (in Jersey,I believe). The 1693 had the head off of it and the hood open,when this guy bought it. Said there wasn't much good left of it. I told him I knew the guy that had the truck originally,Bob Eckstein. He said,"oh yeah,his name was on the horn button when I took an excavator and crushed what was left of the cab" He said he figured the hood & sleeper were the only things worth selling. The rest was scrapped. Al

[Superdog]

Sad part is this happens way to often,the guy thought it was too far gone,only good for a few parts,yet someone else would have saved it as is and been thrilled just to have it because it was special. I've had it happen to me more than once,begged and pleaded,offered to trade,you name it,only to have a truck get destroyed. If I have a truck that means something special to someone, I'd sure be happy to sell or trade it to them,rather than part or scrap it.

[Mackdaddy2030]

Awesome truck and great pictures. Would love to see more.

I don't know anything about this truck. Was it really famous back in the day?

[Lmackattack]

Al

Did you show these pics to Bob Hall(think thats his name?) from Northern IL Mack Grayslake?

He had some good stories about This truck running out to the east coast and back. I was in there a few months ago and he was telling me how he would spray the whole frame and aluminum parts down with diesel fuel when he was heading into a snow (salt) storm. Im assuming this was after the first cab was junk in short time and his 2nd cab was installed?

[Yoos Brothers Construction]

Does anyone who ended up with the remains?? Also what ever ended up with Bob Eckstien's first RL700 that was blue with the 1674 Cat engine? I know someone on here was looking at buying it a few years back but I can't remember who.

Thanks, Josh

[b61mack]

Back around the late 70s a friend of mine was leased to Steel Transport and hauled steel out of US Steel Gary, IN. he must have known Bob or saw that beautiful truck because he had a 72 R model that he copied the paint color and paint scheme (except the top of the hood) put a west coast grille in it, stretched it out to 202 wheel base, installed a 36" Double Eagle sleeper, put alum. buds on front daytons on the rear. I bought it in 1982. ran over the road a few years and hauled grain at harvest time. I repainted it in the late 80s blue & gray installed blue Superliner interior, 2 airride seats, took the bunk off and was going to go 42" but never put a bunk back on. still have the truck today, wish I would have left it the same color. I have some old pictures of it but don't know how to post pictures on here. don't use it much any more

[Yoos Brothers Construction]

Here's the one I'm speaking of. Somebody posted this pic on here before.

Thanks, Josh

[vision386]

Prolly I good thing I wasn't at Macungie that year,or that would have come home with me! I have been wanting to build a replica of this truck almost since I first saw it years ago..............I made an offer on the blue one last year,but it was not enough in the sellers eyes..............................Mark

[b61mack]

One thing you cant argue is he took pride in his Macks, wish I could seen it in real life before it was taken apart.

[Lmackattack]

Here's the one I'm speaking of. Somebody posted this pic on here before.

Thanks, Josh

Yes I went and looked at it a few years back.

It resides in northern IL with the 2nd owner. Looks like it was parked in the mid 80s and no one ever went back.

The truck has the original cat engine but the frame was stretched camelback rears were removed and air ride installed. They did not do a great job on the stretch. The interior was pretty good was only missing the rear wall interior. But it was a steel dash cab and not sure if it ever had a interior? Cab corners were rotted pretty bad but the truck was complete. Asking price was kinda high last I recall.

[dogg rescue]

I ran across the blue one for sale on cars.oodle.com, says it does'nt run and they want 10k for it.

[Green Dash]

I ran across the blue one for sale on cars.oodle.com, says it does'nt run and they want 10k for it.

Here ya go:

http://www.advertigo.net/advertisement-id-356737-1972MACKTRUCKRL700LNEEDSRESTORATIONDOESNOTRUN.htm

[vision386]

The "Phantom" was on the Shell Super-Rigs calendar in early 1980 if memory serves,i have this picture hanging in my toyroom.........................................Mark

[Green Dash]

The "Phantom" was on the Shell Super-Rigs calendar in early 1980 if memory serves,i have this picture hanging in my toyroom.........................................Mark

This is not a good time to be caught without "likes". That picture belongs on the ceiling over the bed.

[mrsmackpaul]

This is not a good time to be caught without "likes". That picture belongs on the ceiling over the bed.

steady on there big fella there's always tomorrow

[Mackdaddy2030]

Why did they call it Phantom 309?

[57 bcr]

Named for the truck in the song "Phantom 309". Legend has it, Fred Bronge (Tom's brother) told Bob he should name it that & he did. Trent,I did show Bob Hall the pics, as he knew Bob E. pretty well. He also said "oh no!" Al

[ranchhopper]

Phantom 309 was sung by Red Sovine back when country music was real country music not country rock like it is now.

[Mackdaddy2030]

That's cool. Thanks for the info Al.

Now I have another stupid question, lol

I'm assuming they had factory A/C back then, but did he have that unit on top cause it was better?

[vision386]

This is just a guess,but I looked over this truck top to bottom when I saw it and the headliner upholstery was cut/made to fit around the Kysor "Red-Dot" rooftop A/C control box,when the truck was re-cabbed the original upholstery was installed in the new cab,so it stands to reason that would be why the rooftop A/C was re-installed? Mind you this is just a guess on my part,but makes sense to me. May have been the Kysor worked better then the factory A/C too,we put the same unit in our R-Model and it would give you an ear-ache on "High".............................................Mark

[vision386]

Jim,are you sure we are not "Brothers From Another Mother"? Lol!...............................................Mark

[57 bcr]

Mark,if you're on BMT,we're ALL brothers from another mother! LOL!! Al