A couple of Macks can now be removed from Matt’s test drive bucket list, leading to pangs of guilt about his job…
Sometimes I feel a little guilty about my job. The boss hasn’t clued on to the fact that I’m really using work as an excuse to track down some classic heavy metal to tick off the test drive bucket list.
I’ve climbed behind the wheel of some legendary trucks; W900 Kenworths, GM-powered Whites, B-model Macks, Peterbilts and even a GM-equipped KM Bedford. But there was one truck that I’d been busting to drive for a long time – a Series 1 Mack Superliner.
A mad-house at night
Back in the halcyon days of Aussie road transport in the 1980s, these things were legendary. Speed limiting for trucks didn’t come into force here until the early 1990s, after a couple of horrific crashes between coaches and trucks. Even then the 100km/h speed limit was only loosely enforced. Australia’s main freight routes were a mad-house after dark.
There were a couple of legendary trucks from this period. The W900 Kenworth would be one, along with the aerosleek Kenworth T600 that arrived in the latter half of the decade. But the Mack Superliner was also up there; a big, lazy, low-revving V8 that sounded fantastic in full flight.
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Esta historia es de la edición February 2018 de Truck & Driver.
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Well forked Daf
Remember, we like to cover all sorts of different trucks here at T&D – like this impressive new CF rigid complete with Moffett Mounty forklift
King of the hill
Moving heavy equipment off road calls for a truck with plenty of power and traction, which is why M&J Plant chose a mighty 6x4 FH16 750
Time Machine 2015-2019
It’s the final part of our series on the history of UK haulage. Let’s look back at those innocent times before that pesky virus turned up
Original and best
There are few trucks which have been customised to the level of the Scania 143, but let’s not forget that the standard product was pretty awesome just as it left the factory, like this rare 420
GOING ALL THE WAY
Simon Rogers got behind the wheel as soon as he was able to, and nearly 30 years later, his company is going from strength to strength, with a striking all-black, top-spec Iveco S-Way 570 the latest addition to the fleet
Abnormal loads
In the distant past, when dinosaurs roamed the planet, truck drivers were a very different breed, made from sterner stuff than us mere mortals
Range change
After a gap of 13 years, Renault trucks have reappeared in the unique colours of MacRitchie Highland Distribution. T&D takes the high road to Inverness to meet owners, Donald and Catriona MacRitchie
Cutting a dash
Freshly showered and munching a healthy egg and cress sarnie in Gloucester North services, Chris has a Foden update
Air we go!
On Saturday 29 May at 6pm, 240 drivers gathered with their trucks at South Mimms Services for a parade to raise vital money for Essex & Hertfordshire Air Ambulance
A Cutt Above
From coal to turf to fencing and loads more, there’s not much the Calcutt fleet hasn’t transported over the years
