I had the privilege of partaking in the second weekend of the Pigeon Forge Fall Rod Run last weekend. There are two huge rod runs each year, and each of them spans two weekends. The first is usually populated with street rods, and the second is the muscle car lover’s turn at bat. While looking at the cars is always fun and informative, experiencing them cruise up and down the main drag is what I came to see, hear, and feel. Nothing is better than the ground shaking sound of classic cars with gobs of horsepower. Unfortunately, nearly all of what I heard was the sound of hopped up diesel engines and something terrifying called “hick hop” music. It seems that jacked up diesel trucks with multi-colored lights underneath called “brodozers” have invaded the rod run, driving the street rods and muscle cars from the roads. While disconcerting, they are still enthusiasts (I think), and they should have an opportunity to join the collectible vehicle community. So, in the spirit of togetherness and peace, I offer my musically challenged brethren a different type of diesel truck to fix up and cruise up and down the strip in: a 1962 Mack B-61. Found on Craigslist in Shelbyville, Tennessee for the reasonable price of $6500 or best offer, this antique hauler would provide these young gentlemen a certain unique style and class in which to peacock around in.
Brodozer fans may see a problem with this plan, but I think this out of the box approach would pay dividends to an enterprising young diesel truck lover. First and foremost, this truck can’t haul four or five of the driver’s best friends around with them in the cab. However, in the true spirit of cruising, you are supposed to have someone with you that you might want to date. If you follow this rule, then you have exactly the number of seats you need. Second, there is no chance that anyone else driving up and down the strip will have anything else like it. In a sea of Fords, Chevys, and Dodges, this one would stand out loud and proud. Third, you would have two huge tanks of diesel to call upon for those long days and nights of crawling down the road in stop and go traffic. Forth, and most triumphantly, best: can anything “roll coal” (definition: put out tons of annoying, black diesel smoke to torment bystanders) better than a sixties Mack truck? I don’t think so. If you are going to be a bear, be a grizzly.
This particular Mack truck was putting in hard days on the road before the current crop of brodozers and brodozer pilots were ever even on the planet. B model Macks were built from 1953 through 1966, and were used as school busses, fire trucks, and, most commonly, as over the road trucks. Trailers were much smaller back then, and much of the interstate highway system wasn’t built yet. Therefore, these trucks didn’t have to haul as much tonnage at such high speeds. That’s not to say that they were weak. These trucks were outfitted with either gasoline or diesel engines matched with a transmission that best suited the service that would be demanded from them. You could accurately say that they were tailor built for their missions, clocked hundreds of thousands of miles before retirement, and nothing on Earth that burns diesel sounds as good as a B model Mack winding up between the gears. Modern diesels just can’t compare.
The seller of this particular Mack claims that it runs and drives very well, and that the drivetrain is working from stem to stern. Cosmetically, you will need to replace the top of the passenger side fender, some lights, and give the whole thing a proper repaint. It will also need to have some badging replaced, and putting a Mack Bulldog hood ornament on it would be required by law before you drove it off the lot. The cab corners and door sills, problem areas on these trucks, look to be in fair shape, and the body work looks to be a bit rusty but lacks any major dents. Of course, a trip to the tire shop should also be in the plans. Inside, a repaint, reupholstering the seat, and a new steering wheel will be in order. There appears to be some missing switches and knobs, but there is a surprisingly healthy parts and restoration network built up around these brutish beasts to help the new owner restore it to its former glory.
While it may sound like I am critical of the brodozer crowd, I am. While I’d like to say that we should welcome all members of the collector vehicle crowd into the fold, from antiques to Zambonis, I am having a hard time embracing this particular subset of enthusiasts. If we could just get them to see their way into spending all that money on restoring and renovating the big diesels that formerly thundered over the roads of America instead of squandering it on big chrome wheels and Colt Ford records, I think we could make rod runs great again.
I always liked how they had that late 50’s Bentley S1 look to them.
What happened to the author bylines?
They’re in the preview that you click to open the story.
I’d like to know what happened to the “Bulldog” hood ornament. It’s not a Mack without the bulldog.
Hey Howard, My dad was a Mack/diesel mechanic for a large road builder in the 50s and beyond. These trucks built the interstate road system, slow, goofy, or whatever, they did. My dad loved and knew these well. Kept them running summer and winter outside Chicago. I have a couple NOS hood ornaments left from his stuff. It would be my pleasure to send you one if you would be so kind as to accept it. Let me know.
Hi On an On, wow, thank you, but you keep them, as a momento from your dad. We kept the Packard Cormorant hood ornament from my grandfathers Packard. It’s on the mantel at my brother’s house.
That thing is awesome and with a custom short trailer for hauling your favorite toy to car shows you would sure stand out. My granddaughter would love it as her nickname is MACK short for Mackenzie.
I was there both weekends….love them ole B model Macks….and yes have driven them…. :-)
That is designed by transplant surgeons with a surplus of kidneys. Would have to be the roughest riding vehicle on the planet.
Nope–there’s worse-riding trucks–and they’re still trucks, not bulldozers. But yes, to look at them, one has a hard time imagining that the rear axle(‘s) spring-pack(‘s), on big rigs, do much “springing”–but they do…”enough.”
And the frame flexes some, as we see when a heavily-loaded semi starts up from a light, and the frame twists, causing the cab to pitch to one side.
But here’s some trivia: my 93 y.o., WWII veteran father, has restored many big rigs (Macks are his favorite). Anyway, some big trucks (not sure about Macks, but wouldn’t doubt it) came equipped with DOUBLE FRAMES.
I mean, literally, one C-channel frame INSIDE the other, for the extra rigidity required for “overweight” loads or “extreme duty” applications (I’m not sure what the exact terms of art were/are).
So, yeah, while I’ve never done a side-by-side comparison, I’m assuming a “double-frame job” would ride even worse.
But to your point–this single axle Mack would ride worse than a longer-framed, “twin screw” (i.e., tandem rear axle–generally, both driven axles) truck.
And the worst ride, in any semi-tractor, is “bobtailing,” i.e., driving without any trailer. And the heavier the trailer, generally, the better the ride. Not so with braking distances, of course, which are inversely-related.
My Dad is currently down to one, restored Mack–a 1950’s FJ, IIRC. He says it’s his last, but I’ve heard it before, and I hope he’s wrong. He’s still going to truck shows, and is the primary caregiver for his wife, whom he takes with him, in their motorhome.
The greatest generation indeed!
Hi Peter. Great to hear that your Dad is still an active enthusiast. It goes to show that you’re as old as you feel. There was a guy in our local club that was still actively working on his old relics in his 90s. He was growing weary of constantly winning the ‘Oldest Driver’ award at every meet he attended, but was happy when our club hosted a major event and he was able to PRESENT the award to someone else. His downfall was when his hip gave way and he could no longer push the clutch pedal. He begged the medics for a new hip but they refused, claiming that he was too old and wouldn’t survive the surgery. He finally slipped away, a month shy of 99. I always felt that he would’ve made it past that century mark if he could’ve gotten a new hip.
I’m glad to see that the interest in old trucks has picked up. I’m starting to see more engine and power train components come through the shop. I recently overhauled the fuel system for a ’56 B-61. There was nothing questioned; the customer wanted it exact, right down to the clamps on the injection lines. I might add that the truck was the very truck that was assigned to his dad when it was new.
Those old Macks were rough, but then, ALL trucks were rough; they were designed to haul loads. And they were up to the task.
Hi geomechs, has interest picked up, or older owners dying off? I see this stuff coming up, because nobody knows what to do with dad’s old truck. It’s too out of date to be used as a road tractor today ( although, could be done at great expense) and who is going to drive this thing? Ok, I’m pushing the button a bit, there’s still lot’s of us old farts around that will snap this up, but this isn’t the kind of vehicle just anyone can drive. It really is a tank, and behaves like one, “armstrong steering” and not one, but TWO unsynchronized boxes,,,good grief,,,
Hi Howard. Maybe it’s the region but I’m seeing guys (and girls) a lot younger than we are taking an interest in these old relics. I regularly attend a show (second weekend in August) that is comprised of trucks and tractors, and there are a lot of teenagers learning to drive those old compound crashboxes, some a lot older than this Mack. There were a couple of girls (one who couldn’t have been more than 16) who were doing a good job of piloting old steam tractors in the pulling competitions. I think I was born with an interest in old relics but very few in my generation shared that interest. I don’t think it’s changed all that much. Just my observation….
Hi geomechs, definitely the region. With fewer and fewer farms in my area( everything is going to these mega automated farms now, can’t find workers) less and less young people have anything to do with any of this stuff. Heck, I’d have to go into the next state to see any kind of tractor or truck show ( except for an auction) and that’s so unsettling, Wisconsin, used to be the farm king. Our parades, which used to have a smattering of old tractors and cars, is now the high school band and all fire engines.
Every year in August there’s a convention fo the “Coal Rollers” at the county fairgrounds in Terre Haute, Indiana. For miles you can see this black mass of diesel exhaust hanging over the event like a black cloud.
Yeah..im going to tell you why guys dont go dor these.
1. Cost to buy. Its NOT gold. Stop askking tnose prices.
2. Where the hell can i get a ( fill in the blank) for a mack like this.
3. Not a ton of POWER.
4. $$$$$$$$ cant finance that.
5. Does it do 80?
6. Thats so e of the reasons why youger guys dont get into this.
7. Lots of youger guys have no clue how to rebuild this.
8. The snark comments anout colt ford and anti bro dozer. We hate that stuff. We dont rag on you guys choice of rigs but all of you gave us crap FOR having a slammed honda. Or what not.
9. Girls do t care for old school. They like lifted crew cabs tnat are comfortable
10. Hell yeah its cool id rock it with a flat bed and super singles. But that a lot of cash needed up FRONT
All great points, Frank.
Now hold on a second here,,( needle screeching across record) Dave is correct, has anyone here actually driven these things for any length of time?,,,uh-huh, miserable vehicles, you know how that steering wheel got all cracked? Manual steering, baby, and try stopping it with those old wedge style brakes. Trucks got safer for a reason. As weight increased, these became ridiculously out of date. They are hot/cold, shake you to pieces, hit your head on the roof, noisy, cramped, and I haven’t got to the steering part.
Now, styling, the “Beeper” was one of my favorites, especially with a chrome grill. The “up pipe” clearly indicates diesel, probably the 673, 250hp, and most likely, being a single axle, a duplex or triplex( 2 or 3 aux.) Quadruplex( 4 speed aux) was usually for extreme applications. Cool truck, could keep everything as is, I’m sure there’s parts around, just be ready for the white knuckle ride of a lifetime,, I’ve been there.
Yup, there’s a romantic spin to these best done by someone that’s never sat in or driven one. They are cramped, noisy, hot, rough riding, and a bear to drive. Even with a modern drivetrain and/or chassis transplant the cab would not be a comfortable place to be in for any length of time.
The END 673 was 170 hp, naturally aspirated and 205 hp turbo charged.
Thanks, Lee. 250hp, I read, sounded a bit optimistic in 1962.
I think the “brodozer” driver would be confused by the third pedal and the gear shifter with just numbers and an H-pattern. I also imagine the lack of air conditioning would ruin their Ed Hardy shirts. And how would they roll down the windows or move the seats without electric motors and buttons?
It would make a great looking pickup.
Like a vintage International MXT.
Hi Jay, there you go. Seems like a pretty popular swap. This one appears to be on a HD Chevy chassis. https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QPN0ohaZC2I/maxresdefault.jpg
That is really cool, thanks Howard.
Lift the cab off that frame and keep the exterior original, drop it on a 3/4 ton chassis gas or diesel whatever floats your boat. Add modern steering, modernize the interior just enough to make it comfortable crank up the Colt Ford and Sarah Ross and jam on….
I live in Sevierville T.N. and use to go to all the rod runs with my old cars. Now there are so many new cars &trucks there you cant move and the side walks are covered with people on scoters and such you cant walk with out being hit by one. I go to the Knoxville shows , Newport and Greensvilles shows in stead. You can keep the crowds. Bruce.
Om goodness, I drove one exactly like this one in the 70’s! Except it had a crawl through sleeper on it! I am old now, but I remember the Brownie transmission very well! LOL, I drove it for Alabama, to LA !Back then I 70 was not fully complete! I had to run through Colorado Springs, and I had to go over Wolf Creek Pass, I was full of testosterone,had no fear, fresh from Vietnam and crazy as hell! I would cross the pass snow or shine just to make the Almighty Dollar! Thanks for the memories with the ad. I know that I talk to much and text to much, but I am a ol’man now and alone! Thanks Guys!
Great story and thank you for your s
ervice in Vietnam.
Great story and thank you for your service in Vietnam.
Hi Wrong Way. Those old Macks (and others) weren’t for the weak of heart but they served a purpose. I’ve met a lot of guys, like you, who drove them millions of miles. A lot of them now wear back braces and kidney belts but I haven’t met very many who regretted their decision to drive a truck. I enjoyed your story, and I thank you for your service….
Hi WW, these were just before my time, but I spent many an hour looking through an R model windshield, but my 1st truck I drove was a 1963 IH R-190 tandem gas job dump truck, 5×3, Hendrickson rubber pad suspension. Pretty much the same vintage as this. These were still running around in the mid-70’s, smokin’ like a train. And btw, I’m old too, but you’re not alone here. And we will never forget your service.
For me, the old Army “deuce-and-a-half” was enough (M35A2 for the nomenclature hounds). As you say, Howard, Armstrong power steering, ginchy brakes (air brakes at least, though) and grinding gears every time you rushed the process. Let’s don’t even talk about the handling and suspension!
However, there was something viscerally satisfying about roaring along the highway (at max speed 50) or bumping through the woods in a loaded deuce. I will remember those days as long as I can hear an old White 6-cyl Diesel.
Hi MSG Bob, tell me about it. I did it for over 35 years!
Drove a gas 61 fire truck. Double clutch. Grind a pound for me a common refrain.
Looking for a truck for a “Duell” remake.
Look out Dennis Weaver.
Cool old truck. Old Macks are beasts, and just keep running! A friend bought one almost identical to this cheap, and parks in front of his BBQ joint, Smokin’ D’s BBQ in north Florida. It runs good, he put a short flatbed on it. By the way, the Bulldog hood ornaments are readily available on Ebay.
Here is the Smokin’ D’s BBQ Mack, near St. Augustine, Florida……
Got picked up hitch-hickin by 1 (a dump) in late 60s. Not easy to drive.
Not easy to make inta a p/u but luv da single screw model!
Change out the split rims 1st, springs nxt, etc, etc.
Each spring there’s a great truck (antique rd tractors) show here (Deerfield, MA).