The Mahan Collection

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Eric

This past weekend I tagged along with the Hudson Mohawk chapter of the ATHS as they visited the Mahan Collection in Basking Ridge, NJ. Without a doubt this is one of the premiere collection of antiques trucks, heavy equipment, and memorabilia on the east coast if not the country. Before Saturday I had seen a handful of the collection at various truck shows and even caught a glimpse of the grounds through various posts on Facebook. I thought I had a good idea of what to expect during the visit. Turns out, as usual, I was completely unprepared for what I would find.

Mahan Collection

Building after building on a gorgeous piece of suburban property, complete with pond and stream, were jammed full of antique trucks, signs, gas pumps, toys, and parts. Every time you turned around you saw something new. Some trucks were in museum restored shape while others existed as they did the day they were dragged form the field.

Mahan Collection

Have you ever seen so many AC (AK’s too) models in your life? The truck wearing the A.T. Otto and Sons banner is the 21st AC ever built and quite possibly the oldest unrestored version in existence.

The entire collection was simply overwhelming. One my favorite buildings contained the all original trucks. Along with this H Model this building contained more than a few gems like a Bridge and Tunnel wrecker from NYC, a tough looking Kenworth W-900A and a Brockway 527 single axle cabover with sleeper. Yes, you did read that right.

H-Model Mack

There was just too much to see! It was a great problem to have. The collection continues outside of the buildings as well but we’ll see more of those tomorrow. In the mean time, a video walk through of the buildings. No narration was necessary.

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Autocar Mondays – Tales from the Boneyard

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Eric

There is a little slice of truck and heavy equipment paradise in Lititz, PA by the name of Gerhart Machinery Company. The grounds are home to all make of cranes, dozers, loaders and trucks. The heavier the better. It therefore should come as no surprise than that Autocars make up a large portion of the boneyard fleet.

In the early spring the doors to this collection of old iron is open for browsing during the “Diggin Day” when old machines roar to life and put on a show. Dave was able to stop by during this event to grab some great shots the Autocars on hand.

Autocar Truck

I’ve seen photos and videos come out of this show for years. I’ve always told myself I should attend at least once if just for the chance to wander through the relics. I’m not sure what more it will take to convince me! My next chance, and yours too, comes Sept 30 through Oct 1, 2016 when Gerharts plays host to the “All Mack” truck show. Visit their website for more information. Great shots Dave, thanks for the share!

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Classic Truck Overload

Posted on May 22, 2016 by Eric

In the coming days, (Tuesday) prepare to have your classic truck circuits overloaded, possibly beyond repair. My visit to the Mahan Collection was as memorable as I had hoped it would be, I think it will be for you too. In the mean time, a brief photo that captures the essence of what is to come.

Mack Truck Collection

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Trucknet

Posted on May 21, 2016 by Eric

Far in the distant future ( but closer than you might think) the roads of America and the likely the world will be covered in autonomous vehicles of all sizes. Google is already hard at work with self driving passenger cars and now multitude of companies are developing the future of freight hauling with driver-less semi trucks.

Enter Otto, a company founded by former Technical Lead of Google’s autonomous car division Anthony Levandowski and former Product Lead of Google Maps Lior Ron. Otto has alreayd equiped three Volvo VNL trucks with radar, lidar, and cameras for use on the highways of Nevada. Between the Otto trucks and the self piloting Freightliner Inspiration Nevada has become ground zero for what surely will be the uprising of the machines. It only figures that destruction of mankind would come at the hands of a Volvo.

Below, a video that doesn’t tell you very much but gives you a glimpse of the technology involved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK76W1kH4jA

The team behind this digital spearhead foresees an immediate future in which Otto equipped trucks exclusively traverse the Interstate Highway System due to the limited access traffic entry points, lack of pedestrians and somewhat predictable traffic flow. Someday we might see trucks equipped from the factory with similar autonomous systems but in the mean time retrofit systems will be the first option for fleets looking to augment their driver ranks. For more details check out this Popular Mechanics article.

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Eye of the Beholder

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Eric

Well, it’s been nearly a week since the Palmyra Municipal auction and I’m just now getting around to the plow photos. Wow. I’m losing it. This year there was a nice mix of like new and late model trucks. As usual there were a few older gems mixed in with the high money trucks. The one thing I learned from this auction is the more you think you know the more you realize you don’t know much at all. For example, the two Macks below. On the left, a 1991 Mack RD690P from the Village of Clifton Springs with Mack 300 and Fuller 13 speed. To the right,  a Mack RM688AX with 4×4, locking diffs, Mack 300, Fuller 15 speed, AirFlo Sander, front plow and wing, Town of Newfield. Lot’s of iron. Final selling price? $5,000 for the RD and $1,000 for the RM. WOW! To be honest, the RM needed a lot of work but a grand? Scrap prices are creeping back…just saying.

Mack Snow Plows

Way over on the other side of the scale we have this 2008 WorkStar from the Town of Geneva. This truck appeared to be brand new with no visible rust or wear present on truck, blades or bed. Tenco equipment all around with a Maxxforce NT (insert joke here) and Allison setting the mechanical stage. Final price, $63,000.

International WorkStar

When I saw this truck I thougt I had fallen through a wormhole and traveled back to 2014. The Town of Pompey, NY was again selling another double winger Autocar. While not spec’d as heavy as the previously released A-Car this truck was in fantastic shape with a Cat 3406 and a Fuller 8LL transmission and locking rears. Final price, $20,000. Now the real question, what truck replaced this unit? I guess I have fallen behind on my Tracey Road Equipment creeping.

Autocar Snow Plow

So many trucks. So little time. Even less money. If you would like to check the prices, stats or history on any of the truck see below click here to visit the RTI website. Scroll down for the proper listing.

For those craving moving pictures I made a walk through video of the auction lineup. Check back soon for coverage of the heavy equipment. There were more than a few cool lots like Cat dozers with pony motors and Austin Western graders.

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Fabco Trucks

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Eric

Green in the field doesn’t translate to green in the wallet unless you can get those crops to the consumers that want them. In this case were talking lettuce and lots of it. Ryan was passing through Salinas, California last weekend when he was greeted by the sight of a strange looking truck approaching him from the opposite direction. With an offset cab that sat far over the front axle this truck was a strange one indeed.

Fabco Truck

Most would simply scratch their heads for a moment or two and then move on with life but most people are not Ryan. Having passed through the valley hundreds of time he wondered how he could have missed so a unique truck. Unsure of the exact model Ryan turned to collective brain power that is Facebook. You may laugh at that statement but an answer was provided within moments of posting. The truck was a Fabco.

Fabco Trucks

Like ants, when you see one Fabco there is probably more nearby. After questioning local family members and a little recon work through Google Earth Ryan had a location in which to focus his search, Massolo Brothers Trucking. Arriving at the yard he was greeted by a friendly dispatcher who happily opened the doors to the entire operation.

Sitting on 6×6 chassis the FABCO WT is specially designed for row crop harvesting with a 81 inch wide wheel base. Engine options include gas powered Fords and Detroit Diesels. Gearing choices are nearly endless with 5 speed Clark main and a Spicer 3 auxillary. Cominded with a Fabco 2 speed transfer case drivers have 30 gears from which to choose. Speeds can be as low as one mile per hour.

Fabco Trucks

Massolo Brothers used to run around 150 of these trucks and are the last company in the valley to still run a fleet of this size. Each winter the Fabcos are trucked to Yuma, Arizona to continue with crop harvests. What a life.

While these trucks might seem antiquated or just plain bizarre they play an important role in the production of food for the United State and beyond. From less than one percent of total land the farmers of the Central Valley produce nearly eight percent of crops grown nationwide.

Thanks again to Ryan for another interesting and unique find!

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Still Working – Mack ValueLiner

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Eric

I came across this Mack ValueLiner of the Fisher Companies the other day. I had seen it weeks before at a job site and made a mental note to check it out later. I really didn’t expect it to still be around when I returned but there it was in all its glory. While resembling a R-Model the ValueLiner was much a different animal by design. The frame was composed of 1/2 inch aluminum rails and cross members. Lightweight steering, suspension and wheel components were standard. The goal was to build a light but strong truck which by extension would have increased payload capacity. The spiritual successor the “western” models of the Hayward Plant the ValueLiner went head to head with the golden children of the west; Peterbilt, Kenworth and Freightliner.

Mack Valueliner

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Autocar Mondays – The Last One Out

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Eric

After 36 years this Autocar Construcktor has been cut loose from the heard but that doesn’t mean it’s useful life is over.

During a lunch break last week I was browsing through the catalog for the Palmyra Municipal Auction when I came by lot 725. Once my brain processed the signals from my dumbstruck eyes my mouth let loose with an audible “nooooooooo” that rivaled this one. I’m sure people looked. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the Town of Clay saw fit to part ways with their 36 year old Autocar Construcktor in this modern age of ours but I was. The last time I saw the truck it seemed to be in pristine shape and not ready for disposal. After climbing all over this truck the other day I can confirm that someone got a hell of deal with this rig.

Autocar Construcktor

Both inside and out this truck was solid in each and every way. No rust. Let me repeat, not rust. Not in the cab corners, the rockers or above the windshield. The double frame had zero scale on it. The dump bead appeared nearly brand new, free of dents and gouges. Inside, the near mint condition continued with a dash free of major cuts and vintage steering wheeling free of cracks and still sporting the original Autocar logo.

Autocar Construcktor Cab

At some point this truck ran a Frink blade up front and on the passenger side. Under the hood a Cummins NTC-290 still roared to life with the push a few buttons and the turn of a key. Combined with a RoadRanger 8LL transmission with locking differential and deep reduction gearing made this truck more than capable.

Autocar Construcktor

Again, I can not stress to you how clean and well maintained this truck was. Truly turn key. My hunch was that this truck would sell between eight and ten thousand dollars and that’s excatly what took place. Someone made of with this truck for a cool 8,000. Deal of the week right there.

Within the past year in the half I’ve been able to witness two Construcktors from the Town of Clay cross the auction block. Remember the VAC Truck? If I had bought both I could have started by own fleet by now. Below, a video to confirm all that has been said above.

Have you spotted an Autocar? Let the world see! Email eric@dailydieseldose.com today!

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Walter Truck – Made in New York

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Eric

Mike tipped me off to this neat video the other detailing the production of the Walter E5 crash truck for the Albany Airport. Not only do you get to see the truck take form as a bare frame and move to completion the film does a great job of detailing the long and complex history of the Walter Truck Company. The video appears to be part of series highlighting manufacturers native to New York State. As we know Walter Truck is no longer with us and I’m willing to bet, even though I haven’t see any other editions of the Made In NY series, the other stars have met the same fate. Call me jaded but I’m from Upstate. It’s a natural state of existence. Annnywaayy, enjoy the show!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G3Ljlks1Xs&feature=youtu.be

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The MBT-40 for Western Star Trucks

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Eric

There was plenty of head scratching around this site back in late January when the Western Star 6900HD seen below rolled onto the Tracey Road Equipment lot.

Western Star 6900XD

It wasn’t so much the truck that caused confusion but the interesting Palfinger body seen outback. It looked like a rollback but had elements of hook lift. To muddy the waters even more it had a fifth wheel. There was plenty of speculation on the YouTube video of this Star about possible destinations and how the setup worked. Most were in the neighborhood of correct. Turns out this truck was ahead of the curve with Daimler Trucks North America just releasing a video of the MBT-40 cargo system employed by the 6900 making this truck a jack of all trades. My personal favorite is the side dump trailer. What about you?

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