Jeff M

On 5/25/2025 at 3:53 PM, 1961H67 said:

I remember the 1160 was a “ Eye-burner “ The company I worked for in the early 80s had 4 in C cab Fords, I would raise the shop door in the winter and get enough speed to cut them off and coast in the shop or they would smoke the place up and burn your eyes, I would jump out and close the door to keep you heat in . 

We had Brigadiers with 3208's and you're right--they were "eye-burners."  Start 'em up in the shop and you'd better be ready to drive 'em out in five minutes if you didn't want to be crying like a baby.  

 A post just came across my Facebook page that shows a 79 R Model with a 3208 Cat.  The poster says it was his dad's truck and that it also had a 13 speed, which I imagine was that 10 speed version with 3 speed deep reduction.  I never knew that Mack ever offered that engine in any of their models, but then again there's a lot I don't know.  Perhaps it was offered as a bargain-basement option for the most frugal customers.  Or perhaps this was an online spoof.   Attached is a pic of the truck.  What say you folks?

I've never seen one of those, or even knew they existed.   It looks great.

The offset cabs were not built to improve visibility.  They were like that because the nose was shorter which pushed the engine (and its doghouse) farther back into the cab, robbing footroom from the driver.  Therefore, offsetting the cab meant that the driver gained back the lost footroom.  However, passenger's footroom in an offset was poor.  I drove many offsets (all DM's) over the years.  

Can't say as I've ever seen a tachograph that only registered to 35 mph.  🙂  

On 3/11/2024 at 10:56 AM, RRJordan said:

Distant memory suggests some old buses in NYC that were GM powered had two speeds, possibly a low range torque converter and a high range lock-up.

I drove GM buses in the 70's and that's exactly how they worked.  

On 12/31/2023 at 2:08 PM, mowerman said:

Not sure if I read it right he was looking for more room but already has the +3

I was thinking the same thing.  

Look at that vintage dash--the truck sports the signal switch to the left of the steering wheel which was a very clever idea that Mack came up with--and only Mack had it for many years.

Jojo,  Maietta doesn't run any more DM's that I'm aware of--jumped ship to PACCAR.   Blue Rock in Westbrook ran a bunch of DM's through the years, but they've downsized to a granite countertop business.  Their big quarry on Main St on the Portland Westbrook line is now a shopping complex, believe it or not.   The aqua-colored trucks belonged to Les Wilson and Sons of Westbrook who are still in business and they still paint everything they have that distinctive color (it must cost them a fortune over the years).  Shaw Brothers has very few Macks, perhaps a few Granites now...they're now running KW's, and they have a LOT of them.  They're one of the biggest contractors in the state.  PACCAR has made HUGE inroads into the vocational truck market in these parts.  In the 70's I first drove for Portland Sand and Gravel who had their trucks serviced at Maine Mack, which is now O'Connor Motors.  I later drove for Shaw's Supermarkets who bought and occasionally had their Volvos serviced out of O'Connor's on Warren Ave.  

That DMM in the field also has the reverse scoop--can't say as I've ever seen one on a steel nose.  What a find!!  Also, good research on your part, Vlad.  

I believe it's owned by a towing company in Newland, North Carolina.  

Beautiful model, very well done.  I've done a couple over the past few years but none as nice as that one, particularly with the mods you've made to it.  Nice job!!

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/5134237239964311/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3Acf1b4e5b-1f35-4322-ba4b-4fc8c51c035f

You guys need to ease up about that seat.  It is/was a Bostrom Westcoaster, not the lowly Viking T-bar.  Good seat.....in its day....  🙂  

R model with factory 413.  I've never seen one "in the flesh." 

 https://nh.craigslist.org/hvo/d/weare-1969-mack-tow-truck/7378257522.html

It looks.....super!!!!  🙂

OK.  The DM and R model Macks I drove in the early to mid 70's were 237 Maxidynes and all had gold bulldogs on the hood and doors.  A 285 I drove also had the gold bulldogs.  The company also had an older R with a Thermodyne which had chrome dogs.  That's my clear recollection from that time, but apparently Mack changed how they did the bulldogs later on.  

I believe it was felt that the steel hood was more suitable in vocational usage where things might get dropped on the hood or fenders, resulting in a dent rather than cracked fiberglass.  

The RD gavelled at $69,000.  I sure hope we can find out where it ended up.  

11 hours ago, 1965 said:

Did you notice what wt. rating the rear suspension was? I know it’s an RD but I know Mack back then would build a truck anyway you wanted. 

No, I'm afraid I didn't.  

Well well well, I found my lost pics.  Let's see if this works...     https://postimg.cc/gallery/Y0p89Nj

50 minutes ago, Hayseed said:

I'd be curious to know How many Hours the Engine's Done..??

Looks like 1258 on the tach