bulldogboy

C'mon, look at the bright side: you'll be the sharpest looking pickup at the dump/transfer station on Saturday morning. Make all those BMW, MB owners jealous. bulldogboy

I never thought about an aerial ladder; most of the "B" model straight ladders that I have seen had semi or open cabs. I should have thought about the ladder as I once operated a "C" model straight ladder. bulldogboy

"B-85", compartment under driver's door, chrome radiator shell, starter button, switches for emergency lights, and red interior, leads me to believe that this was once a fire truck. However, it has a long wheelbase and I have never seen a Mack fire truck with two sticks. Am I close? bulldogboy

A couple of red Ford pickups on the car show circuit. A 1934 and a 1950 "F-1". bulldogboy

I've got a Ranger, too. Seeing as I won't be able to get a new Ranger here, I guess I'll settle for a Ford bicycle to replace my 40 year old Schwinn. Won't be able to carry as many groceries though. bulldogboy

If the "Dukes of Hazzard" gets remade do we get residuals for our starring roles? That would look good on my resume, retired firefighter becomes international movie star. Hey, it worked for Steve Busemi, former FDNY, Engine 55. bulldogboy

Most, if not all, "R", "MB", and "MC" fire trucks had bodies built by Grumman (Howe), Hamerly, or others. Most fire apparatus built in the '70s had bodies that rusted away in no time. There probably aren't many existing "R", "MB", "MC", or "CF" models with the original body still on them (not one that saw any fire activity, anyway). Same goes for Ward LaFrance, ALF, Seagrave, etc. bulldogboy

Joe, you bought another "CF"? Do you have three "CF"s now? Pictures of them all would be great. bulldogboy

Maybe Ford will bring back the "Cargo" to the U.S; these don't look like competition for IHC, FL M2, or the Ford F-650/750. While they're at it, bring the Ranger back also. bulldogboy

The "Type 45" is a 1948, 500/250, former Rockport, MA Fire Department. Back in '60 and '61 I spent two summers in Rockport, I remember this engine in Central Station. Glad to see that it is still around and looks in great shape. The white/red "L" model stopped by our station a few years ago when it was in town, it also looks great. bulldogboy

Driving an 18 wheeler (or more) in downtown Boston has to be the biggest challenge for a TT driver. Years ago, I saw electrical conduit delivered by a flatbed to our store on a street (cowpath) opposite what is now TD Garden. Great driving job but I'm sure that the driver, from the mid-west somewhere, was glad to get out of Boston and back on the open road. As someone who only drove 5 speed "L", "B", and "C" model fire trucks, I have to admire you guys who can operate the big rigs. bulldogboy P.S. My mistake; the "L" models were 4 speed.

41chevy: Thanks for the interesting information. It sure looked like a 1950s model Volvo. It don't remember the Volvo model number but it did resemble a 1940s Ford. bulldogboy

Ironic that in the first Hemmings photo a Volvo is parked next to the Mack "E" tractor. Somebody must have had a premonition. bulldogboy

The Dodge wagon is a 1961. When I was a kid my uncle had a 1951 Dodge sedan. In 1961 he bought a new Dodge sedan that same beige color. bulldogboy

In 2011, the Plymouth, MA Fire Department put a tanker into service with this same Ford "F" chassis and a Bulldog Fire Apparatus body. It's a 1988, 500/2100, red cab with a black body. I didn't know that it is a former Army vehicle. I don't have a picture of it but there is one on the Plymouth, MA apparatus page on "firenews.org". bulldogboy

Stow, MA Fire Department used to run this 1956 Ford "C"/Farrar, 500/500, as Engine 3. bulldogboy

A big, blue Mack "RD" tanker for sale in Londonderry, NH. bulldogboy

If that yard is on Route 2 in Gill, MA, there are a lot of old Mack trucks there. There are several fire trucks, I've seen a "Type 45" and an "R" model, former St Louis engine, there. The "R" model was lettered for Indian Ford, AL Fire Department; it was originally StLFD. Been a couple of years since I was by there. bulldogboy

I'm thinking that it might be what Mack called a "Deluxe Cab". A sedan cab would have a rear seat accessed by two rear doors, one rear door on the right side, or a catwalk through the hose bed. That "E" model doesn't have four doors or the catwalk; I can't tell if there is a rear door on the right side. In any event, it looks like a solid truck well worth owning. I agree with General Ike; I started my career with semi-cab "L" models, rode the rear step on "B" models, wore rubber coats and orange, plastic gloves. Today's firefighters are well trained and respond to all kinds of calls that we never even thought of but I would not trade my career for anything. Those memories, to me, are priceless. bulldogboy

This former New York City Department of Sanitation Mack "LE" is semi-retired and working in Dunstable, MA. It is privately owned. I've seen former FDNY apparatus having second careers with other fire departments but this is the first sanitation truck that I have seen. bulldogboy

Tim: Be careful in the ocean down there; I just saw a news story about a giant squid that recently washed up on a beach in New Zealand. Reported that the tentacles were over 17 feet long. This probably wouldn't happen in Lake Champlain, but with "Champ" lurking about you never know. bulldogboy

While this Mack is from Pennsylvania it was making a delivery in New Hampshire, thus, a "New Hampshire Mack" for today. bulldogboy

bruceb: That outcome is certainly a shame; it's a beautiful truck but you have to do what you have to do. I operated a 1959 Mack "C" model ladder truck back in the day so I have an affinity for all "C" models. Our ladder truck also ended up in the big Mack graveyard years ago. You gave it a shot, plus all the money and aggravation, so good luck with parting it out. bulldogboy

Greenville, NH Fire Department used to operate this Mack "CF" as Engine 1. It is a former FDNY pumper rehabbed by Northern Fire Equipment. bulldogboy

This probably reinforces the feeling among many here that if a Mack/Scania partnership had occurred years ago, a powerhouse company would have dominated the heavy truck business. I have no knowledge of the truck industry but it seems to me that there is fierce competition in Europe, Asia, and South America among many heavy truck manufacturers, more so that in North America. While we have Volvo, DTNA, Paccar,and IHC, the rest of the world has these plus VW, MAN, Scania, Ford, and other Asian manufacturers. Must be a tough business with so many players. bulldogboy