Look what Vic Hungerford spotted in Wellington on Tuesday night while waiting to board the inter-island ferry. 'The photo quality is bad as I only had my cellphone camera,' explains Vic. 'The sunset was reflecting everywhere and I couldn't move the truck to get rid of the lamp post, but I had to take the photos!'
In case you don't know exactly what you are looking at - this is the one and only Mack 1000 (as shown by the 'Mack 1000' sign on the bonnet. Vic explains that the '1000' designation relates to the fact that this was the 1000th Mack to be built in New Zealand (rather than 1000hp). He says it's a 1987 500bhp V8 Superliner R722RS, which apparently started its life doing logging. It is now used on transporter/heavy haulage work and is thought to have only done about 1.4 million kms.
'It has been kept as it was when new, painted black with the original upholstery in the cab. It is a real credit to its owners, particularly as it not a show truck but a normal everyday working truck,' says Vic.
Was new to Bill Richardson's Southern Transport at Invercargill.
I was surprised to see how many people failed to notice the tank on the transporter! Seems the truck still has a good following. It is based in Christchurch.
I think people noticed the tank, Gerard, but it's just that they were more interested in the truck. In the Commercial Drivers' Lounge on the ferry that evening the talk was all about "Did you see old Mack 1000 on the wharf?" and the fact that it was pulling a trailer with a tank on the back was then mentioned as an afterthought.
Quite a high proportion of the drivers who do the inter-island run are getting on a bit in years, to put it politely, and those of us who haven't got Alzheimers well remember when Mack 1000 first went on the road.
Anyway, it was good to meet you and the Mack (and the tank) on the wharf the other evening; I may see you on the road again some place.
Cheers, Vic
Good to see some real gear on the road
The truck was originally delivered to Southern Tspt in that company's colours
A lot of people think the
superliner was black when delivered as the mack 1000 but they are confused with the one that was one of the three black comemerative trucks assembled for the celebrations which included a midliner (Les Palmer purchased) ultraliner (Bill Cooper purchased) & superliner(can't remember)FROM MEMORY!!!
This truck brings back a lot of memories as i had started my apprenticeship at Truckstops in palmy & was involved in carrying out the post assy & pre delivery checks on this truck & was fortunate enough to attend the 87 labour weekend celebrations