Iranian R-model

[Vladislav]

I had a lucky chance today to see a very rare beast. Sure it's rare in my neck of the woods but I expect it even much rarer in the US or Europe to show up. A friend of mine was told by someone that Iranian Mack truck was parked in Moscow industrial area. The truck was seen 3 weeks earlier running down a highway in the night but no extra facts. This time chances were much higher so we picked up our cameras and went exploring the faith.

We found the truck with no efforts at the parking lot we were told it was seen at for the last time. The driver was there also so we could talk a little . In fact "talking" was a literally word since he knew just a few Russian words but it was great anyway. He was loaded with a piece of heavy drilling equipement for construction and waited for oversize permit to move it to Iran. It was taking a while so he had to hang up in Russia, probably longer then he would like to. Lucky him there's still no snow in the central area of the country so he would go home relatively easy. At least I hope and wish that to him.

Edited February 3, 2021 by Vladislav

[Vladislav]

It was very interesting to me to explore the design Iranian Macks were made by since I only could see them on web pics and knew there was a factory producing them by some way. Being able to actually (and finally!) put my hands on and put my nose into I found quite interesting matters. In fact the truck I saw (and by the style of the front bumper attachment the most other Iranian R's) was built on a heavy double frame of a DM600 model which rails have different shape and size than American R-model does. The engine looked like a classy E6-350 4V but the driver told me it was tuned up (or made that way or anything else??) up to 420hp. The tranny was two stick 10-speed unit I couldn't recognize but it looked like a 3 countershaft housing so probably T100 series 10 speed (T1070 or so). The rears were really heavy setup with elephant ear trunnion brackets, Camelback spring packs and cast axle housngs. They looked at least as 44000 series or even (and probably) heavier. 6 spoke hubs with 8 bolt jack shaft cones were fitted with 12.00-24 tube type tyres. The driver told me the most he could do down a highway was 60km/h so with that tall wheels it's even difficult to imagine of how slow the diff ratio was. Possibly the tranny was direct in the top hole but I was out of my Iranian speaking capabilities to figure such a detail.

[Vladislav]

Of what I learned the chassis, transmission and the diffs were imported from the States and the cab and the hood were produced locally. As i understood the engine was Iranian production copy of American E6 but I could be wrong on that. The cab is quite simple steel box with small integral sleeper and seemed having no American made parts. Of what I noted were R-model steering column, early steel rimed dash gauges and complete factory vent windows in the doors. The rest was Iranian but looked quite well done and also very solid after many thousand km the truck covered up since it was made in 1983 (the engne was swapped in 1997). Interesting feature I noted was a rear cab attachment. You can see a leaf spring seated on the frame rail brackets supporting the center of the rear cab wall. Looks simple and reliable at the same time. A pair of shocks could be seen at each side if you lean your head to look below the cab floor.

[Vladislav]

Heavy and probably Iranian-made 5th wheel.

[mrsmackpaul]

Fantastic stuff Vlad 

I like you have only ever seen photos of these 

Thank you for taking the time to share this rare bit history with us

Paul

[DJC]

Thanks for posting this Vlad!

[Vladislav]

18 hours ago, mrsmackpaul said:

Fantastic stuff Vlad 

I like you have only ever seen photos of these 

Thank you for taking the time to share this rare bit history with us

Paul

Paul,

It's a real pleasure to cheer your friends when you enjoy something.

Just a part of our hobby you know.

Right at the moment I'm looking at those photos and smiling from ear to ear and a little. And would very like you to participate.

Worth waisting bugger all, isn't it?

[Vladislav]

5 minutes ago, DJC said:

Thanks for posting this Vlad!

Welcome to the party!

[85snowdog]

Thanks very much for sharing your pics Vlad. 

I find all the differences interesting. Especially ,the steel dash. Its also interesting to see necessities in the cab. Like the water and a heater of some type.

 

 

[david wild]

Like the spring under the cab.

[Vladislav]

17 hours ago, 85snowdog said:

Thanks very much for sharing your pics Vlad. 

I find all the differences interesting. Especially ,the steel dash. Its also interesting to see necessities in the cab. Like the water and a heater of some type.

 

Necessities in the cab is an everyday reality when you travel up to 3000 km from home not always over developed areas and in many cases being having to live in a truck for a few days or even weeks waiting for a load or repair. Many (or the most) Russian truckers do that way of things either. Even with a cost of 3 dished meal of $4 on avarage in a road side cafe.

[Maxidyne]

Thanks for a rare insight into a Iranian built Mack- Very impressive build and can't be many of these left.

[Brocky]

Vlad, Very Interesting!!!  Thank you for taking the time to look up, and take pictures, of this rare truck..

[JoeH]

Those are about 55k Camelback springs. Rears could be a bit heavier.  We have a 1980 DM686SX with a 2 stick 6 speed, topped out in direct at about 48mph before we swapped the rears to hit 62.   I recognize the bolt together torque arm joint and other features like the cone hub caps.

Edited December 22, 2019 by JoeH

[kscarbel2]

Good job Vlad !

The lightest Mack camelback suspension with that trunnion I recall is the SS50C.

60 km/h = 37.3 mph

[alex g]

Thanks for taking time to post pics and story. Not to many luxuries in that rig. I like the curtains though 😁

[mowerman]

i like the dashboard,,,almost looks like it has brockway doors on it...bob

[Vladislav]

14 hours ago, Maxidyne said:

Thanks for a rare insight into a Iranian built Mack- Very impressive build and can't be many of these left.

Looks like still plenty of them in the right neighbourhood. Iranians post a lot of pics on Instagram and it seems they're doing well with old Macks. I have no idea on how they can supply themself with spares due to the sanctions. But trucks run so that means with a help of Allah they do

I have a kind of idea roaming over my mind to go to Iran and check the things myself. From talks with people who lived there I learned it's possible. Just not sure their officials would have no questions due to US entering stamps in my passport. And what seems more important is a point of view of US consul in ambassady when I request US visa for the next time after such voyage

[kscarbel2]

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/30411-when-mack-ruled-the-roads-of-iran/?tab=comments#comment-172034

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/33150-when-mack-ruled-the-roads-of-iran-part-2/?tab=comments#comment-211784

 

[kscarbel2]

 

[david wild]

On 12/23/2019 at 7:13 AM, Vladislav said:

Looks like still plenty of them in the right neighbourhood. Iranians post a lot of pics on Instagram and it seems they're doing well with old Macks. I have no idea on how they can supply themself with spares due to the sanctions. But trucks run so that means with a help of Allah they do

I have a kind of idea roaming over my mind to go to Iran and check the things myself. From talks with people who lived there I learned it's possible. Just not sure their officials would have no questions due to US entering stamps in my passport. And what seems more important is a point of view of US consul in ambassady when I request US visa for the next time after such voyage

Sanctions are for honest people if your a Clinton or Biden you ship what ever you want where ever you want

[mrsmackpaul]

I would be guessing the add spares are coming thru a  country thst doesn't have sanctions with the US 

 

 

Paul 

[Ditchdiggerjcf]

I like it.

[Vladislav]

3 hours ago, kscarbel2 said:

 

I missed that even for just 100 km. A friend of mine (who made this movie) told me about the appointment with Iranian guy when I already had affairs for the time. So I couldn't get to the party. Interesting that those guys went further from Russia to Lithuania and than Poland. As I was told that R-model was freshly restored and extremely clean.

[Vladislav]

1 hour ago, mrsmackpaul said:

I would be guessing the add spares are coming thru a  country thst doesn't have sanctions with the US 

 

 

Paul 

Too probably. And to my surprize Iranian drivers told me they didn't have troubles with Mack parts. I suppose they produce many things locally. And also I saw they make wheel hubs for Macks with studs location to accomodate European patters wheels.

Edited July 27, 2020 by Vladislav