Here’s a truck I’ve never seen before, in life or in pictures. It’s a W71 from the 1950s, built specifically for West Coast operators, starting in 1953. Only 215 were ever built, making it rarer than the famous Dodge Big Horn.
Here’s another:
More on West Coast Macks:
Vintage Trucks: Mack LT – Mack’s Big And Burly West Coast Truck
I did not know Mack Trucks built trucks on the west coast in the 1950s. I thought the Mack Trucks West Coast Plant in Hayward CA stared around the mid 1960s. Per the Mack History site the truck above looks like a 1953 model H series COE or 1959 model G series COE.
I was wrong about it being built in the West Coast; it was specifically built for West Coast operators. But this is a W71, and if you look closely, it’s significantly different from an H series or G series COE. It has a wider cab than the H series, and the G series is more modern, boxy and does not have a snub nose. (picture of G series below:)
And here’s a picture of the Model H; it’s narrower.
I knew they were rare but had no idea the numbers were that small. Perhaps I was under that impression as I have seen a few restored examples over the years. As you stated, the W71 was Mack’s lightwieght ‘Western’ cabover, designed to compete with trucks like the Kenworh ‘Bullnose’, Freightliner, and International DCO Emeryville. The W71 was replaced by the tilt-cab G series in 1959. The G series only lasted 4 years with sligthly over 2000 examples built. Lots of rumors about why the G series had such a short run, Mack responded to the speculation a couple of years ago:
https://www.macktrucks.com/-/media/files/museum/g-model-faq.pdf
I always wondered why the G was so short-lived. It was a very advanced looking cab at the time.
Paul, the only west coast plant I know of was in Hayward, near the Hayward Airport, opened in 1966 and closed in 1981.
I already acknowledged that I made a mistake regarding that and corrected the text.
Granted, it’s not really a model, but in the late sixties there was this Mack F700-series with an English Motor Panels cab. Only 30 of them were built.
Source and more: https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31078-the-early-years-of-mack-in-europe-the-mysterious-30-%E2%80%93-those-motor-panels-cabbed-mack-f-models/
And I like that “for sale” W71 straight truck with the full trailer!
Very interesting! Looks a little bit like an F series. I know in later years the F was seen in Europe. Maybe Mack was testing the market?
The W71 truck and trailer is a good example of a typical West Coast livestock hauler of that era. Notice the California license plate
Back then, Mack was already a renowned manufacturer here among those who hauled heavy and/or oversize loads. Assembly in NL, then a complete disaster in France, so back to NL.
Some more info here: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/truckstop-classics-ftf-trucks-screaming-jimmies-going-dutch/
Fun fact: that very same Motor Panels cab structure as pictured above was also used by Floor/FTF – the Mack assemblers.
Warning! Low production Mack trucks is a rabbit hole of epic proportions.
Reminds me of the GMC Model 950 COE featured in 1958 TV series Cannonball. Worth a watch on Amazon Prime.
Wow ;
Another rarity .
-Nate
Love them all. Thanks Paul and Johannes.
Check out this rare bird. It was built for Gerosa Haulage in The Bronx. It has a Cummins V-1710. WHEW! I have seen it up front and in person.
…and that scale model immediately made me google-image-search Gerosa Mack, thanks! Just one of the results:
This picture is from the 1950s, my dad’s first truck. He pulled for Chemical Tank Lines his whole career.