From Brooklyn to Global Icon: 125 Years of Driving the World Forward

A Reflection of Mack History in Australia by Gary Richards.

In the late 1890’s, John (Jack) and Augustus (Gus) Mack commenced a wagon building business in New York. Forecasting the end of the horse drawn vehicle, the Mack brothers built an electric car then decide to motorise one of the wagons with a petrol engine – and so started a journey covering 125 years building commercial vehicles for the world.

Mack Trucks Inc now joins a select few vehicle manufacturers that have such a long illustrious history. In Australia, Mack has the longest continual presence of all truck OEMs in the country, now 106 years and counting!

Driving the World.

The Mack Brothers Company sold their first motorised vehicle in 1900 - a 60 hp petrol powered sightseeing bus.

Mack makes the claim that the First Mack was a Bus, the first Bus was a Mack! Passenger carrying vehicles was the main products in the first years of the Mack Brothers Company.

The company name changed to Mack Brothers Motor Car Company in 1905 and the following year, the first Mack truck rolled off the assembly line. This “seat over engine” design was known as the ‘Manhattan’. The performance and durability of the Mack integrated or Balanced Design powertrain concept was proving to be popular and became the foundation of all future products.

“T In 1910, Mack releases the first motorised ‘hook and ladder’ fire truck. Buses and fire trucks were built as complete units ie including the body, making Mack very popular with transit and fire authorities for decades to come.

The first medium duty Mack, the AB model, was introduced in 1914. It was the company’s first high volume medium duty model. Over 55,000 units were made in its 23 year production run. Over 60 AB truck and bus units were imported into Australia from the early 1920s. Mack Trucks Australia has a 1924 AB as part of its heritage vehicle collection.

The famous chain drive AC model is released in the United States in 1915. Over 4000 AC units were used extensively during WW 1, particularly in France, where it gained it’s nickname of the ‘Bulldog’ From this, Mack selected the ‘Bulldog’ to be its company mascot.

The first Mack trucks to arrive in Australia were two fully imported Vacuum Oil Company AC tankers in 1919. These Vacuum AC units replaced four horse drawn carts doing heating oil deliveries in Sydney. They remained in service for 33 years

In 1922, Mack reincorporates itself into Mack Trucks, Inc, and a few years later. Australia also featured for the first time with Mack Trucks Inc’s largest bus order – 41 AB units were bought by Adelaide’s MTT system in 1925

In 1932, another iconic feature first appears on Mack vehicles – the now famous Bulldog bonnet mascot.

In 1937, Mack released it’s first diesel engine : a 457 cubic inch 6 cylinder producing, 110 hp. It is the first US truck manufacturer to design and produce its own diesel engine. This would set the stage for some impressive future diesels, like the Maxidyne.

During WW2, Mack was a major military supplier and delivered over 30,000 trucks to the allied forces. Over 1000 military Macks landed in Australia as part of the US Lend Lease program during the Pacific conflict, serving a multitude of tasks from fire trucks, buses and cargo. In the post war clamour, these war surplus units performed a wide range of civilian transportation tasks, building a strong reputation for performance and durability. This reputation would be a great boost when the commercial models again became available.

In 1953, the B model Mack was introduced, going on to be one of the most popular Macks ever! Its new Thermodyne diesel engine was an instant winner with operators. In total, 127,786 B series were made, in 70 different variants – an amazing achievement!

Responding to growing demand for the B model. Mack Trucks Australia (MTA) is founded in 1963 as the national distributor. A joint venture with the Anderson group and Mack Inc, the National Headquarters was initially at Rocklea Qld., operating from three wartime hangers at Archerfield Aerodrome

Mack continue to expand its range of highway and off road models, with the F series ‘cab overs’, being one of the most popular. F model production ran until 1981, with 70,000 units globally being built. The local F series had a number of unique Australian design features, like the then revolutionary fibreglass cab and twin steer chassis

Mack releases one of it’s all time popular trucks in 1965, the R series

Its Aussie start, however, began with a special adaptation, the steel fronted “Flintstone”. The largest R series in Australia was the unique R897 8x4 mine truck

Australian production of the series, with its many variants ran for 23 years, ending in 1998 with another uniquely Aussie design: the Metro-Liner.

In 1981, MTA opened it’s new national HQ and manufacturing facility at Richlands and MTA also won the contract to build over 900 6X6 units to the Australian Defence Forces.

Special Achievements

In 1988, MTA built 16 Bi-Centennial Super-Liners celebrating Australia’s 200th birthday and the 25th anniversary of MTA. Each unit featured a famous Australian – from bushrangers to explorers, and one politician!

In 1994, Mack Trucks Australia celebrated 75 years of presence in Australia

In 1995, the high capacity Titan, and its big off road brother: BigFoot were released. These two new models reflected the high degree of local design and manufacturing now happening at the extensive MTA Richlands facility

In 1997, Mack Trucks Australia introduced the world’s most powerful truck engine - the Mack EA9 610 V-MAC. This electronically controlled 16.4litre V8 was especially made by Mack to meet the heavy hauling needs of Aussie Mack owners.

In 2000, Mack Trucks Inc celebrated 100 years. MTA enshrined the achievement with a series of 25 limited edition Tridents, named after Aussie Highways – another uniquely Ausie designed and built model

From Jan. 2001, Mack becomes a part of the Volvo Group, incorporating the Mack, Renault & Volvo truck brands. Locally, MTA became part of the new Volvo Group Australia

In 2006, A Mack Titan sets world’s longest Road Train record: 1.47km long and hauling the 113 trailer combination over a set distance on a public road in Clifton Qld. This record still stands today

From Jan. 2008, MTA releases the all new New Breed product range. This introduction was the largest product investment ever made by MTA, and its new parent VGA.

In 2013, Mack Trucks Australia celebrated 50 years of local manufacturing, with a range of 30 limited edition trucks known as Southern Cross series

In 2019, Mack Trucks Australia celebrated a century of involvement in Australian road transport with a range of limited edition Trident & Super-Liner models - known as the 100 Years series.

In 2024, Mack Trucks Australia introduced the most powerful engine in a conventional truck in Australia – the 17litre 6 cylinder MP11 - 780 with its 780hp & 2800 lbft of torque.

To commemorate this incredible Mack milestone in Australia, earlier this year in May, Mack Trucks Australia showcased a truck from every decade over the past 125 years, alongside an open Mack Muster for passionate fans at the Rocklea Heritage Show.