10-4 Magazine April 2023

Special Feature: By Mark Harter If you’ve been around big trucks and trucking for a while, you probably learned at least two things – there are guys who love Peterbilts and there are guys who love Kenworths. To these drivers and owners, these are the only trucks that matter. They love their big extended hoods and what’s under them. And if you should bring up any other manufacturers, say Mack, it’s usually a ho-hum response. But, say the word “Super-Liner” and see what happens. Ears perk up, heads turn, and usually a discussion breaks out regarding these Super-Liner’s big, beautiful hoods, and the legendary 500-hp Mack E9 V8 diesel engine, which the Mack Super-Liner is typically associated with. Initially designed for the western market, Super-Liner production began at Mack’s former plant in Hayward, CA and was introduced in 1977 to replace the RL Series. Given the designation of “RW” by Mack, the R meant it was part of the R-Series of trucks and the W signified a “Western” distinction. While the Super-Liner was engineered to accommodate higher powered engines that required greater cooling capability than the Mack RL Series could provide, it was also designed to attract owner operators and small fleets with its classic styling. Many Mack and Brockway fans have argued that the Super-Liner was derived from Mack’s defunct subsidiary, Brockway Motor Trucks, but we will leave that discussion to them! Mack offered a variety of engine options in the Super-Liner during the truck’s production run from 1977 to 1993, the most common being the Mack E6 Maxidyne and Econodyne engines, aftermarket options such as Cummins, later on the Mack E7, and obviously, of course, Mack’s E9 V8 engine. In 1984, Mack re-engineered the Super-Liner, branding it a “Super-Liner II” which is easily differentiated by each headlight assembly containing two square lights each instead of the former style with round headlights. To kick-off this next generation of Super-Liners, as well as Mack’s new cabover at the time named the Ultra-Liner, Mack built a limited edition run of 250 E9 V8-powered trucks called the “Magnum” edition. A total of 186 Magnum edition Super-Liners and 64 Ultra-Liners were built. These trucks were easy to identify as they were all black with “Magnum” in bold red lettering on the side of the hood (and cab of the Ultra-Liner) with trailing thin red stripes after the Magnum name. Magnum trucks were special, and they came with a special red Mack interior package, as well as other cool details, such as chrome plated brake chambers, that set it apart from other trucks. Mack offered the Magnum Super-Liner in two sleeper configurations – a 36” and a 60” flat top – built by Able-Body. Mack also offered the Magnum edition trucks in three horsepower ratings that included 400-hp, 450-hp, and 500-hp. Even though the last Super-Liner rolled off the assembly line 30 years ago this year (1993), you can still find many of them working to this day. But, with Mack no longer producing their E9 V8 diesel engine and parts for them getting harder and harder to find (not to mention more expensive), finding a Super-Liner still working powered by an E9 engine has become a pretty rare thing in this day and age. However, for Mainesburg, PA based owner operator Stephen Tice, Super-Liners and E9 V8s are his truck and engine of choice. Like a lot of Pennsylvania based trucking operations, Macks run in the family. Growing up on a dairy farm, Stephen’s father Harold Tice had a Mack B-61 straight truck with a 24’ flatbed that was used on their farm to haul hay and bagged fertilizer, along with other products. Later, the B-61 was converted into a tractor, and Harold began pulling a dump trailer and hauling coal. In the early 80s, Harold acquired a 1969 Mack 64 10-4 Magazine / April 2023 A TERRIFIC TRIO