Cummins, the best engine ever made.

The best engines ever made.

Never had anything to do with Cummins. Been involved with Gardner engines for 57 years and very happy with their reliability and fuel economy.

Yes probably, the14 liter motor and the KTA, the rest maybe not, but it's had to beat a series 60 with 18 speed, and CAT a close third, a 400+ Cummins with a 15 speed is the top of the heap. Not a fan of auto's as every truck is auto after a couple of weeks, as my Dad use to say when he put you in a truck first time "if your still missing gears when you get to the top of Mount Vic turn around and come home and get a office job". Implying the easiest part of truck driving is the gearbox, loading it and keeping it on the road and not running over half a dozen cars is the hard part.

Excellent bait, a beautiful cast, yet couldn't land the desired species. Oh well, thats fishing, I guess.

RUOK, Swishy? 

So what is everyone's personal opinion? 
I must say the Gardner 180 in my old Atkinstein was an amazing engine- gutless like nothing else I've ever driven, obviously worn out, but never ever let me down.
Going down Cunningham's gap, I'd put the old girl in second gear low, a bit over walking pace, not touch the throttle until the bit down near Aratula where you chuck her in neutral and off you'd go- and she'd be so cold by then that when you gave her a bootfull of juice the smoke from the exhaust would nearly obscure anyone followoing me. Dunno why I thought it was great sport, but I guess I was young and stupid! Whereas now I'm old and stupid...

Anyhoo, back on topic-whats the best engine been? I agree the 12.7 Detroit must rank up there with them.  C15 Cat? Redhead Cummins? Seems to me that the early electronic engines, ie those with basic and simple electronics, must have been the absolute pinnacle of reliability and long life...        
Cheers
Rich

Personal vote?
NH 250 Cummins .
Not the most economical in their day but couldn't be killed with an axe!

I've always been impressed with the 855, from small cam 350 to 14+525, the torque that would never say die, reasonable economy (for the day) and reliability. 
I never had a C15 that disappointed. Series 60 felt a bit fragile in comparison to the aforementioned. 
I once had an M11 in a Kenworth pulling a single trailer, that was hard work! The amazing thing being, before my stewardship, it had been pulling a B double.