It has been too long since I last ran some large and lovely big rig content and when I laid eyes on this handsome brute on the electronic pages of eBay there was no way to keep my glee under wraps. What you’re looking at is a 1953 Mack LT. There were Pre-WWII LTs and Post-WWII LTs. The post WWII run covered 1947-1956 with only 2000 of these big bastards hitting the highway. The reason was not negative. The Mack LT was known as the “Duesenberg of Diesels” back in the day and it was a pretty exclusive group of drivers that wheeled these trucks across the country.
They got their nick name for some pretty obvious reasons. Just look at this thing! The stately grill, the huge sweeping front fenders, the splt windshield and ultra long (for the day) wheelbase made these the biggest and most styled trucks of the day. Power comes from one of the coolest old oil burning mills of days gone by, a Cummins NHS-275, known by truckers of the day as “Two Six Bits”. What made the motor really cool is the fact that it was equipped with a gear driven supercharger and a weird camshaft lobe profile that verges on square. The “square” lobes basically launch the valves open and hang them open, creating a truly kick ass exhaust note that is nearly as viscious as a Detroit Diesel but unique all in itself. After that praise, I will tell you know that the redline is 2100rpm and the engine makes 275hp.
This truck has gone through a total restoration from top to bottom. I think it is stunning in its own massive way. The Mack is for sale for the “Buy it Now” price of $95,000. Swear on my grave if I had the cash I’d scoop it up and row the 5 4 transmission in that tank all the way home to Boston from Texas!
eBay Link: 1953 Mack LT big rig
The winch and the rear frame configuration looks like it was a lowboy tractor. Before hydraulic goosenecks you had to mess around with the winch to pull the gooseneck back onto the fifth wheel, it was a real pain.
the more rare it is the dumber it was. squares where a circle should have been, and a superchrger spitting some nice oxide to be carbon fed further…their 3 dollar v8 days are the ones to stereotype as greatness.
Brian
Indeed..
This thing is SMOKIN’ HOT!!! Wow!
I see they used the Mr Bean technique to paint the interior.
You’d better get in one of these and drive it for a couple of hours before you spend your money.!
I am retired from 40-years of selling used semi tractors and have driven thousands of them…ALL makes and models. I definitely remember the LT Macks, Long-nose KW’s & Petes and even the Westcoaster Internationals. NOTHING feels better than getting OUT of them!!
I like it, but it ain’t worth 95 biggun…
Haha – reply number 2 by anonymous- that has to be boxer3main