Peterbilt

Peterbilt Motors Company

Type	Division
Industry	Truck Manufacturing
Founded	1939 (1939)
Headquarters	Denton, Texas United States
Key people	T. A. Peterman (Founder)
Products	See listing
Parent	Paccar
Website	www.peterbilt.com

Peterbilt assembly plant and headquarters in Denton, Texas.

A 1939 Peterbilt 334 truck, from Peterbilt's first year of production

Peterbilt Motors Company, founded in 1939, is an American manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty trucks. A subsidiary of Paccar, which also owns fellow heavy-duty truck manufacturer Kenworth. Peterbilt Motors is headquartered in Denton, Texas and operates manufacturing facilities in Denton, Texas and Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec.

Facilities

From 1939 until the mid-1980s, the company was based in the East Bay area of Northern California. The original plant was in Oakland, which closed in 1960 and moved to nearby Newark. Truck production moved to Denton, Texas at the close of 1986, but division headquarters and engineering remained in California until 1992, when a new administrative complex and engineering department at the Denton plant were completed. The Madison/Nashville plant opened in 1969 in Madison, Tennessee, for the east-coast market. Originally it only manufactured the 352/282 cabover, then conventional production began in the 1970s, until it was closed in 2009. Production of Class 8 trucks continues at the Denton, Texas plant.

History

In the first third of the 20th century, logs for the lumber industry were floated downriver, hauled with steam tractors or horse teams. Tacoma, Washington plywood manufacturer and lumberman T.A. Peterman could not get his felled inventory to his lumber mill quickly or efficiently enough to suit his needs, so he looked at the then-nascent automobile technology for logging trucks that could do the job.

Peterman began by rebuilding surplus army trucks, improving the technology with each successive vehicle, such as replacing crank starters with battery powered ones. In 1938, near the end of the Great Depression, he purchased the assets of Fageol Motors of Oakland, California, which had gone into receivership in 1932 (near the depths of the Depression). With the ability to turn out custom built chassis Peterman initially produced two chain-drive logging trucks, which proved unsuccessful. In 1939, he began selling his trucks to the public.

T. A. Peterman died in 1944. His wife, Ida, sold the company to seven individuals within the organization, but retained its land. They then expanded it into a major producer of heavy-duty trucks. In 1958, Ida Peterman announced plans to sell the property to develop a shopping center. The shareholders, not wanting to invest in a new manufacturing facility, sold the company in June 1958 to Pacific Car & Foundry Co., then primarily a manufacturer of railroad freight cars, which had acquired the assets of heavy truck competitor Kenworth in 1944. One year later, Pacific Car and Foundry started construction of a modern 176,000-square-foot (16,400 m²) manufacturing facility in Newark, Calif. In August, 1960 Peterbilt moved to the new facility and became a division of the parent firm. Pacific Car and Foundry Co. changed its name officially to PACCAR in 1971.

Models

Peterbilt 379

Peterbilt 386 (2009)

Peterbilt Cab Series: Most powerful traditionally tracks started with a 2 for single drive rear axle tag axle models, and with a 3 for dual-drive rear axle model from 1939 until 1981 with the 362. Peterbilt eliminated this distinction in the late 1970s.

• 200/265: Small truck with Volkswagen/MAN G90-based cab. Similar to the L80 cab series, Volkswagen production continues today in Brazil
• 260/334: On-highway, built 1939–1941
• 270/334/345: On- highway, built 1941–1949
• 354/355/364: Heavy duty, built 1941–1949. Twenty-eight Model 364s sold to Navy contractors in 1942.
• 280/350: This is the classic "iron-nose" conventional built from 1949 to 1957. It has distinctive cycle-type front fenders, and a long grille with vertical shutters.
• 281/351:

The classic "narrow-nose" butterfly hood Peterbilt made from 1954 until 1976. The truck was made notorious with the public with the release of Steven Spielberg's 1971 thriller Duel, which featured a 1950s Peterbilt 281. (This truck was not a 351 because it had one tag axle.) The 351 was also available after 1971 in a setback front axle (SBFA) configuration (Peterbilt's first such design) aimed at the east coast market. Nicknamed the "autocar fighter" by some staff. The design of the companion trucks made way for later models, as the 351 SBFA evolved into the 353.

• 282/352: Tilt-cab cab-over-engine model that replaced the Model 351 (non-tilting) cab over with "Panoramic Safe-T-Cab" in 1959. Formally nicknamed the "Pacemaker" by a staff member at Peterbilt after an in-house name contest in 1969 (the winner got a color TV). In 1959-early 1969: the headlights got closer to the radiator. The UniLite cab was all hand tooled. Pacemaker style sheet metal 1969–1980. The Pacemaker cab was refined through the 1970s. Pacemakers 352s were available in cab sizes ranging from 54" to 110" bumper to back of cab (BBC). A 352 Pacemaker appeared in Knight Rider as super-truck Goliath, and the "cab-over Pete" is referenced in the classic CB radio song "Convoy".
• 352H: high cab model introduced circa 1975 for larger engines, with higher cab and 1,512 sq in radiator, instead of the normal 1,050 sq. in radiator. The 352H was available in 86" and 110" BBC lengths and the very rare 63" BBC cab.
• 358: The 358 (288 single drive) was Peterbilt's first tilt hood. Basically a tilt hood 351. Later available with a fiberglass hood. Peterbilt's design engineers received a U.S.Patent for the tilt hood design. 358 was available from 1965 until 1976.
• 359: Introduced in late 1967 this was the first wide-nosed conventional for Peterbilt, even though it did offer a "tropic radiator" wide-front 351 for export at the time(289 single drive). 359 was available in 119" and 127" long hood BBC configurations. The long hood was only available for specific engines such as the Detroit Diesel 12v71. In 1967–1972 it had the small-windowed "Unilite" cab. In 1973, the 1100 series cab with bulkhead-style doors debuted (late 1972) The Distinctive "Dash of Class" was developed in 1976. The 359 was in production until 1987, when it was replaced by its successor the model "379". In late 1986 Peterbilt offered a special "limited edition" "359 Classic", a limited run of 359 trucks with numbered dash plaques, although more than 359 were built. The bulkhead style doors of the 1100 series cab are still used today.
• 346: The second-rarest Peterbilt ever built, with only 10 made from 1972 to 1975. The 346 was intended to be a concrete mixer, dump truck, or snowplow with 4×4 versions planned but never built. The first 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)
• 348: The 348 was a fiberglass hood aimed at mixer and dump truck applications. The sloped hood afforded additional visibility. This was Peterbilt's first fiberglass sloped hood (1970). The 348 was in production from 1970 until 1986. The 349 was similar but with a slightly wider hood. 349 was later marketed for lightweight highway duty in the 1980s. The 348 6×6 used a modified 359-113 SBFA hood.
• 353: The 353 replaced the 351 flat-fender and 381 construction models in 1973. The 353 had flat "pit style" fenders, butterfly hood and was aimed at construction.
• Peterbilt CabOver Series: with less power than Cab series , longer hood, full flat fenders and under cab steps, larger bumper and overall heavier specs. Originally designed as a coal hauler, the first 387 was built in the Madison, Tennessee plant in 1976 and can be seen in the 1977 Working Class brochure as a coal truck. (JB Selvidge)
• 391 The 391 was similar to the 387. The only difference was that it was a Kenworth Frame with a Peterbilt body. Only one was ever made, and it was not a customer conversion, either. It was built as a logging truck, and its whereabouts are currently unknown.
• 362: The 362 replaced the aging 352 in 1981 as the company's flagship cab over. The 362 was available with a large one-piece center windshield with three wipers or two center pieces with two wipers. The later refinement was the 362E, which had a slightly set back front axle for longer front springs. The last 362 was built as a SBFA for oilfield use in August 2005. The 362 was available in cab sizes from 54" to 110" BBC with SBFA and tandem steer options. There was also an 8×8 362.
• 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. The 372 was in production from 1988 until 1993. The 372 proved that 10+ MPG can be achieved with a class 8 truck. The truck has the distinction of being the most unusual Peterbilt design offering a sinister Darth Vader look that some also thought looked like a motorhome (think Winnebago) or a football helmet.
• 377: Peterbilt's aerodynamically designed conventional with a fiberglass hood and headlights incorporated into the fenders. Available in set forward front axle (SFFA) with a 122" BBC and set back front axle (SBFA) in 120" configurations. Available late 1986 until 2000. Replaced by the 387 in theory but continued as a 385-120.
• 378: Similar to the 379, the 378 has a fiberglass hood and steeper hood slope. It was not available in a long hood, but was available in set back front axle (SBFA) configurations. The 378 was popular in local and vocational trucking, as well as over the road applications. Available 1986–2007. Whereas, the 378 and 379 both are available in a 119.5" BBC, the 378 sits two inches ( higher above the frame rails compared to the 379. This accounts for the slight downward angle to the hood.
• 357: The 357 looks like a 378, sharing the various hoods (SBFA, SFFA, Vocational "Heavy Haul" and short hood versions), but is heavier spec'd for construction and heavier applications. The 357 was available in a 111" BBC also. The 357 was also available with flat fenders as the 357-123, much like the 353. The 378 and 357 SBFA received a new hood and grille/crown for 2004. The vocational hood debuted in 2004 for customers needing a front engine power take-off (FEPTO). This model quickly became popular as a heavy truck or tractor and became known as the Heavy Haul option.
• 385: The 385 looks like a 377 with a more sloped hood. The 385 has a more sloped hood, shallower grille surround/crown than 377 had (later year 377s and 385s were nearly indistinguishable). No set-forward 385 was produced. BBC's were 112 and 120. It was designed to compete against the Freightliner FLD truck.
• 397: The model 397 was the largest Peterbilt built. 397 featured a 40" wide frame, 11.5" rails, optional suspensions up to 150,000 lbs. and power plants up to the Cummins KTA-600, Caterpillar 3408 and Detroit Diesel 8v92. Only 2 397's were ever built. The first one was sent to Wyoming where it was a water tanker until it was destroyed in a fire. The truck was then rebuilt and restored without a water tank. The other one, a 5th wheel unit, is still in use today.
• 379:

The 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. Replacing the "359" in 1987, it remained in production until March 2007 with the last 1000 379s called the "Legacy Class 379." The 379 family received interior changes through the 20-year run, like the "Original (Square) Dash" from 1987 to 2000, the "Ergonomic Dash" from 2001 to 2005, and the current "2006+ Dash" currently available in Arctic Gray, Saharan Tan, Burgundy Wine, and Maritime Blue configurations. Peterbilt dropped the long running "American Class" interior in 2005 with the end of the "Ergonomic Dash." The main dash color was black up until the 2000 model year, which was the last year for the "Original Dash;" you could either order it in gray, tan, or black. Peterbilt also made 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. (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 lock sets 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 36" × 28" window. The Unibilt Daycab window size became standard around 2003.

• 387: The 387 was introduced in 1999 and is an aerodynamic over the road conventional. It uses the same bare cab shell its cousin with different sleeper, roof, cab skin, interior and hood, and Peterbilt frame. The 387 was available in two sleeper lengths: raised roof, mid roof and a daycab. The Model 587 replaced the Model 387.
• 386: Entered production in fall 2005, as an aerodynamic truck. It is only offered with a 126" BBC (Bumper to Back of Cab dimension.) and aside from not having external air cleaners, it is available with most all of the options of a 389. It was discontinued in 2015.
• 388: The 388 replaced the 378-119." Sporting a 123" BBC, the 388 shares the same styling as the 389. Both 388 and 389 are Peterbilt's aluminum hood "traditional styled" trucks. The 388 and 389 are subtly different yet remain very true to the bloodline.
• 384: The 384 is a shorter BBC version of the 386. The 384 went into production during mid-2007.
• 320: The 320 is the oldest model in the Peterbilt line up. A direct descendant of the 300 and 310, the 320 is a SBFA COE aimed at the refuse and concrete pumper market. The Model 320 is available in a full range of axle selections, FEPTO and REPTO provisions and multiple drive configurations for added versatility.
• 210 Both COE use a DAF cab and are targeted to the local pick-up and delivery market. The Peterbilt Model 210 has a wrap-around windshield and tight turning ratio for the ultimate in maneuverability. Ideal for the urban environment and drivers without a CDL, the Peterbilt Model 210 is available as a Class 6 straight truck with GVW rated at 26,000 pounds.

See also

• Cab over
• Class 8 Trucks
• Dump truck
• Freightliner Trucks
• Kenworth
• Paccar
• Semi-trailer truck

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Peterbilt.

• Peterbilt Motors Company website