Why Kenworth?

[RonG]

I drove a Ford "Louisville" tractor in the old days hauling petroleum to filling stations etc and I liked it pretty well.It handled the load good and as was said,everything was within reach from the operators station.Nice looking rig you have there.Ron G

 

[JasonG]

That green KW is a beautiful machine.
Says something when it's still working daily 37+ years later.
The silver trim stripes set it off nicely.

 

[RonG]

I drove a '78 for a few years as a tractor for a 50 ton lowbed and a Freuhauf dump trailer.She has a 400 Cummins and was pretty much trouble free while we had it.I liked it.Of course back then ('90s)it wasn't so old but typical KW,it did its job well.Ron G

 

[Truck Shop]

Little known fact, Kenworths produced from late 1941 to 1945 were built in Yakima Wa. Any surviving Kenworth from 41 to 45 are a rare bird.
During the WWII Kenworth only built aircraft parts and military wreckers in the Seattle plant. The commercial trucks were built in Yakima.
The plant in Yakima was located on N.Front St. The same building was still there in the late 90's. Kenworth didn't make very many trucks
in the Yakima plant. And White did build the first C.O.E. in 1951.

Truck Shop

 

[LowBoy]

Little known fact, Kenworths produced from late 1941 to 1945 were built in Yakima Wa. Any surviving Kenworth from 41 to 45 are a rare bird.
During the WWII Kenworth only built aircraft parts and military wreckers in the Seattle plant. The commercial trucks were built in Yakima.
The plant in Yakima was located on N.Front St. The same building was still there in the late 90's. Kenworth didn't make very many trucks
in the Yakima plant. And White did build the first C.O.E. in 1951.

Truck Shop

Interesting stuff Truck Shop...Thank you!

 

[LowBoy]

That green KW is a beautiful machine.
Says something when it's still working daily 37+ years later.
The silver trim stripes set it off nicely.

Appreciate that JasonG. Yes, it says something for the fact it's still going strong 37 years later, I agree. Aluminum and fiberglass make a huge difference when building trucks that are based in the northeast for sure. Macks, Autocars and Brockways (although great, tough trucks in themselves,) couldn't stand the test of time being steel cabs and such unfortunately.

I just sold my beloved 1963 A64B Autocar all-aluminum truck last winter to a guy in Cape Cod area that drove it home and is repurposing it for work...think about that for a minute. Over 50 years old...going back in service, lol.

 

[LowBoy]

Back when the A Models were popular and in abundance, they were a typical, ordinary every day work truck unless you had a "large car" over the road one which to me were always classy looking. I always loved a road tractor with an extended hood and a 60" flat top sleeper in a KW. Moreso with a set of twin sticks of course. Trying to find one now is like hen's teeth unfortunately, or mark my words, I'd be driving one daily. I should say, finding one that's AFFORDABLE anyway.

There were so many of them built with V8 Cats, KT's, V-12 Detroits, etc. that it's funny that there's not as many around anymore. At least not in these parts. Rightfully so, with the weather here. Get out west and they're still in abundance, and proud as ever.

 

[Mitch504]

I was worried when you mentioned painting her, that green and gold made for a beautiful truck, but it's ok, the green and silver is better.

My '86 GMC heavy rollback is still ugly as homemade sin, but still earning her keep, too.