Peterbilt
Peterbilt Motors Company is an American truck manufacturer specializing in the production of heavy-duty and medium-duty commercial vehicles. The namesake of company founder T. A. "Al" Peterman, it was established in 1939 from the acquisition of Fageol Truck and Motor Company, and has operated as part of PACCAR since 1958. Competing alongside sister division Kenworth Truck Company, it sustains one of the longest-running marketplace rivalries in American truck manufacturing.
Peterbilt trucks are identified by a red oval emblem that has been in use since 1953. A "bird"-style hood ornament has also been used on conventional-cab trucks since 1965.
Headquartered in Denton, Texas, the company also manufactures trucks at PACCAR facilities in Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec, Canada and Mexicali, Mexico.
History
Background
Peterbilt was born out of the Pacific Northwest logging industry. In the first third of the 20th century, transporting logs remained time-consuming, primarily moved by steam tractors, horse teams, rail, and water. T.A. Peterman was a lumberman located in Tacoma, Washington, seeking to modernize log shipment to lumber mills to manufacture plywood.In 1934, Peterman acquired 30,000 acres of forestland in Morton, Washington; instead of using railroads, he built roads and acquired a fleet of trucks, purchasing White Motor Company trucks surplused by the U.S. Army. For logging use, the former military vehicles underwent several refurbishments and modifications; along with upgrades to their durability, the trucks underwent a degree of modernization, notably replacing hand cranks with electric starters. Safety changes included the addition of air brakes and air-cooled brake drums.
On a 1938 business trip in San Francisco, Peterman learned that Fageol Truck and Motor Company was to be sold. Seeking an opportunity to expand into new vehicle production, he acquired Fageol from Sterling Motor Company for $50,000, receiving the 13.5-acre Fageol plant in Oakland, California, its tooling, and parts inventory; the purchase was completed in 1939.
1939-1940s
In 1939, the Fageol plant in Oakland opened for business as Peterbilt Motors Company. As part of the design process, Peterman and his company engineers sought input from truck owners and drivers on how to develop trucks; initially planning to develop chain-drive trucks for the logging industry, the company transitioned towards vehicles intended towards highway freight transport. In April 1939, Peterbilt released its first vehicles for public sale, the single-axle Model 260 and the tandem-axle Model 334 ; both vehicles were offered with either gasoline or diesel engines. The 260 and 334 were equipped with an all-steel cab, trimmed with plywood sourced from Peterman-owned lumber mills. In a tradition that would last for the next 40 years, the company would designate single rear-axle trucks with model numbers starting with 2; tandem rear-axle trucks started with 3.Through the end of the year, Peterbilt produced 16 vehicles; the first Peterbilt was a fire truck chassis built for Centerville, California. For 1940, production increased to 83 vehicles. To supplement its revenue, Peterbilt continued its practice of servicing and refurbishing trucks from all manufacturers.
For 1941, Peterbilt created the heavier-duty Model 364; initially developed for the logging industry, the 364 was re-purposed for military production for World War II. In 1942, the company developed its first cab-over-engine truck, which was derived from the 260. The vehicle was a half-cab design with a full-deck chassis.
In 1944, production was increased as Peterbilt secured a contract to supply 224 military trucks. In November 1944, T.A. Peterman died from cancer at the age of 51, leaving the company to his wife, Ida.
In 1945, the company resumed production of civilian vehicles; to increase payloads, Peterbilt introduced lighter aluminum-built cabs.
During 1947, Ida Peterman sold Peterbilt Motors Company to a group of company managers and investors for $450,000; while the investors received the company assets, Peterman retained ownership of the company real estate.
In 1949, the company released a second generation of trucks, replacing the 260/334 with the all-new Model 280/350. The "Iron Nose" conventional was distinguished by its tall, narrow grille and cycle-style fenders. The first mass-produced COE by Peterbilt, the "Bubble Nose" 280/350 COE relocated the cab of the conventional above the front axle.
1950s
During the early 1950s, Peterbilt developed the "dromedary" cargo system; a longer-wheelbase truck was configured to transport aN auxiliary cargo system placed between the cab and trailer.In 1953, Peterbilt introduced its current brand emblem, switching from a rectangular border to the current red oval.
In 1954, the 280/350 underwent a redesign, becoming the Model 281/351 "needle-nose" conventional; the grille was redesigned, converting to horizontal grille shutters. A 281/351 COE was introduced, introducing a larger, wider cab design. The shorter-hood Model 341 was heavier-duty, intended for vocational applications.
In 1958, following a decline in truck sales, Ida Peterman announced to company owners her plans to redevelop the factory site as a shopping center. Rather than take on the large investment of developing a new factory, the investment group chose to sell Peterbilt Motors Company in June 1958 to Pacific Car and Foundry, a Seattle-based company that specialized in production of railroad freight cars which had acquired local heavy truck manufacturer Kenworth in 1944. The new owners of Peterbilt began the relocation of the company, keeping it in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1959, construction commenced on a 176,000 square-foot facility in Newark, California.
For 1959, the 281/351 COE was replaced by the 282/352 COE. While externally similar, in a major change, the new design introduced a tilting cab to allow better access to the engine.
1960s
In August 1960, the first Peterbilt trucks were assembled by the Newark, California, factory; production increased to 800 vehicles for 1960. Coinciding with the introduction of the new factory, Peterbilt debuted a redesigned "Unilite" cab for its conventional trucks, distinguished by larger windows and a redesigned interior. In an organizational change, Pacific Car changed its ownership status of Peterbilt, converting it from a wholly owned subsidiary to a division within the company, making it the sister company of marketplace rival Kenworth.In 1965, Peterbilt introduced the Model 358, largely replacing the 351. The first Peterbilt conventional with a tilting hood, the 288/358 replaced a fixed radiator with a grille surround attached to the aluminum hood. Serving partially as a grab handle, the Peterbilt "bird" hood ornament made its debut.
In 1966, the company expanded its model line beyond highway tractors, reintroducing heavy-duty trucks as part of its model line. Above the Model 341, the Model 383 was a 6x6 truck primarily for off-road construction use.
In 1967, Peterbilt introduced the Model 359 highway tractor. Similar in design to the 358, the 289/359 also used a tilting hood, but was fitted with a larger grille.
In 1969, Peterbilt expanded its production capability, opening a facility in Madison, Tennessee. Along with the ability to meet additional product demand, the location was chosen to serve customers closer to the East Coast. As part of a revision to the cab design, the 282/352 COE adopted the name "Pacemaker".
1970s
In 1970, the Model 348 was introduced, gradually replacing the 341. Intended for vocational use, the 348 was the first Peterbilt designed with an angled fiberglass hood; the 349 was similar in configuration, designed with a larger grille. Developed in a joint venture with Kenworth, Peterbilt released the CB300, a low-cab COE developed nearly exclusively for refuse transport.At the beginning of 1972, Pacific Car and Foundry, intending to exit steel manufacturing, introduced its current name, PACCAR. The same year, Peterbilt redesigned the cab for its conventionals, replacing the "Unilite" cab with the "1100-series" cab. Named for 1100 square inches of windshield glass, the new design was taller with redesigned doors, an all-new interior, and increased window space. Designed for the same applications for the slightly larger 383, the Model 346 6x6 was designed with a set-back front axle. For testing, the company developed a prototype vehicle powered by a jet-turbine engine; the design was not placed into production.
In 1973, the Model 353 was introduced as a construction-oriented variant of the 359, replacing the 341 and heavy-duty versions of the 351; production of the Madison facility was doubled, allowing the company to deliver 8,000 vehicles yearly. In 1974, a set-back front axle was added to the 359.
In 1975, Peterbilt expanded its manufacturing base a second time, introducing Peterbilt Canada in Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec.; the facility began production of the CB300. Sized between the 353 and the 383, the 387 was another heavy-duty truck developed primarily for off-road use. The 352 COE underwent a model revision, becoming the 352H to accommodate larger engines.
After a 22-year model run, the 281/351 was retired for 1976. Replaced by the 358 and 359 as the Peterbilt highway tractor over a decade earlier, the 351 had continued production as a heavy-duty truck built primarily for vocational use; in the early 1970s, its cycle-style fenders were replaced by flat steel fenders. The narrow-hood 358 was also retired, as the larger-grille 359 was better suited to the cooling needs of newer diesel engines.
In 1977, Peterbilt assembled its 100,000th vehicle, a long-hood Model 359. The model line underwent minor revisions, as the cab received a revised dashboard and an optional 63-inch sleeper cab with walk-through entry.
For 1978, the CB300 was replaced by the Model 310. Again shared with Kenworth, the 310 was a new generation of the low-cab COE model line.
By 1979, Peterbilt began to revise its model nomenclature, phasing out separate designations for single rear-axle trucks; all trucks began to use model numbers starting with "3".