Do you like big trucks? Of course you do!
I had the pleasure over the weekend of visiting an incredible collection of antique trucks, all part of The Mahan Collection in Basking Ridge, NJ. I was quite fortunate actually, because the collection isn’t open to the public. The open house was via invitation only, and as they say in New Jersey, “I know a guy who knows a guy.”
The trucks have largely been restored by Gary Mahan, I understand through his own efforts, and via the acquisition of another collector’s trucks. Most of them are Mack, though there are a number of other trucks from other manufacturers as well as antique construction equipment on the collection grounds. The trucks are housed in a half-dozen warehouses, most with informative placards similar to what I’ve seen at The Museum of the United States Air Force, right down to the provenance of each truck.
Here’s a handful of the trucks and other interesting things I saw. If you’re in the NJ/PA area you’re likely to see some of Gary Mahan's collection at truck shows sponsored by the American Truck Historical Society (ATHS).
A big thank you to my friend Randy for the invitation.
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The beautiful property of the Mahan collection. |
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One of the many buildings housing the trucks. |
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1943 Mack FC, the world’s largest chain-driven truck. This dump was used moving over-burden, rock, coal, copper, nickel, and iron ore.
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tKaXJxmiYli7OF54k5l4Kcr1kacUU94i-AZdeOVOXuXcLo4_DKFj5OMIx3uBmZzMUarJK0ucnt4eHMK1OiFwKGHuBBmcmsph37doPmGQYznHVO1B_diIUOzNk0_NSXEPHjd5Ih-7aA/s400/Mahan+4a.jpg) |
Unusual 1927 Mack AB that features a Caterpillar engine. This particular truck was used in Scranton, PA.
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCi7V4SIVzXmkceeE092dDfGwsm-5Z8KApA8T5vaLeFstfNTc0u38lNW0a-c8F7HqjDorhpcRqWe-aC-4srYmC1rzqdSFLKchJjvDvkkJJ_dvxpBHkxNzm91FAZkxiScfTLkoekyK7-Q/s400/Mahan+4b.jpg) |
You’ll probably never see the Mack bulldog perched atop the Caterpillar logo anywhere like this.
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMi9d6OyvQ7pPrMcDSoXlT8nTtO6QkVL6jiTmgQrNPuqOsUTn3_isd_ndo2V5zOh3y3_CdkbUF4j697M3fP33d20W8MWmlaWIgxT0xRScSZlekoE9HafnKzoyEzuvmagBkvu3Ob1LHg/s400/Mahan+7a.jpg) |
1934 Mack CH.
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0j96LMSedASxJyNANLWQMyAFGggoqupw3HKqchGa5jQQawDq9QanDfMoYLVw8VxCpL462uSrqBK7EIhGMMfAtAYwT7vLhE_CNy0SaxR6Uvs8spNq21_aafIJMs5rdlVpobi7Ayj8qQg/s400/Mahan+8a.jpg) |
One of the more contemporary trucks in the collection, a 1960 Ford F-1000 Super Duty. This particular truck was operated by a CT garage.
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A modern Mack that Mahan uses to haul trucks to ATHS shows. |
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Not every truck in the collection has been restored. This cement mixer shows its age and character. |
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An unusual find in the Mahan back lot. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5qIRWyqYRq-0L0Jdy65iwPVH2lZ8aQXW8t4SnKeuq7HbS2gRQBVTJQ4k5drXrTkjE5IAyzjbvkTPFM8MI9IQ_qpw0NFIjHsvusk-JnOiSfcIkd442vwkXcXOF-61Ukd2I8vUWnRVFw/s400/Mahan+85.jpg) |
You want stencils? We got stencils! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3I0ESlr-z7wAFmNs4YIDxssdpQkrYy5KeR1UkwFov2ZrBKLv8u7MVAXhWqt8wclUJ-EA9_KklwsN0FwJd37XgW080elvt-VHKZXlepXYk7_SGQuCayzA-IGBBAC1DGzPDEbZ7IPeggw/s400/Mahan+95.jpg) |
I enjoyed seeing how many of these old trucks incorporated both steel and wood in their construction. Here wood supports the dump body of the Mack FC shown above. |
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Here wood is used for the windshield. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLlRcXggrZd34NkLaPzgywYpA3MEPDZdVsRaXCokpnQAjLR1PUb_ELsnWJYzLnxrjj6npGi8wjGeX8uKnO9wz1tx6oC4w7s61ob0Zsj24l3cuLwqEjp_fB5ksYHA2ImSq3-Yggpt0bA/s400/Mahan+97.jpg) |
Here wood is used for the truck bed. |
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The Mahan man cave. |
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Most awesome table ever! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFxCCTkKWjgaYAPXFHoOFNqXnjjhamiVD30zidCs2z4CriG-RXIW2M7IwQmkhyjTVDt8JuPizZRV6bQRIZzq_z4iSnWWVQImXjxrots7IL4rGJlzpxkwOsa-pDl_D5RcpZIVI_JalWg/s400/Parts+1.jpg) |
We've got tires! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0YfRMIBGLLjYHhwKqPMPT5kToLn6j2ZO8YlrdTeRPy2HAsUtCgI-okMZ3sZ2CufuXr3JF2iuVQd90impdeetmeXe6HK9cJSVkR4M18ypbHtDwewH4E2PSesL3Pn6if2EGa8iP3CFGg/s400/Parts+2.jpg) |
We've got parts. Some of them primed even! |
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We have fiddly bits. |
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Gary has paint! |
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Gary has a sense of humor! |
I love going to places like this with anything old and mechanical, thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWow, all that and not even officially open to the public. I do have a fondness for those old Mack trucks with the cab that looks like it came straight off a horse-drawn carriage. Have built two or three truck models as a break from aircraft too - come to think of it you're right, I do like big trucks!
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