Sometimes you need to drive long ways to see a Mack truck

[Vladislav]

On 5/24/2024 at 9:10 PM, BOBWhite said:

My great grandparents Immigrated from Pfeifer Russia (Gvardeyskoye now, along the Volga river) to Pfeifer Kansas (USA) in the late 1890s or early 1900s. Thats not far north of Georgia if I'm reading this map correctly. Very cool to see where they came from! Thanks for bringing us on this cool trip! 

Also the Georgian language has always looked so cool to me, it looks like an alien language.

 

Interesting story, thanks for sharing. Unfortunalely I'm not familiar with Georgian language. Excepting two or three words. So difficult to judge. 

[Vladislav]

1 hour ago, 67RModel said:

Extremely interesting trip I would guess. I'm curious if you speak Farsi. How are you able to get around in these seemingly rural areas of Iran without knowing their language?

That's one good point you asked about. I mentioned the answer in the posts above but would like to tell more detailingly. 

Yes, I've learned Farsy to some grade. I had interest travelling Iran for a long while and well understood that seating in a bus and looking through the window was not my cap of tea. And as long as I expected speaking with drivers, garage workers and other common people in that country hopes on using English were really poor. So I figured I should bite the bullet. 

At the Covid time I had to spend a couple of weeks at home so figured I would use a few days for the study. Easily found on-line coursus and in a few days I learned the most basic things such as "I am - you are - my mother is - we are here - I have two brothers and a sister" and so on. The coursus consisted of lessons of 12-15 phrases each. Each phrase was written in Farsi, than duplicated by Lathinik for prononsation, and also spoken by voice. A man's voice than a woman's voice. That way you could just click a button on your phone and hear a certain phrase. After the lockdown I successfully continued with that coursus hearing the sentances while being stuck in a traffic jam. 

That continued for 3 or 4 months and than I figured the coursus had some imperfection or even mistakes and also got a trouble with reading/typing since could not identify letters. There was something infigurable in them definitely. 

So I lost interest and abandoned the story for nearly half a year. Than later I ocassionally found a teacher on the net who was a Russian girl lived in Iran for well amount of years and was providing on-line lessons. I started taking lessons from her. Not much though since time is always an issue. But we communicate with her by Skype once in a week for one hour. I see it requires more for achieving good skills but what I did also worked out. It's a kind of hobby to me and I do that as long as I enjoy that. But try to do no interruptions. Since it's usually difficult to get back to a not the most needed affair after you got off the line. 

For the moment nearly 1.5 years passed since I started regular lessons and now I'm able to tell where I'm from, what's my job, my family, what I'm intersted in (old trucks), also if I want or need something (a room in a hotel, food, gasoline, a way to a certain point). Actually I feel I need 3 or 4 times more word reserve to feel comfortable but what I have at the moment allows to describe people that I have interest in trucks and so on. Than after showing pics of my own stuff on a phone the most everybody I communicated with was eager to represent their trucks for pics, open doors or a hood, than also (especiality of this part of the world) offers drinking tee and staying in his home overnight as a guest. In some cases you even have to decline the offer 4 or 5 times. Sure in a kind manner. 

[Vladislav]

3 hours ago, DavCut said:

Thank you for continuing the story @Vladislav!

Have you heard if all of the orange F Models came from or are currently in the same fleet?  
 

Looking forward to hearing the next chapter in your adventure!

That's one interesting point you mentioned. 

No, orange F-models were not from the same fleet. But were assembled at the same factory, called Iran-Kaveh (ایران کاوه) Along with R-models. For some reason the most of trucks were painted that color. But also red, dark green and dark blue. And yellow sometimes if I'm not wrong. R-models (I don't know if all of them or the majority of) were equipped with Iranian made cabins. But F's had American cabs. I also don't know if the cabs were imported complete or were welded of panels in Iran. There were also F's with cabs made locally. I once was shown a pic on the net with some ugly cracker box. But saw none of those in person. So far. Worth to point out there are Macks of different origins in Iran. Many (looks like really many) were assembled at Iran-Kaveh. Some were imported from the US. Than after the US put sanctions trucks were purchased from Canada. Than after Canada put sanctions too all good Macks were bought out from Europe. Yesterday I was explained of how to determine what is what. Kaveh trucks all have 44000# heavy rears. With 6 bolt axle flanges. With sharp edge in the most (or all?) cases. And the trucks which have 38000# (8 bolt flat flange) are generally from the US. Also worth to point out the most Macks here ride on 12.00R24 tube tyres. Along with 90% of other trucks, including European production. And only some newer European or Chinese tractors (there's plenty of the latter ones BTW) have tubless 22.5. Sometimes you can also see 12.00R20 but that's relatively rare case. 

 

[Vladislav]

Ok, enough of typing at the moment. Or better to say, back closer to my activities. The next day I'm going to tell about was quite eventful. I rode over the big bypass road in Tebris and saw a yard with three R-models parked in line. Went in, explained who I am, was invited to office and after general talks was allowed to crawl over and under the trucks, take pictures etc. Than the guys called to some one by phone and gave the phone to me. That man was speaking Russian very well! He showed up in person in 20 minutes. Turned out he was one of the drivers of the company who used to work in Russia alot. So we had very warm communications with tea drinking after which I was allowed to drive blue truck in the yard! 

[Vladislav]

The cabs of the R's worth some attention. Red truck has American cab. Blue one is Kaveh cab with a sleeper (short version of the similar style also exists) And the yellow cab is a kind of a mistery. Or mire correctly a question I don't have an answer for yet. That's basically American cab with normal doors. To which some factory made panels are added making it an integral sleeper. That's not a home made product since I saw similar trucks multiple times. So seems like an Iranian built version with side panels off a F-model or specially made panels. The roof seems similar to what was used in the blue cab. Don't know is it the same of only appear so. 

[Vladislav]

And that was not the end of the day. Speaking to each driver I met I was explaining my interest seeing "a chicken's egg" (B-model on the local slang) and Jungee (a kind of a L-model produced or assembled or-? in Iran). And those folks in that company (actually that was a company selling used trucks) put me in a car and drove nearly 10 km to a yard where a B-model was parked! It was not a truck used for work anymore, more for fun of the owner as I figured. Unfortunately my new friends didn't have much time so I couldn't speak (drink tea) with the owner. But there was enough time for look and pictures😀

[Brocky]

Vlad, Thank you for the very well explained answer to my statement "Never",, Actually I was thinking that the majority of us would never travel that far from home due to age and expense.  

Curiosity question::  Have you seen any Brockways????? The last 50 Brockways were assembled in a warehouse in Miami FL by management to complete the order and were shipped to Iran.  Possibly Oilfield???

[mowerman]

Yes, same here, bud. Thank you so much for taking your time to update us on all of that. It’s the same thing here I have to drive quite ways to see an old. Mack They’re hard to find my area. The closest Beam model that I know of is around 75 miles from here. I’m sure there is here right in Reno. That’s the closest one I know of thanks again for everything. Looks like you’re having quite a time over there.

[mowerman]

Wellington, Nevada that’s where I’d like to live. That’s where it is nothing but cattle and horses…. Bob

[mowerman]

18 hours ago, Brocky said:

Vlad, Thank you for the very well explained answer to my statement "Never",, Actually I was thinking that the majority of us would never travel that far from home due to age and expense.  

Curiosity question::  Have you seen any Brockways????? The last 50 Brockways were assembled in a warehouse in Miami FL by management to complete the order and were shipped to Iran.  Possibly Oilfield???

I’ve probably mentioned I’ve only seen 2 out here last 45 years both in LA one working and one at a truck show Ontario speedway bob

[mrsmackpaul]

Vlad that is fantastic, Im lost for words 

I have no idea about traveling over seas to a country that doesn't speak the same language 

And thank you for the pictures, fantastic stuff indeed

I'm really impressed by it all

Strangely it doesn't look very much like a desert, as that's how I expect Iran to be 

Love the old B models sign writing 

 

Paul

[Vladislav]

On 6/1/2024 at 12:17 AM, Brocky said:

Vlad, Thank you for the very well explained answer to my statement "Never",, Actually I was thinking that the majority of us would never travel that far from home due to age and expense.  

Curiosity question::  Have you seen any Brockways????? The last 50 Brockways were assembled in a warehouse in Miami FL by management to complete the order and were shipped to Iran.  Possibly Oilfield???

Brocky, you just was looking at water! Or had a christall ball. 

Today I went to Safien Cement Plant, it's near the city of Tabriz. Actually not to the plant since nobody would allow me to go into. But to the sorrounding area where trucks go to/off the plant, do scales etc. It was the 2nd time I went there. There were many trucks but people seemed busy being at a job. So no good conversations overethere. But a few things to look at. 

Today I saw there Brockway definitely. It was in the yard I couldn't go into. So made a pic through the fence. A shame was right at the moment I put my phone in a pocket a similar truck came in to the scene. And disapperaed in the gates sure before I was ready to make a pic. It was of the same model, a tandem dump truck. Also red color. But with a difference it had integral sleeper cab. The same style yellow R-model in the posts above had. 

As old saying tells, the biggest fish was the one which went off the hook... 

[Vladislav]

A few other catches of the day. That B-model seemed transporting ready cement from the plant to local construction yards. Saw the driver but he didn't have time. Also a couple of MH's I catched ocasionally and Kaveh R's with dry cement trailers. 

[Mark T]

On 5/31/2024 at 3:47 PM, Brocky said:

Vlad, Thank you for the very well explained answer to my statement "Never",, Actually I was thinking that the majority of us would never travel that far from home due to age and expense.  

Curiosity question::  Have you seen any Brockways????? The last 50 Brockways were assembled in a warehouse in Miami FL by management to complete the order and were shipped to Iran.  Possibly Oilfield???

Brocky,  did you ever think  you'd see something like this ?   Decades ago wondering about Brockways in Iran, and now a man from half way around the world is sharing pictures of Brockways in Iran in 2024.  (IDK if that's one of the last).  Amazing, no matter .   Vlad always posts interesting stuff, but he's kill'n it this time.  

[Brocky]

Vlad, Thanks for the Brockway picture.. It is a 700 series with the Sheller Globe cab (Basically Mack)) so it would have been built in the last 2-3 years of Brockway operation.

Edited June 2 by Brocky

[Vladislav]

3 hours ago, Mark T said:

Brocky,  did you ever think  you'd see something like this ?   Decades ago wondering about Brockways in Iran, and now a man from half way around the world is sharing pictures of Brockways in Iran in 2024.  (IDK if that's one of the last).  Amazing, no matter .   Vlad always posts interesting stuff, but he's kill'n it this time.  

Mark, 

As Barry once typed in an answer to my letter, Glad to be of service! 

[Vladislav]

Ok, further we go. 

After Tabriz I took my way to Isfahan - one of ancient capitals of Persia. My journey was focused not on trucks only, some "cultural program" was also on the list. At the time German motorcyclist messaged me that he was already there, so I figured that would be cool to meet again and have a conversation. 

One of the most well known attractions of Isfahan is an old bridge. Its name is Si-o-si pol. If you translate that from Farsi the meaning is Thirty three bridges. The picture explains the reason. 

There's also a huge square built by some shakh 200 or 300 (or 400?) years back which is sorrounded by gallerys used as market and two big mosques at the ends. Very impressive when you're there in person but pics represent the look not bad either. 

[Vladislav]

Walking shops in the market you could see really artificial examples of Persian hand crafted goods.

[mrsmackpaul]

A very different part of the world to what I'm used to seeing 

 

Paul

[Vladislav]

My way from Tabriz to Isfahan was reach on Mack catches too. Could see this long straight B-model and what really surprized me a RS600 made in Hayward in 1975. Unfortunetely VIN tag was lost during years of hard service but driver stated me that. Sure I checked frame rails and they were of a straight style such were used in West coast R's. The chassis was steel but the driver noted there were also a few Mack with aluminium rails in Iran. Forgot to mention he spoke English almost perfect. Said he studied it for a while and even got a sertificate on that. 

The owner of the B spoke Farsi. So I couldn't learn really much. The truck was produced in 65 or 66 (I honestly forgot the particular figure) but he swapped engine and transmision from Kaveh R-model (so now it' 237 or 250 turbo Maxidyne with no intercooler and 10 speed Maxitirque TRD-720-?) Also he stated he could load it up to 16 metric ton. 

Saw many Iran-Kaveh R-models either and that really long and heavy Mercedes truck with a sleeper cab. 

[Vladislav]

Just now, mrsmackpaul said:

A very different part of the world to what I'm used to seeing 

 

Paul

Paul, it's very different by itself too. I will tell about a desert also. Just a bit later. 

And you sure are very welcome to the party! 

[other dog]

Thank you Vlad, those are just some fantastic pictures! Did you take those with a camera or your phone? If you took all those with your phone, that's the kind of phone I want.

[The Heinz]

Those are some awesome pictures, it's hard for this American to realize other countries have Macks too! 

[mowerman]

3 hours ago, mrsmackpaul said:

A very different part of the world to what I'm used to seeing 

 

Paul

Me too there’s certainly some breathtaking structures over there. I’ve only been to Canada and Mexico briefly that’s been years and yes, thank you so much vlad for sharing all that and taking the time to put it together

[mowerman]

2 hours ago, other dog said:

Thank you Vlad, those are just some fantastic pictures! Did you take those with a camera or your phone? If you took all those with your phone, that's the kind of phone I want.

Tom, I just wish I had a phone but had voice text that actually worked