MACK. THE LIFE.

Immeasurable Worth

There was more than a little frustration for the three authors of Mack. The Life. when global supply chain mayhem meant the eagerly awaited tomes just missed the Motor Truck Distributors’ (MTD) 50th birthday bash in Palmerston North last October. However, in the days following, the first precious copies arrived in the hands of their owners.

From big-fleet owner to passionate enthusiast, Mack. The Life. has been a topic of discussion whenever likeminds have been gathered over the course of its five-year build-up. Without question, it more than honours the level of anticipation it garnered.

A 1041-page chronology in two volumes, Mack. The Life. depicts of the first 1040 Macks assembled at MTD in Palmerston North, with each truck’s ownership journey shown in images and/or words. What authors Grant Gadsby, Paul Livsey, and Ed Mansell have achieved cannot be overstated.

As staggered as I was by the magnitude of the task they set, I’m equally impressed by the result. To coin a famous phrase from one of the nation’s beloved first sons, they have indeed “knocked the bastard off”.

The worth of the volumes to the recorded history of road transport in New Zealand is immeasurable.

Interestingly, the books provide another realisation. There’s nothing sadder than seeing the final photo of what was an iconic truck, now a pile of rusted steel, or a cab shell with the ghost of its once-invincible livery barely visable. On the other hand, there’s nothing better than finding one of the lucky