Necessity breeds invention: the story of Butler Mark V, a custom-built, colossal truck

I must confess that something is fascinating about large machines. This fascination is not limited to children; adults often find themselves bewitched by the impressive feats of engineering. This holds for the Mark V truck, the origins of which began with the four Butler brothers in the mid-1940s. The brothers needed a robust machine for transporting wood in Sooke on Vancouver Island, Canada.

But over time, they realized that the existing machines on the market did not meet their expectations. This is when Claude Butler had the idea to build his own vehicle. Barney Oldfield, who had a mechanical experience like Claude, was enlisted to help him realize his vision. Consequently, the first machine was built in 1960 - a truck featuring a 14-litre, high-pressure V12 engine with a permissible total weight of 90 metric tonnes.

In the ensuing years, the Butler family, with support from others, continued building more trucks. However, their most intriguing project was the Mark V. One motivation behind its construction was the desire to exceed a payload of 100 metric tonnes. Technological advancements and the availability of appropriate components made this aspiration achievable.

Cliff Burrows, who previously worked for the American truck manufacturer, Kenworth, also participated in designing one of the most giant lumber trucks. The outcome of the entire team's effort was revealed in 1974, and it differed significantly from their previous products. The truck featured a rigid frame where the drive was transferred only to its rear axles (equipped with dual wheels), and the front two axles (with single wheels) were the only ones that were steerable.

Further, the easy access to the engine simplified its maintenance, and the cab was relatively unobtrusive. The cab had amenities for the driver, such as a pneumatically suspended seat. But what truly dazzles are the figures the Butler Mark V can flaunt.

It was powered by a two-stroke, 16-cylinder Detroit Diesel engine with an astounding 18.6-litre capacity, generating a hefty 750 horsepower. It was paired with an automatic transmission—such power is needed to handle a massive load. The Mark V was hypothesized to support a 90 metric tonne load. Moreover, Columbia Trailer constructed a trailer, commissioned by Butler, onto which an additional load of approximately 100 metric tonnes of wood could be loaded.

Even an upgrade to 1000 horsepower was contemplated. The truck had an overall length of almost 13 meters, and with the trailer, it extended to over 24 meters. Each of the axles weighed more than 2.3 metric tonnes, and the front tires had a diameter of around 183 centimeters (the rear tires were marginally smaller).

Such colossal dimensions posed a significant transportation challenge. Unsurprisingly, the vehicle was incapable of moving on regular roads. Despite this, a test drive was conducted on a public road — thanks to good rapport with the local police maintained by the team that built the vehicle. A simple phone call was all it took to secure an escort. The car was transported to its place of use by rail.

Claude Butler aspired to manufacture a more significant number of vehicles and intended to sell them to not just the forestry industry but also the mining sector. Promotional materials were even prepared, but these plans didn't materialize.

As the story goes, the vehicle didn't serve the Butlers for long and was sold relatively quickly. It's currently privately owned, but its condition is far from impeccable. The Butler Mark V is overgrown with shrubs, awaiting better days. Here's hoping that its time will come, and once again it will be able to draw appreciation for its grandeur from both young and old spectators.