Now a subsidiary of AB Volvo, Mack Trucks was founded in 1900 as the Mack Brothers Company and quickly became one of America’s premier truck manufacturers. The company is mainly famous for heavy-duty haulers and buses, but it also manufactured light-duty trucks before World War II. And they’re pretty rare.
Mack’s venture into the light truck market began in 1936 with the Mack Jr. The lineup included pickups, panel haulers, and cabovers ranging from 1.5 to three tons, but they were actually built by REO. The Jr. sold well in its first year on the market, but deliveries dwindled in 1937 and 1938. As a result, Mack decided to develop its own light-duty truck. It arrived in 1938 as the Model ED.
The hauler resembled the company’s heavy-duty trucks but was significantly smaller. But the tall cab and the beefy front fenders made it look larger than average light-duty workhorse. It was offered in 120.5- and 136.5-inch (3,061- and 3,467-mm) wheelbases and rated at 1.5 and two tons, respectively.
Why is Model ED a rare truck? Well, it was far from popular. Mack sold only 2,686 units until production stopped during World War II. And even though the larger E series trucks were revived after WWII, the smaller ED didn’t return. How many Model EDs are still around today? I don’t have a specific number to run by, but it’s safe to say that fewer than 1,000 have survived. And most of them are likely in poor condition, waiting for a second chance in junkyards or barns.
And that’s precisely what makes this 1939 survivor that much more spectacular. Unearthed in Cincinnati, Ohio, this boxed hauler spent a whopping 50 years in storage. But unlike most barn finds, it was stored in a dry environment and is in fantastic condition. Yes, it shows some surface rust, and the bench seat needs new upholstery, but it’s one of those rare examples that can be brought back to life without the need to hunt rare and expensive (sometimes unobtainable) parts.
And guess what! The flathead six-cylinder engine came back to life with only a new battery, fresh gasoline, and a bit of oil in the cylinders. I guess they don’t make them as they used to, right? By the way, while the ED was an in-house-built truck, power came from an inline-six made by Continental.
Auctioned off to help settle an estate, the truck has been in the same family since new, and it shows only 33,514 miles (53,936 km) on the odometer. The seller mentions it’s finished in “its original color,” but it’s unclear whether it was repainted. Given that it spent five decades in a dry barn, it wouldn’t be far-fetched for the paint to soldier on in such good condition.
It’s also a highly optioned truck, according to the ad. The list includes heating, an ashtray, a dash-mounted fan, cab lights, air horns, and a crank-out windshield. They all seem like mundane or obsolete features nowadays, but some were considered premium items in the late 1930s.
So how much is a Mack Model ED worth today? It’s less expensive than you’d think, given how rare it is. These haulers are valued at around $13,000 in decent condition, while restored examples are worth about $37,000. This unique 1939 version is offered at no reserve, and bidding is at only $7,950 with two days to go.