Whenever I see classic semi trucks, I get to feeling just a little nostalgic. Those old big rigs are a wonderful sight.
The styling of the older model big trucks, may look outdated to some.
But when I catch a glimpse of one of these fine looking older model trucks at a truck show, or better still, one rolling down the highway, in all it’s splendor, it gives me hope for this ‘torn-up industry’.
The old classic trucks may have been simple and plain in style, but man, they were well-built… built to last. They were REAL TRUCKS.
Simple is Best
Simplicity was one of the best features of these old classic semi trucks.
They were simple to fix….. no complex, computerized diesel engines, no emissions junk to mess with. Back then, you didn’t have to have an engineer’s degree to work on a truck.
The average trucker who was mechanically inclined, could work on his own rig. This was a big money saver for ‘backyard mechanics’.
New Trucks, Big Bucks
In the mid ’80’s, a top of the line Kenworth or Peterbilt could be had for under $100,00.
Now, the same truck, in a newer model, is $150,000+. But, to make matters worse, the newer semi models aren’t any better than these old classics. …and whoever coined the phrase, ‘new is always better’, was dead wrong.
Timeless Classic Big Rigs
The Kenworth W900, Peterbilt 359, the Peterbilt 379, Mack trucks and the cabover models, to name a few…. all solid, tough trucks, built for work… built for the long-haul.
These timeless classics are symbols of the prosperous days of trucking….. when trucks were reliable, well built, easy to repair and the average trucker, was making damn good money.
When I see one of these older model trucks, meticulously restored in all it’s glory, in a truck stop parking lot….. the chicken lights glowing at night, the drone of a reefer motor and the heavy, strong scent of diesel in the air, I think about those ‘wonder years of trucking’.
If these trucks have stood the test of time and have survived, maybe the trucker can too.
Maybe… just maybe……… these restored old classics, are a sign, that the trucking industry may come full circle and the glory days will return.
Wishful thinking, but one can dream.
Classic Semi Trucks Gallery
Some older iron and a few ‘iron cowboys’.
