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Topic starter
09/05/2022 2:00 pm
As a manufacturer, the Marmon name goes back to 1851. Car production began in 1902, progressed through the nineteens (winning the first Indy 500 in 1911), and becoming a casualty of the Great Depression by 1933 after some spectatular luxury cars were made. This gave birth to Marmon-Herrington, which made automotive parts and 4-wheel drive systems for Ford and others. This led to military vehicles, and another name change to The Marmon Group in 1964. The company still exists, making heavy duty axles and transfer cases for trucks and military hardware, with Bershire-Hathaway owning a sizeable chunk.
Marmon trucks appeared in 1960, with conventional units introduced in 1973. They were hand-built, with only a few hundred a year turned out, until production ceased in 1997. The high-quality limited production earned them the nickname "Rolls Royce of trucks".
Ixo TR083 is listed as a Marmon CHDT, though I did not find that designation anywhere. A very nicely done model, with diecast cab, including the sleeper unit - the other parts are plastic.
I have a few of Ixo's other trucks, made as partworks with various trailers, but this stand-alone tractor unit appealed to me. A Marmon is a rig rarely seen, even when new, but I did see a few around here once in a while years ago. Those that I saw looked a little different and had US govt. plates, but that's about all I can tell you.
09/05/2022 3:27 pm
Nice truck! See Marmon ad at: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/829858668814594138/
CHDT and HDT = Conventional Heavy Duty Truck? - up to 1963 they were made in Indianapolis. Now the site is part of Eli Lilly. https://indyencyclopedia.org/marmon-herrington/
Harv Goranson and Harv Goranson reacted
Topic starter
09/05/2022 3:38 pm
Thanks Karl! Yes, truck production moved to Texas.
Karl Schnelle and Karl Schnelle reacted
09/05/2022 4:25 pm
Did you know that Marmon Herrington re-engineed 979 of the remaining Greyhound Scenicruisers (22 of the 1001 produced in 1953-54 were written off in accidents) in 1960-61 from their dual Detroit 4-71 diesel engines to a single 8V-71 and a Spicer four speed gearbox? Marmon is now owned by Berkshire Hathaway. Just thought you might need to know.
Greyhound Scenicruiser
This post was modified 4 years ago by John Quilter
John F. Quilter
Eugene, Oregon USA
09/05/2022 9:26 pm
I like that big truck! Thanks for posting it, Harv. Just in case someone doesn't remember them, here are two of the Marmons more easily recognized by many of us:
