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Visit the Mack Trucks Historical Museum

Familiar with the bulldog hood ornament seen on nearly every Mack Truck? It’s one of the most famous canine logos other than the terrier Nipper, which is used to promote companies including Victor and RCA. The British government purchased Mack Truck’s AC model during World War I for troops on the front line. The vehicle soon became known as the Bulldog Mack. Reportedly, the blunt-nose hood and durability of the vehicle reminded British soldiers of their home country mascot—the British Bulldog. 

At Van Chevrolet Cadillac Body Shop, we love trucks, so hopefully one day we can get out of Kansas City, MO and visit this great museum.

You can learn how Mack Trucks began using a bulldog ornament on its trucks as well as the history of these popular vehicles at the Mack Trucks Historical Museum in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The non-profit corporation was established in 1984 and commemorates the company’s history.

In 1900, brothers Jack, Gus and William Mack founded Mack Trucks in Brooklyn, NY. The business, originally known as the Mack Brothers Company, produced its first working motorized vehicle that same year. Called the Manhattan, it was a 24-horsepower, 13-passenger bus with a 4-cylinder engine.

About five years later, the company’s headquarters moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania. The company became known as Mack Trucks in 1922 and was located in Allentown until 2010 when it was re-located to Greensboro, North Carolina. The company is now a subsidiary of Sweden’s AB Volvo.

As one of the largest manufacturers of heavy-duty trucks, engines and transmissions in North America, Mack Trucks are currently sold in more than 45 countries. They are assembled at the Mack Lehigh Valley Operations facility, located in Macungie, PA.

The Mack Trucks Historical Museum is located nearby the Mack Customer Center in Allentown. Some of the popular attraction you won’t want to miss:

Mack Museum: More than a century of Mack history is housed inside the museum. You’ll find antique Mack trucks, photos and memorabilia as well as information about the evolution of the company and the bulldog mascot. Tours can also be arranged.

Performance Track: Looking for an exciting driving experience? The Mack Customer Center has a performance track set up where drivers can put Mack trucks to the ultimate test. In addition to banked turns, the oval-shaped course has several hills with 12, 15 and 20 percent grades. Here is where drivers can experience starting, stopping, acceleration and torque.

Mack Product Showroom : Those interested in viewing current models of Mack trucks can stop by the showroom to see the latest in engineering and design.

Sources: Wikipedia, AAA and AARP