Renowned old Mack truck leaves Katikati for new life

Baker Timber Supplies Mack truck with new owner left, Wayne McLaughlin, Val Baker and Alan Weal, who first sold the truck to Doug Baker.

Baker Timber Supplies' Mack truck — the only one of its kind in New Zealand — has been sold to trucking enthusiast Wayne McLaughlin, who plans to restore it to its original condition.

Alan Weal, who sold the truck to the late Doug Baker 37 years ago, was at the handover, with Baker's daughter Val, at the family timber yard in Katikati.

"It's a classic," Val said. "I knew it was rare but didn't understand how rare until we were told we had to sell it."

Wayne has been around trucks his whole life and said the R model Mack was sought-after. "It's a privilege to get hold of a truck like this - that's a one-owner and been kept in the shed."

Bought by Baker Timber Supplies for heavy haulage and logging, the Mack was taken off the road in April 2015.

Val said it wasn't doing the kilometres for the costs of keeping it on the road.

"We took her for a drive up Lindemann Rd then parked her up in the shed. Every Christmas I'd register it for the following year. I've known what she was worth."

Baker Timber's Mack truck loaded up and moving out.

Wayne said the truck had been well preserved.

"Every Mack truck built, in the centre of the steering wheel was a gold plaque with the owner's name – it still has the plaque with Baker Timber.

"Normally they get taken off and thrown away, this is very unique.

"The porcelain steering wheel is in immaculate condition. You can't get them now for love nor money."

The engine was rebuilt in the 2000s and upgraded to 320hp, but apart from that, it was in original condition.

Included in the sale were the truck manuals and the original ownership papers.

"To be able to have the manuals and the original ownership papers - you can't get them now.

"Look at the state of the manuals, they're in good condition, only a little faded after 37 years," Wayne marvelled.

Val pointed out they had a little smoke damage as they went through the fire at Baker Timber a few years ago.

Val and Wayne said it was pretty special that Alan was there at the handover.

"Alan was there at the beginning. He was the first salesman in New Zealand to sell Mack trucks."

Mack NZ was based at Palmerston North but Alan worked from his home in Taupō and travelled all over the country in the early days.

"Bakers wanted it for heavy haulage and would cart timber from Taupō, that was Tasman Lumber in those days," he said.

Baker Timber Supplies Mack and Kenworth trucks at the Tauranga Truck Show in1985.

Wayne has known about the Baker's truck since it was new and was at a truck show at the Tauranga racecourse in 1985 when a photo was taken of it, which he still had.

Alan knew Wayne's father, Bob McLaughlin, when he had trucks for top dressing when Wayne was born. He mentioned to Wayne about the Baker's truck being for sale.

"I'll strip it back to bare metal, every nut and bolt and refresh everything, put a new deck on it, and it will be painted back in Baker Timber Supplies colours - red, white and gold," Wayne said.

He and his wife Diane spent the past 16 years in Australia building up their trucking business, McLaughlin Freightlines.

"We bought seven trucks and in eight years grew it to 63, then sold it."

One of the reasons they moved to Australia was to support their son Scott McLaughlin with car racing.

"Since Scott was aged 7 he's wanted to race V8 supercars, so we decided to go and he was fortunate enough to get through.

"We are proud of him but we haven't seen him since February [due to Covid], that's the hardest thing."

The McLaughlins now live in Cambridge on a farm and have a quarry where they process sand for the Bay of Plenty. They have five trucks and cart their own product.

Diane came to see the Mack in Katikati and has been fully supportive.

The truck was checked over before being started up and loaded for transportation to Cambridge.

Val said Diane had seen what the truck meant to her.

"We were talking about the colours and going back to the original colours.

"The colour of the Mack was important to Dad as the red was for the blood of the family and the white was purity," Val said.

Val is amazed at how many people have stories about the Mack.

"It was a big thing back then, probably the first one in town."

The Bakers are sad to see the truck go, but they know it is in good hands.

The McLaughlins have a shed dedicated for the Mack. Wayne said he'll sand blast the vehicle, prepare the metal, zinc coat it and put it back together.

"It's not that hard, it's time and patience."

This will be his third major restoration: he's done two Kenworth trucks, this will be the first Mack.

He restored the 87 Kenworth in 10 months, and hopes to have the Mack done by Christmas.

"The beauty of this one is that we will do a full photo dialogue and it will be part of its history — where do you get a one-owner like this?

"The Bakers have been awesome to deal with and they are part of it."

Wayne has given an undertaking that the truck will never be sold. He said if anything should happen, the Mack would be offered back to the Baker family first.

When the restoration is complete the first test run will be a trip back to the Bakers, "but I've got to rattle my dags and make it happen".

The Mack will never work again and will only be used for classic runs, shows or for weddings.

• Anyone with fond memories of the old Mack truck, email us at news@katikatiadvertiser.co.nz