APRIL 2009 OLD TIME TRUCKS
A BULLDOG STILL GOING STRONG
By John & Shirley Sponholtz
Willie, Jack and Gus Mack were wagon builders in Brooklyn, New York. In 1904 they built their first motor vehicle – a bus that sat 20 people. In 1905 Joseph Mack joined the company and a plant was opened in Allentown, PA. In 1915 Mack began production of its famous Model AC, which was nicknamed the “Bulldog” by British engineers. The AC, which featured a pressed steel frame, originally came with a 75 hp 4-cylinder gas engine and was chain-driven. In 1936, Mack introduced Buda and Cummins diesel engines for the AC. These trucks were widely used in construction and became famous when they were used to help construct Hoover Dam. Mack ceased production of the AC in 1938. Peter Cecio bought the 1926 Mack AC pictured here from a neighbor. Some of the previous owners of this truck included R-Jo trucking of Queens, NY who used the truck to supply supermarkets, and Rubino Brothers, who owned a salvage yard. This truck was used commercially until 1960. After that, it was parked for eight years. When Mr. Cecio bought the Mack, he added some fresh fuel and turned the crank on the front of the truck two times and the engine came to life. Peter and his father Paul completely restored the truck, but most of the work was just cosmetic. The truck was eventually painted in the company colors of Cecio Brothers, which was an excavating company from 1919 to 1993. To this day, Peter never has to turn the crank more than two times to get the Mack going – not bad for a truck that is over 80 years old.