Ditchdiggerjcf Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 I never see any around, and I keep my eyes out for them. Were they not popular in their day? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainCrutch Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 There were almost 60,000 F-series trucks built... if that answers your question at all... Quote Who needs a back yard when you could have a Yard?! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442487 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxidyne Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Very popular truck, but that was four decades ago and like the other trucks of that age, not many survive. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442488 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post james j neiweem Posted February 11, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 11, 2020 They were one of the most popular fleet trucks of the day. They were made of non galvanized steel so there are not many survivors. 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442489 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ditchdiggerjcf Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 I see more B models around than I do F models. It's strange. I would love to have one. It would make a nice lowboy tractor. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442491 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 You see them for sale from time to time there are usually priced pretty right good luck and yes when I was a young teenager they were everywhere I was just talking about that very subject a few weeks ago especially up and down 95 there was hundreds of them..... bob Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442492 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainCrutch Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 The black and red F in the background of these pics is for sale if that interests you, granted it’s been for sale for a really long time so my guess is $40,000 is way too much for it... 1 Quote Who needs a back yard when you could have a Yard?! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442494 Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex g Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 I saw that F model at Lititz a couple years ago. It sure is nice Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442499 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainCrutch Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 4 minutes ago, alex g said: I saw that F model at Lititz a couple years ago. It sure is nice I took that picture at the Gerhart's show in 2018 on the second day I believe. Quote Who needs a back yard when you could have a Yard?! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442500 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ditchdiggerjcf Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 Saw one that belonged to a farmer outside of Helena,AR a few years back. Only one I've seen in a looong time. It was a single axle which is no good for me. It was clean though, real clean. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442501 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainCrutch Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 I see them at just about every time I go to a truck show, but a ton more conventionals than any cabover... Quote Who needs a back yard when you could have a Yard?! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442502 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxidyne Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Back in the 70s the two best selling heavy trucks were the Freightliner and International cabovers. Then the feds eliminated overall length limits and the new truck market shifted to conventionals. Same thing happened in the used truck market, cabovers had such low resale value that a lot were simply scrapped or glidered into conventionals. UPS of course cut up their F models when they retired them, rust took care of most of the rest, and when aluminum prices went up most of the aluminum cabovers got melted down. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442503 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ditchdiggerjcf Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 I see lots of cabover trucks, just no Mack cabovers. Kennys, petes, combines, and freightshakers all over the place. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442505 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxidyne Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 F model production ended around 1982. International, KW and Pete sold cabovers here through around 2003 and Freightliner through 2006. The KW cabover is still in production in Australia and Daimler is just now winding down production of the Argosy for export markets. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442507 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainCrutch Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Freightliner still makes cabovers as gliders. I saw a brand new one not all that long ago. Quote Who needs a back yard when you could have a Yard?! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442508 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ditchdiggerjcf Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 An argosy with a 60 series would be nice. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442515 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxidyne Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Daimler dropped the Argosy glider about a year ago, but there might be some unbuilt ones laying about. Hostess had a lot of Argosies with 60 series and they sold cheap after the bankruptcy. Local Freighliner dealer had some 2015 or so Argosy gliders with 60 series IIRC that were set up with droms for boat hauling, but they wanted crazy $$$ for them. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442528 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainCrutch Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 I saw a fresh Argosy glider not too long ago for sale, I don’t remember what the price was exactly but I think it was just shy of $100,000... Quote Who needs a back yard when you could have a Yard?! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442530 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ditchdiggerjcf Posted February 12, 2020 Author Share Posted February 12, 2020 An MH or cruiseliner with camelback and heavy fronts sure would make a good lowboy tractor. An F would be better. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442534 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainCrutch Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 8 minutes ago, Ditchdiggerjcf said: An MH or cruiseliner with camelback and heavy fronts sure would make a good lowboy tractor. An F would be better. I’m getting ready to try to convince a guy I know to let me piece back together his MH that used to be owned and operated by Mack. 1 Quote Who needs a back yard when you could have a Yard?! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442536 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ditchdiggerjcf Posted February 12, 2020 Author Share Posted February 12, 2020 A worthy project. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442542 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Swishy Posted February 12, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 12, 2020 RE: F model Mack the early days in Australia twaz steel cab later on they develpoed a fibre glass cab in Au the 1st batch rattled and had a mirror support runnin half way down the door for added stabliizin the next lot of fibre glass cabs had steel doors th@ din need no xtra mirror support the F model we had as a 6x4 primover on float work (one of 1st batch 1978?) followed by our 8x4 tilt tray (1981) Cya 4 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442552 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Hayseed Posted February 12, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 12, 2020 Here's a F Model, That Did a Good job for me, back in the day.... 4 Quote "Be who you are and say what you feel...Because those that matter...don't mind...And those that mind....don't matter." - Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442556 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ditchdiggerjcf Posted February 12, 2020 Author Share Posted February 12, 2020 I checked out truckpaper a few minutes ago. Sh*tloads of B models, not a single F. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442570 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxidyne Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 For a start, Mack made more B models than F models. Here in the rust belt B models had pretty much disappeared from the highways by the mid 70s when the newest were 10 years old. The last F models were built around 1982, and when I first tempted for peak season at UPS in 1992 they still had several F models in service. In fact, I didn't get to drive them much because the senior drivers preferred them to the GMC Astros and only the incoming MH and later CH models would pry the senior drivers out of their beloved F models. So the B models lasted about a decade in highway service and a few lasted longer in lower mileage vocational applications. The F models lasted over a decade and rusted out rather than wore out- Rumor has it that Hostess was still running a late 60s F model Western in Texas into the late 80s at least. The difference in survival rates are not because the F model was an inferior truck, the B model has a higher survival rate because many of them saw lower mileages in vocational service and a lot of collectiors liked the good looks of the B model and preserved them, while an F model was just an old truck that had done it's job and was scrapped when it could no longer worked. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/60939-why-so-few-f-models/#findComment-442582 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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