TeamsterGrrrl

Actually there's nothing wrong with a '79 RD685S, it was the best truck of it's time. A 237 Maxidyne and a 5+low hole transmission works great at straight truck weights, but 1979 was the era of the 55 MPH speed limit, so at best it has maybe 3.90 gears and a top end of 63 MPH at a screaming 2100 RPMs. It's unlikely to have even basic safety equipment like ABS brakes, never mind a cab that meets ECE rollover standards and traction control. But if that '79 fits your needs, great! But if you need a truck that will cruise at 65 or safely bobtail on ice and snow, better to start with one specced for that rather than try to extensively modify an older one.

By the time you've put a later 350+ HP engine, aftercooler, appropriate transmission, etc. into your '79 you may as well just buy the whole donor truck.

GM just sold off their future... If gas prices go up, they'll be stuck selling asian small cars made by someone else.

I continue to be amazed that the slow selling Flex is still around... Maybe it has friends in the executive suites?

OK, when can I go to my friendly local International dealer and buy a Transporter TDI van?

Another sloppy attempt at character assassination... Sorry, but I'm an old retired lady with no criminal record.

The 2003 has given no problems, and the electronics were helpful in diagnosing mechanical problems like a stuck actuator, vacuum lines, etc.. On the 2013 I was able to diagnose a malfunctioning flapper valve in the exhaust, after a few short full throttle runs the problem fixed itself.

Rowdy, as the owner and operator of a rather largish carbon footprint, might not your opinion be a bit biased on the subject of carbon levels and global warming?

Y'll clearly shopping for fake "facts" to support your bigotry... The consensus of the world's academics in the relevant fields is that the Civil War was over slavery and the confederacy started it, and climate change is real and we humans caused it.

As for the electronics, I've been running electronic controlled diesels (3) and motorcycles (3) since 2003. Only problem has been a 2000 model Moto Guzzi fouling plugs, and I'm beginning to suspect a failing old skool coil for that. Otherwise, the electronic controls have been an advantage with better cold starting, MPG, and easier diagnostics.

Good on the MPG, but I know all about rust induced metal fatigue and don't trust anything over 10 years old that's lived in the rust belt.

Old trucks are great to collect, show, and run in a relaxed manner. But work them? I remember the disaster that Hostess transportation became when they didn't get any new trucks for 8 years and finally shut down and liquidated. By then the average fleet age was 18 years, and the bankruptcy creditor's list included most every truck rental company!

Actually, I'm in a similar position, but never had a problem with UPS's acronyms, uniforms, etc.. I first worked for UPS in the early 90s when I was literally chased out of Hostess and would have gladly stayed on, but the Postal Service gave me more work as a part timer and ultimately that lead to a full time job. After retiring from the Postal Service I temped at UPS again during the peak seasons a decade ago, they wanted me to work summer too but I liked to ride motorcycle then. During 2007 peak season UPS told us temps to be ready to go full time, as they expected a wave of retirements in 2008. But the recession killed that plan, I moved to a place 70 miles from the nearest UPS Center, and a couple months of peak season overtime pay would just push me into a higher tax bracket anyway.

But if I needed the money, I'd be back to UPS tomorrow!

Sounds like more poor O.O.'s BS explanation for their poor situation. Some of you just plain can't meet the better paying employers standards, so you buy an old truck and work for peanuts.

I suspect most of you guys couldn't meet UPS feeder driver standards.

UPS tried keeping tractors 20 years, found out the repair costs were too high. They then planned on replacement after 9 years, but in practice that got extended out a bit. Right now UPS has been buying new tractors like crazy, and I don't see UPS CHs very often... UPS switched from the CH to the CX around 2003.

And if old trucks are so great, how come UPS isn't still running MHs and Astros?

So much revisionist history, where does one even start? There were some side issues, but every reputable academic agrees slavery was the reason for the war. As far as tariffs go, the North didn't set tariffs on exports. States can not leave the union any time they feel like it- The Declaration of Independence and Constitution are contracts, and you can't weasel out of contracts without the other parties permission. As for non slave holders fighting for the confederacy, most of them were drafted or were just plain dumb. And the leaders of the confederacy were traitors, and we ought not be honoring them with public monuments.

BRK bought BNSF long before the shale oil boom.

A 2000 model isn't quite an "old truck" yet. Macks and any well built machine with proper maintenance have a reliable service life of at least 20 years... Please give is an update after 2025.

BRK is no bargain shopper, they'll pay premium for profitable companies with healthy market share and top notch products. Thus they bought BNSF and made HOG(NYSE) a loan, but passed on buying Harley. Mack minus Volvo is a factory or two, three and four decade old cabs, and some legacy power transmission and rear suspension bits.

Great pictures and story, thanks Vlad! Looking at the distinctive headlights on both MHs, they must have been built for export when new. The MH could have really opened up international markets for Mack, given the chance.

This has all the marks of an EPA sponsored witch hunt- Generally matters such as this are settled in civil court. Or does some bigger federal agency have a score to settle with the Germans?

Perhaps the admins don't want the confederate apologists here pushing this website onto the Southern Poverty Law Centers list of hate groups...

Nice try at minimizing and denying slavery, but it won't fly.