OB2676 – 1987 MAN 26-321
Some months it is a struggle to track down a Million Mile Club contender. However, this month while out and about in the deep South collecting the cover feature, this gem literally dropped in our lap, and what a contender.
The black, silver and orange Waikaka Transport fleet has connections back to the old green and cream livery that was Sutherland Transport of Waikaka. The MAN product was the weapon of choice for Sutherlands, with a fleet that in its day bristled with virtually every model the marque had to offer. Slowly but surely as time slipped by, the old fleet has declined into the annals of transport history. Well, that is maybe all except for this incredible time capsule that is still at the coalface defying retirement, at the hand of local Waikaka farmer Richard Byars.
The truck was new into the red and blue fleet of Gore Services back in 1987. Built as a fuel tanker, it delivered various grades of product throughout the district for the best part of nine years. Up for sale at this time, it was acquired by Sutherland Transport and took up residence at the Lurgan Street depot. A conversion into a rural transport Swiss Army Knife ensued, and wearing fleet No.16, it was off to work on all manner of baleage, hay and silage work as well as a good amount of stock transport. It was normal for the unit to spend the week with a stock crate clamped to its deck and, come the weekend, have this removed so that it could head into the paddocks on contracting collection duties.
By all accounts, the MAN was a trusty steed that performed well throughout its working career. Not long before it was sold out of the fleet, it did receive a considerable rebuild. Both a new engine and gearbox were sourced and fitted, as well as other general maintenance to the driveline and brakes. According to the records, it was early 2012 when the MAN was purchased by Richard Byars and moved across into his care.
“It really has been a great truck for us, reliable, and we have done next to nothing to it; you turn the key and it just keeps going,” says Richard.
“I know it did a lot of work at Sutherlands; it was one of those trucks that everyone drove now and again on all sorts of rural work. It also used to get handed to a lot of the younger learner drivers. So, yeah, it did its fair share of driving off the road as well, where it wasn’t meant to be,” he says with a laugh.
For Richard, it is the perfect tool for the job. Being a tipping drop-sider makes it still extremely versatile. “It is able to do most tasks for us; for example, 2016 was a busy year for us with pulling 22 truck and trailer loads of fertiliser out of AB Lime in Winton, and so far, it has transported a total of 1418 wool bales off the farm. Yeah, it definitely earns its keep.”
It is with this in mind, as well as the fact that OB2676 is now well on its way to its third time around the clock, that we say congratulations, welcome to the club.
