Why did B Replace L Cab?

[Red Horse]

As I work "scrunched Up" in my B cab putting floor panels back after replacing steering box, the thought crossed my mind.  What was Mack's motivation to replace the L cab with the B.  

Could it have been :

--Driver comfort?  Doubtful.  Nice tall seating position in L vs B.

--Visibility? Doubtful. Lot of glass area in L vs B -forward as well as looking out rear window.

--Aerodynamics?  Granted B must have been better but given 50's fuel prices hardly-and the only wind tunnel probably started with your  mother in law.

So what was the driving force-just something "new"

How about it KSC?

PS- the attached picture of Andy Hendersons B-73 speaks volumes

[h67st]

Man, that B-73 is a fine-looking truck. One possibility is that it's cheaper to build the B cab than the L cab. I agree with you, the L cab is much better.

[Phase 1]

It was the natural progression of things. Why did they replace the 1940's Dodge, Ford, Chevy cars with the newer ones? Why did every product from that era and every era change and get restyled? Everything gets updated, Mack's styling was not any different. They updated the cabs to make them more modern and probably cheaper to produce. Designs keep changing, even if they don't look as good as the old ones. Modern cars don't look as good as the 64 Chevy in the picture either.

Edited October 4, 2020 by Phase 1

[davehummell]

My b cab is rather cramped but it is really bad for my cousin who weighs over 300 lbs. Same thing with my 31 model a coup very tight fit for the driver and passenger. I remember the older peterbuilt conventional had a fairly small cab. 

[mowerman]

But I thought the L cab was available till 66 not sure ... bob

[mrsmackpaul]

Maybe the market wasnt there

Maybe trailer length, is the B cab shorter 

 

I think it would be more than just styling 

 

Paul 

[mattb73lt]

They did bring it back and offer it again as an option. I would agree with Redhorse, it is a roomier cab with larger windows. There’s a few extra inches here and there, but it’s the larger, more square upper area that makes a difference in not feeling as “cramped”. Both cabs are just as wide at the bottom and the L a little deeper fore and aft.

I will say the B cab is more durable and better built than the L. The lengths I’ve gone to bring my L cab back lead me to believe this and all the B survivors.

The B series with the L cab option are my favorites.

[Milaca]

I prefer the L-cab, but I assume they went with the curvy design for an updated appearance (by 1950s standards, that is). Studebaker debuted a similar looking cab design for 1949 for their pickups and trucks (my 1950 Studebaker shown in photo), and Studebaker continued to use this design up until the end of truck production in 1964.

Back to the L-cab, in my opinion, its design/appearance was far ahead of its time and had more legroom than it's competitors. Currently, trucks like the Peterbilt 379 & Kenworth W-900 have cabs that look similar.

[B73Buddy]

Enjoyed reading the comments guys.  Correct as the L model (CA-31) cab did become an option from 58-66.  The B73/B75 came out in 55 with only the B cab at first.  As the one gentlemen posted, it became known as the Studebaker cab.  My dad sold his 1950 LJ in 1957.  It order for a lighter GVWR, he purchased a B61 with 170 hp Mack motor.  He immediately disliked the smaller cab and less power.  He later that year saw a B73 L cab  pass thru the Syracuse area from Florida and inquired about it at a local Mack Dealership who was unaware of the option and said it must be homemade.  He checked with the Mack Factory Branch in Rochester and they pulled out the sales brochure right away.  Dad ordered one immediately and sold the B61 after only 10 months.  He eventually owned 2 B73 L cabs and I restored this one to model the latter one.  My brother has dad's actual first one in his garage after buying it back from it's 4th owner.  It remained local from when dad sold in in 1969 til purchased back in 1993.

[mowerman]

Very interesting thanks for the cool story...bob

[Chuck P]

 

Curious as to why the B-80 series trucks were never offered with the "roomier" cab after the transition from the LJSWX.  

Perhaps they didn't need it because the longer engines could fit in the axle-back configuration (think B-71).

[mowerman]

Frankly I think the b cab was just a big hit .... thinking back as a young kid I really never saw that many L cabs at all mostly just the B cab ... bob