Trucks from yesteryear on show at Wauchope

[kscarbel2]

Owner/Driver / August 4, 2015

Relics, classics and vintage trucks took over the Wauchope Showground for the annual Yesteryear Truck and Machinery Show.

With an impressive line-up including old Dodge, Mercedes-Benz, International and Diamond Reo trucks, plus newer models such as a 2014 25th anniversary Freightliner Coronado, the Yesteryear Truck and Machinery Show at Wauchope was always going to be a winner.

Among the other attractions on the weekend of July 11 and 12 were B-model Macks, 1960 Ford F600s, a 1972 Acco, a 1968 Bedford, Austins from the 1950s, some vintage Whites and an ex-Army Mack NR9.

Market stalls, food and drink outlets, and live music from Port Macquarie band Tools Of The Trade added to the festive atmosphere.

Kirby Maxwell organises the truck side of the event and had three of this own trucks on display — a Commer, a Sterling and his well-travelled 1970 Oshkosh.

"It’s getting bigger and better than ever," Kirby says of the show.

"There’s some beautiful machinery, and they’ve come from Queensland, they’ve come up from down the south coast, and they’ve come from Gulgong out in the Riverina."

Trucks also arrived from Penrith, and there was good Hunter Valley representation.

The star of the show was a 1943 NR10 Mack, recently brought back to running order by Richard Hollis of the Yesteryear Truck and Machinery Club.

"The motor wasn’t going, the injector pump needed a rebuild, and the water pump and radiator. I put 10 brake boosters on, used 72 air fittings on the brake systems, and she’s running pretty good," he says.

He also repaired the mudguards, and straightened the bonnet, receiving help from locals who supplied parts, including lights, for the truck.

Not quite as old as the 1943 Mack NR10 but more striking was Robert Hall’s 1964 Mack B61.

Robert bought the B model Mack around five years ago, taking two years and around $130,000 to restore it to its former glory.

Brian Riley was another to arrive with two Macks, although he also brought along a 1968 Bedford.

Brian’s company, B C Riley Haulage, is based at Yarraville, just outside of Kempsey. Although he runs interstate, buying and restoring trucks has become equally as important to him.

Along with his grandfather, Brian began restoring the 6354 Perkins-powered Bedford in the 1990s.

"I took over the restoration, and you see it today in its former glory," he says.

The second oldest truck among the three was a 1980 Mk1 Super-Liner day cab, which Brian bought in 2010 and finished restoring it in January last year.

"I ran it full-time interstate," he explains.

"It’s got a big cam 3400, 18-speed Eaton, with a 44 back end, road train rated to 120-tonne."

Running long-haul in day cab would ring the alarm bells in today’s trucking environment, but not so with Brian.

"It’s called ‘go and buy a swag and start off’," he laughs.

Photo Gallery - http://www.ownerdriver.com.au/industry-news/1508/trucks-from-yesteryear-on-show-at-wauchope/

[gearhead204]

that nr10 still looks good in her work dress!

[mrsmackpaul]

that nr10 still looks good in her work dress!

yes thats how I reckon a Mack looks best in its working clothes

Paul

[Vladislav]

Thank you for sharing!

My feeling reminds me Vinnie's reaction when any new U-model is posted.

Mack NR is sweet!

Hmmm... Now I can see something wrong with it.

NR-10 must have closed L-model cab and single rear wheels.

A one with double ones might be starting from NR-14.

Uncorrect description or a parts swap?

The best answer could be done by the chassis number.

What it the chassis number??

[mrsmackpaul]

Thank you for sharing!

My feeling reminds me Vinnie's reaction when any new U-model is posted.

Mack NR is sweet!

Hmmm... Now I can see something wrong with it.

NR-10 must have closed L-model cab and single rear wheels.

A one with double ones might be starting from NR-14.

Uncorrect description or a parts swap?

The best answer could be done by the chassis number.

What it the chassis number??

Vlad I dont know in Australia I have always known them as NR Macks along with the ones running single tyres and the ones that are single drive it's a bit like an R model we dont call them by model names or numbers they are Flinstones, R models, Value Liners and Super Liners and the motors are 711's Thermodyne's, Cool Power Econodyn's and E9's at least thats the way I have always heard them spoken about

So getting back to the NR I have no idea what model it really is it's just a NR to me and most people out here as well I would think

so I am always keen to learn how to tell the difference so feel free to educate me

Paul

[Vladislav]

Paul,

There's just a matter of knowing about something in general or to dig deeper.

It requires some time and labour to pay attention so seems to me worth of that when having an interest.

Luckie the most of us overhere have a lot of to Macks.

So...

There were many modifications of Mack NR at all. Better to say there were 20 of. NR-1 to NR-20.

All of them had the similar chassis and the engine - Mack ED 519ci Lanova diesel.

Of the outer look the very first serie NR-1 stood apart from the later ones. It had the ealy style cab, the same as Mack BX of the pre-war time.

Later models until NR-8 wich was introduced in 1942 had all steel cab of a L-model style.

Starting from that moment the cab lost its roof to became a military style cab with the soft top. Like the one posted above.

Important note - all those trucks before NR-14 of 1943 had single rear tires.

That setup looks strange to me but they all had 24's in front and 12.00-20 on rears.

There were 2 spares of the different size either.

The situation has changed in 1943 when 14th generation came into production.

The most large in number, about 8000 units of 16548 built at all.

It's special feature was dual rear wheels.

Starting from that point NR's were 11.00-24 all around.

I would say those vehicles became looking almost like a commercial LJ's but I can't.

They were about that but all had open cab instead.

[mrsmackpaul]

Thanks for that Vlad

did they make a single drive NR my grand father drove one as a log truck after the war for a few years he always told me it was a NR it had a petrol motor air brakes and a soft top cab it might have even been made into single drive after the war but I wouldnt think so trucks were in such short supply and no weight rules much straight after the war

Paul

[Vladislav]

Paul, i had to spend a while to find this tread.

No, there were no single axle NR's.

There were some of them converted into single's in Europe after the war.

As for you grand father's story (too interesting to hear) there was a military version of Mack EH with gas engine and soft top cab wich looked close to NR one. They were single drives. Too rare thing nowadays. Some went to Australia by Lend - Lease. There was one for sale in your region some while back.