Paul Cootes’ stunning 1983 Mack Super-Liner Series I had eyes agog during the recent 2025 Silverback Show ‘N’ Shine National Championship at the Brisbane Truck Show.
Originally part of the highly regarded Joe Bromage fuel haulage business bought by his father Ian Cootes in 1987, a thorough in-house restoration process guided by brother Geoff has seen every detail meticulously crafted.
Painted in the red livery of Cootes Quarry Products, Paul admits the truck brings back wonderful memories for the brothers.
“On Saturday mornings in our later teens we were allowed to take a ute to the Footscray depot and pick up a Super-Liner and tanker, drive it to the workshop in Seaford where we’d grease and wash it, the mechanics would go over the truck and tanker, and then we’d take it back again.
“Those trips were Utopia for Geoff and me and when we were a bit older Dad would let us do a run to somewhere like Shepparton. Of course, we’d also drive the other trucks which were mostly Kenworths but those Super-Liners were seriously special and as a young man, you felt very special driving them.”
The Super-Liner is one of a number of trucks restored as a tribute to a great era and the men who built great companies. And above all others, their father.
Also high on the heap and showcased in Shepparton’s Museum of Vehicle Evolution (MOVE) where Geoff is chairman is Ian’s first Kenworth, an S2 model.
Meanwhile, at Paul’s Pakenham depot there’s a beautifully reborn Kenworth K125 cab-over while still in the critical stages of a complete restoration are a Kenworth W-model and SAR.
For Steve Brook’s full story check out the Winter Issue of ROADBOSS Magazine, out late June. Subscribe here.
