Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/580471
36 | Overdrive | October 2015 I t's been quite an eventful few years for the 1974 Mack FS786LST built to haul the show operation of legendary daredevil Evel Knievel. Known for his Harley-Davidson-jumping stunts through the 1960s, Knievel reached worldwide fame through the '70s, shortly after which the Mack was employed in Knievel's son Robbie's own motorcy- cle-jumping escapades. It eventually fell into disrepair with less than 100,000 miles on the odometer. However, after rescue almost four years ago from weeds and decades of weath- ering in Clearwater, Fla., the Mack and its trailer have been restored. The rig made a tri- umphant debut at events late this past summer as it began a Mack-sponsored tour. Two Mack Pinnacles are hauling the truck to appear- ances across the country through the next year. Then it will come to rest in a newly built Knievel museum that broke ground last month at Historic Harley-Davidson in Topeka, Kan. Evel Knievel's 1974 cabover- trailer combo completes its journey from junk to museum showpiece BY TODD DILLS A special Mack is back Todd Dills The rebirth of the classic Mack Evel Knievel haul rig stems from Robb Mariani, pictured in 2012 (left) after initial attempts at restoration. The middle photo above shows the truck during the same period in the yard of the small fleet shop of Lincolnton, N.C.-based Brad Wike. Mariani's early efforts to track down the rig were chronicled in the "Finding Evel" episode of Mariani's "American Trucker" TV series. Current owner Lathan McKay said Mariani's "passion for getting [the truck] on his show was the first reawakening of the whole situation." The top photo shows the truck at the 2015 Great American Trucking Show. Find a video interview with Mariani by searching "Robb Mariani's favorite subjects" at OverdriveOnline.com.