|
|
|
 Peterbilt Motors is a manufacturer of medium and heavy-duty Class 6 though Class 8 trucks headquartered in Denton, Texas. The company is a subsidiary of PACCAR. Founded in 1939, Peterbilt operates manufacturing facilities in Madison, Tennessee (1969), Denton, Texas (1980), and Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec. From the early 1960s until the mid 1980s, the company was based in the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California, with its headquarters, parts department, and main plant all in Newark, California. The Newark plant closed in 1986; headquarters moved to Denton, and engineering moved to Denton in 1993.
|
| |
History of Peterbilt Models |
In the early part of the 20th century, Tacoma, Washington plywood manufacturer and lumber entrepreneur T.A. Peterman was faced with a lumber logistics problem. He couldn't get freshly felled logs from the forest to his lumber mill quickly, or efficiently. In order to develop forest assets, it would be necessary to improve upon the contrived methods of the day-floating logs down river, or the use of steam tractors, and even horse teams. Peterman knew that if he could develop the then nascent automobile technology and build trucks, he could go a long way towards solving his problem.
To this end, he was rebuilding surplus army trucks, improving the technology with each successive vehicle. Shortly thereafter, he purchased the assets of Fageol Motors of Oakland, California in 1938 in order to supplement his need for a custom built logging truck chassis. Fageol had gone into receivership in 1932. By 1938, the Great Depression had driven the value of the assets to nearly zero. Peterman acquired the defunct truck manufacturer and began to produce customized chain-drive trucks for exclusive use by his timber concern. In 1939, he began to sell his remarkable trucks to the public. T. A. Peterman died in 1945. His wife Ida, sold the company to seven individuals within the organization (management) less the land. They expanded it into a serious producer of heavy duty trucks. In 1958, Ida Peterman announced plans to sell the land to develop a shopping center. The shareholders, not having the desire to invest in a new manufacturing facility, sold it to PACCAR. PACCAR (Pacific Car & Foundry Co), then primarily a manufacturer of railroad freight cars, was looking to expand into truck manufacturing. PACCAR, which had acquired the assets of Kenworth in 1945, was already an up and coming player in the heavy truck market. |
| |
Popular Peterbilt Models |
Peterbilt
model numbers traditionally start with a '2'
for single axle and tag axle models, and with
a '3' for dual drive models. Peterbilt eliminated
this distinction in the late '70s.
Peterbilt 280/350: This is the classic "iron-nose" conventional built from 1949-1957. It has distinctive cycle-type front fenders, and a long grille with vertical shutters.
Peterbilt 281/351: The classic narrow-nose butterfly hood Peterbilt made from 1954 until 1976, though few were made after about 1968. The truck in the cult classic movie Duel is a '50s Peterbilt 281. (It is not a 351 because it has a tag axle.) Peterbilt 351 was also available after 1971 in a set back front axle configuration (Peterbilts first SBFA) aimed at the east coast market. Nicknamed "The Autocar fighter" by some staff. The Peterbilt 351 SBFA evolved into the Peterbilt 353.
Peterbilt 282/352: Tilt-cab eab-over-engine
model that replaced the Model Peterbilt 351 (non-tilting)
cabover in 1959. Formally nicknamed the "Pacemaker"
by a staffer at Peterbilt after an in-house name
contest in 1969 (the winner got a color TV). '59-early
'69 headlights closer to radiator. The UniLite
cab was all hand tooled. Pacemaker style sheet
metal 1969-1980. The Pacemaker cab was refined
through the 1970's. Pacemaker Peterbilt 352's
were available in cab sizes ranging from 54" to
110" BBC.
Peterbilt 352H high cab model introduced circa '75 for larger engines, with higher cab and 1510sq radiator, instead of the normal 1100sq radiator. The Peterbilt 352H was a Freightliner Powerliner competitor.
The Peterbilt 352H was available in 86 and 110" BBC lengths and the very rare 63" cab.
Peterbilt 358: The Peterbilt 358 (288 single drive) was Peterbilt's first tilt hood. Basically a tilt hood 351. Later available with a fiberglass hood. Peterbilt 358 was available from 1965 until 1976.
Peterbilt 359: Introduced 1967 this was the first wide-nosed tilt hood conventional. (289 single drive). '67-'72 it had the small-windowed "Unilite" cab. The first Peterbilt 359 was spec'd as a wrecker and sold to Coast Counties Peterbilt. In 1973 the 1100 series cab with bulkhead-style doors debuted (late '72) Distinctive "Corvette" dash added 1977. Formal name "Dash of Class." The 359 was in production until 1987, when it was replaced by its successor the model "Peterbilt 379". 1987 Peterbilt produced the "Peterbilt 359 Classic", a limited run of Peterbilt 359 trucks with numbered dash plaques. The bulkhead style doors of the 1100 series cab are still used today.
Sleepers: In the 60's and 70's Peterbilt used the shell of a Conventional W/ sleeper with Peterbilt skin, doors, roof and interior. 30 and 36" sleepers were available. If a buyer wanted a larger sleeper, Peterbilt worked with Mercury Sleepers for 40 and 60" and custom sized sleepers. Mercury would paint the sleeper to match the factory paint or the sleeper came with polished quilted aluminum. In 1978 Peterbilts engineers were tasked with making a bigger sleeper. They designed the 63" sleeper with rounded doors and a walk-through from the cab. The sleeper debuted on a 359-127" nicknamed "Big Mamoo" by the engineers and can be seen in the 1978 brochure "Rest in Class." This truck also featured the 1st set of rectangular headlamps. The 1st raised roof (high cube) sleeper was on a Peterbilt 359 in 1986 and with changes (no right hand forward door) carried through to the Peterbilt 379 family. In 1994 the Unibilt sleeper debuted with airride suspension for the cab and sleeper with a large cab to sleeper opening. The Unibilt cab/sleeper option allowed for the sleeper to be removed for a daycab conversion. The UltraSleeper was Peterbilts largest and most luxourious. At 70" in length, it featured a RH access door, table, closet and a small "wet closet" accessable from the drivers side to store boots, gloves and other 'damp' items. The last UltraSleeper was built in 2005.
Peterbilt 346: The rarest Peterbilt ever made. It was made from 1972-75, and only 10 were made the 346 was intended to be a concrete mixer, dump truck, or snowplow with 4x4 versions planned but never built. The 1st 346 featured the Unilite cab and was sold to Rinker Construction. In Traverse City, MI, there is a 346 crane truck still in operation. (JB Selvidge)
Peterbilt 348: The Peterbilt 348 was a fiberglass hood aimed at mixer and dump truck applications. The sloped hood afforded additional visibility. This was Peterbilt's first fiberglass hood (1970). The 348 was in production from 1970 until 1986. The Peterbilt 349 was similar but with a slightly wider hood. Peterbilt 349 was later marketed for lightweight highway duty in the 1980s. Peterbilt 348 6x6 used a 359-113 SBFA hood.
Peterbilt 353: The 353 replaced the 351-flat-fender and 381 construction models in 1973. Peterbilt 353 had flat "pit style" fenders, butterfly hood and was aimed at construction.
Peterbilt 387: The Peterbilt 387 (1976-1987) looked similar to a Peterbilt 353 but had a heavier frame, longer hood, full flat fenders and undercab steps, larger bumper and overall heavier specs. Originally designed as a coal hauler, the 1st Peterbilt 387 was built in the Madison, Tennesse plant in 1976 and can be seen in the 1977 Working Class brochure as a coal truck. (JB Selvidge)
Peterbilt 397: The largest Peterbilts built, these were stall-built custom units with 40"+ wide frames designed for extreme off-road use. One unit was destroyed by fire, the other might still be in use today.
Peterbilt 362: The Peterbilt 362 replaced the aging 352 in 1981 as the company's flagship cabover. Peterbilt 362 was available with a large 1 piece center windshield with 3 wipers or 2 center pieces with 2 wipers. The latest refinement was the 362E, which had a slightly set back axle for longer front springs. The last Peterbilt 362 was built as a SBFA for oilfield use in August of 2005. Peterbilt 362 was available in cab sizes from 54" to 110" with setback front axle and tandem steer options. There was also an 8x8 362.
Peterbilt 372: Designed for high efficiency and driver comfort, this was the most aerodynamic Peterbilt cabover ever built. The nose piece of the cab flipped forward (similar to the old 350 COE of the 1950s) allowing access to maintenance items. Peterbilt 372 was in production from 1988 until 1993. The Peterbilt 372 proved that 10+ MPG can be achieved with a class 8 truck. The truck has the distinction of being the most unique Peterbilt design offering a sinister Darth Vader look that some also though looked like a motorhome (think Winnebago) or a football helmet.
Peterbilt 377: Peterbilt's aerodynamically-designed conventional with a fiberglass hood and headlights incorporated into the fenders. Available in axle set forward and axle set back configurations. Available 1987 until 2000. Replaced by the 387 in theory but continued as a 385-120.
Peterbilt 378: Similar to the Peterbilt 379, the Peterbilt 378 has a fiberglass hood and steeper hood slope. It is not available in an extended hood, but is available in axle-set back configurations. The Peterbilt 378 is popular in local and vocation trucking, as well as over the road applications. Available 1987-2007. Whereas the Peterbilt 378 and Peterbilt 379 both are available in a 119" BBC, the 378 sits 4 inches higher above the frame rails compared to the Peterbilt 379. This accounts for the slight downward angle to the hood.
Peterbilt 357: The Peterbilt 357 looks like a Peterbilt 378, sharing the various hoods (SBFA, SFFA, Vocational "Heavy Haul" and short hood versions, but is heavier spec'd for construction and heavier applications. Peterbilt 357 was available in a 111" BBC also.
The Peterbilt 378 and Peterbilt 357 SBFA received a new hood and grille/crown for 2004. The vocational hood debuted in 2004 for customers needing a FEPTO. This model quickly became popular as a heavy truck or tractor and became known as the HeavyHaul option.
Peterbilt 385: The Peterbilt 385 looks like a Peterbilt 377 with a more sloped hood. The Peterbilt 385 has a more sloped hood, shallower grille surround/crown than Peterbilt 377 had (later year Peterbilt 377's and Peterbilt 385's were nearly indistinguishable). Produced to be a direct competitor to the Freightliner FLD. Peterbilt 385 1996-2007.
Peterbilt 379: The Peterbilt 379 was Peterbilt's flagship truck from 1987 until the 2007 model year maintaining the nameplate's signature long-nose styling. Available in standard (119" BBC) and long hood (127" BBC) lengths, the Peterbilt 379 is the last conventional over-the-road truck available with an aluminum hood. Replacing the "Peterbilt 359" in 1987, it remained in production until March of 2007 with the last 1000 Peterbilt 379's called the "Legacy Class 379."
The Peterbilt 379 family received interior changes through the 20 year run, along with changes to the cab doors in late 2004 when the vent window post was eliminated and the mirrors moved from the door to the cab. (Interestingly the "original cab" from Fageol had no vent windows and thus a retro look was achieved). The passenger door received a much larger peep window. New door release handles and locksets replaced the 1972 units. The 2005 models had a flat door window lower ledge. For 2006 and 2007 the doors received a new window with an angled-towards-the-hood lower ledge allowing for additional visibility, especially to the right. Rear corner windows also became available. The new for 2005 cab mounted mirrors allow for enhanced view and allow the driver to keep his view facing forward without leaning to see the mirror. The rear window of the cab saw changes from the original 36x28 window. The Unibilt Daycab window size became standard around 2003.
Peterbilt 386: Entered production in spring 2005, it is an aerodynamic truck, with a lower price tag than the Peterbilt 387. It is only offered with a 126" BBC. The Peterbilt 386 is quickly becoming a popular design and aside not having external air cleaners, it is available with most all of the options of a Peterbilt 389.
Peterbilt 384: The Peterbilt 384 is a shorter BBC version of the Peterbilt 386 and will enter production during mid 2007.
Peterbilt 387: The Peterbilt 387 is an aerodynamic over the road conventional. It uses the same bare cab shell its cousin the Kenworth T-2000 with different sleeper, roof, cab skin, interior and hood, and Peterbilt frame. This Peterbilt 387 is available in two sleeper lengths, a midroof and a daycab.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
