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    Friday, May 30
    Old Time Trucks

    The Rolls Royce Of Trucks

    By 15 Comments2 Mins Read

    John Hoppes of Lancaster, Pennsylvania has always had a soft spot for Marmon trucks because of the low production numbers and the hand-built quality of this rare breed. On average, Marmon produced only about 100 trucks per year. Built using plenty of aluminum and fiberglass, Marmons were relatively lightweight. John’s 1985 Marmon 57-P tractor seen here (the “P” stood for Premium) is powered by a Cummins NTC 400 Big Cam II engine backed by an 18-speed transmission. Sitting on a 200” wheelbase, it has a Neway air-ride suspension with SQ-100 rears. After John bought the Marmon four years ago from the late Doug Brigham of Pine Island, New York, he made a few improvements by installing a new radiator, rear suspension, clutch, air horn, marker lights on the roof, and moved the exhaust back to its original position. He also painted the fenders and doors. Licensed as a classic car, this Marmon attends truck shows and was photographed at Roger Gerhart’s 2008 Mack Day in Lititz, PA. Although Marmon stopped building trucks in 1997, Marmon enthusiasts still meet every year in Texas to show their appreciation for the marquee (dubbed “The Rolls Royce of Trucks”) and to share their old Marmon stories.

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    John & Shirley Sponholtz have been involved with old trucks for over 20 years.  Shirley was editor at Wheels of Time for 12 years before going out on her own and starting Old Time Trucks magazine in 2004.  John is an avid photographer who enjoys taking pictures of odd and/or rare trucks (he provides most of the pictures for this article and their magazine).  John & Shirley, who are from Richmond, Indiana, have been regular contributors to 10-4 Magazine since 2006.

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    15 Comments

    1. Mike "Ol' Sleepyhead" Wheatley on

      I run in the Great Lakes region and every once in a while I see a Marmon go by; they always get my attention. As a hand built truck, and a rare sight-even when they were in production-they always carried a certain mystique for me. There’s a trucker from Michigan leased to car hauling outfit that has a ”show-truck-clean” cabover still earning it’s keep. I love that kinda stuff! Thanks for the other Marmon article in this issue; it’s nice to get a little more history on these great old trucks!

      Reply
    3. Carl Wright on

      One man’s treasure is/was another man’s junk.
      We owned 4 of them as they were made 3 hours from us. Plagued with electrical problems from day one due to poorly installed wiring over sharp corners to inline plugs that corroded up and failed over time. Assembled with sheet metal screws placed by hand meant constant rattles from stripped out screws in soft thin aluminum metal. Nope can’t say I am sorry they are gone!

      Nice friendly folks just outdated product, hand built does not always mean better built.

      Reply
      • Dale McCloud on

        I have found a 1985 model and in stressed in buying it for over the road use, now it looks to have sit up in the weeds and I know I will have to replace some wiring due to mice , my question is can they be updated to run air ride seats and even maybe able to air ride cab, plus I may have several more question over time if I decide to buy if you don’t mind me picking your brain for intell. This will be my first truck venture out as a owner operator any advice , concerns, are problems that I may face would be appreciated.
        Thank you
        Dale

        Reply
    6. ] Blu's Truxing on

      Something has burnt or melted in my wiring. My turn signals work if I put direct heat on the circuit. What do you think the problem is? It’s a 1988 p 57.

      Reply
    7. William Doyle on

      I am looking to buy a Marmon truck. I believe it is a model 57P conventional. Can anyone tell me where I might find one ?

      Reply
    8. Joey Shealy on

      My dad bought a1982 day cab in 1983. It was nearly 2years old but had never sold! Red striping was always dull.1000×20 rubber on Dayton spoke wheels. Aluminum gull wing bumper coming to a point in the center. 300 Cummins with a 13 speed Road Ranger trans. Overall it was a good truck!’

      Reply
    9. Rose on

      My man runs a 1985 57P Marmon truck. It is currently leased onto a rigging firm in Florida. The truck has 3.2 millon miles on it and everything is still intact. All the junk out there combined will never see 3.2 million miles, that’s why Marmon was hand made. Need I say more?

      Reply
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