Vintage shots from days gone by!

blown 442 don't see many of them

 

that's the way I would look at it. The engines while low in HP, but were high torque with "gearing" to match. The Macks often used chain/sprocket drive and a ratio change was very easy. YES they took their time and drove VERY slowly.
The big thing was that the steel used was strong enough. It seems there was almost no limit. they were good!

 

Pikes Peak 1924 by mactexas, on Flickr

 

To a lot of people it might find it hard to believe, but there was a day when a dully diesel wasn't the only thing considered "safe" to pull something.

 

When I am approaching Donner pass on my way to Bonneville, I sometimes think about the guys back in '49 and so. Towing with a 40 Ford or a 48 Chevy on the old two lane roads they had then. I don't like it much now. In 49-50 it must have been a real adventure to get to Wendover.

 

Is that you, Jim Morrison?