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WItitan2

Posted 8/30/2016 13:40 (#5499460)
Subject: 4at, colorado kenworth ?

Pierce county WI

I was reading the last issue of large car magazine and there was a story about a 1967 w923 that was ordered from Colorado kw by a customer from il. The truck was something, two sticks, two speed rears, mercury sleeper, 335 Cummins etc. Then the guy went on to eventually upgrade to a a model vit with a v12 Detroit. Anyway, was Colorado kenworth like the consolidated peterbilt of kw? I know you guys had monfort out there that was known for some fast kws. I suppose they bought them in Denver?

a4t-1600

Posted 8/30/2016 20:12 (#5500136 - in reply to #5499460)
Subject: RE: 4at, colorado kenworth ?

Dearfield Co.

Well I would say they were a step above consolidated myself. Warren and Kenny monfort had the reputation of having fast trucks but in my honest opinion there was a fair amount of hype went along with that. They had a leaser that ran some big iron by the name of Steinbecker as well as another group that was WW. Monfort had lots of 1693 trucks but they had a conservative tune for the day. Steinbecker got big and then downsized and moved to wichita to take care of the cargill fab plant. He spent his finals days as a evangelist and died of cancer. He had one son that trucked and he finished out his career with Western Distribution with a nice flat top 379 300 inch wheel base truck ----------he turned the truck back to the finance company when he had a heart attack

Colorado Kw before it turned into the mess it is now had its own stainless fab shop---------they actually made the visor for the 007 kW in house based off a pattern they had used since the 60s. All the CO trucks usually had that visor as well as other polished stainless pieces unique for here. There paint shop and body shop was one of the best in the country and it was a big deal for a dealership. Monfort, Western, Sullivan, WW and TW as well as countless other fleets bought there that made the colored trucks distinctive.

WItitan2

Posted 8/30/2016 20:55 (#5500278 - in reply to #5500136)
Subject: RE: 4at, colorado kenworth ?

Pierce county WI

I always wondered who was the big power kw dealer. I thought somebody said Sioux city had a big kenworth shop. I always heard the left lane on 76 and 80 was the monfort lane. Consolidated had those ads in overdrive and I've seen some cool pictures from back in the day. I suppose national carriers had some o/os that went to Denver for trucks. I seem to recall they had some company k100 aerodynes also.

a4t-1600

Posted 8/30/2016 21:16 (#5500352 - in reply to #5500278)
Subject: RE: 4at, colorado kenworth ?

Dearfield Co.

I had some trucks on at national. and Their recommendations were Wichita KW in that time but that was easily gotten around. . The old days of National was a deal with in itself. I sat and had cocktails with John Jacobson who was the truck boss at that time and he promised if I leased them on they would make the quartermaster club as soon as they became eligible. And they did but at the end of four years I couldn't believe how bad the trucks were junked LOL. I always kind on thought the elite fleet should of had left lane honors. Lots of K powered rides and 3408 powered stuff in those days. I used to love to pull in to national beef and see the trucks waiting for beef loads as well as the cattle trucks but now it is dull and lifeless the same as the lot at MHC in Denver

WItitan2

Posted 8/30/2016 22:06 (#5500522 - in reply to #5500352)
Subject: RE: 4at, colorado kenworth ?

Pierce county WI

Did you have your own reefers, or company trailers? I've seen some cool pictures of national pulling timpte reefers, and maybe a couple stainless refers? Americans? I know years back, old trucks did an article on the history of Midwest coast transport and there was some big trucks on there. They hauled swinging meat too I would assume. Back before deregulation a neighbor had a bunch of trucks on there. After he went on to own wilson lines in Newport mn. I never get sick of the ktas and the v8s, and the big detroits. Coolest truck I ever drove was a 1978 extended hood 359 with a kta and a set of sticks... Even if it was just out of the shop, and around the yard. Were you doing bull racks for national too? Could you imagine a big fleet today trying to run cattle with driving school graduates and blogs? Ha ha

a4t-1600

Posted 8/31/2016 10:22 (#5501212 - in reply to #5500522)
Subject: RE: 4at, colorado kenworth ?

Dearfield Co.

We just pulled reefer for them and pulled their trailers ---------ITs odd but I can't remember the brand except they were built in Liberal at the trailer plant right up the road from the packing house. Who evers plant that was shut down and then the Wilkens walking floor crew bought it and it handed them their butt and they in turn lease purchased it to a dead beat that was doing some sort of wind charger deal that never got off the ground. Last I knew it was still tied up in a bankruptcy but that might of ended by now. National had a couple of show trucks leased to them that always seemed to not truck much and have shiney wagons. I can only remember one name and he was in the mid 90s and that was Earl Petersons Kersplat truck-------------I used to buy some of Earls take off parts during show season to put on my trucks LOL. If it had any kind of mark on it it came off so pipes bumpers and quarter fenders . Google the truck if you haven't ever seen it. Last I knew it was setting in Dumas Tx all decked up after some hispanic fellow bought it and tried to make a calendar truck cool by changing some things and now its a mess

Trucking in that time frame was kind of punishment because the customers appreciated the truck owners and drivers and turn around time was quick---------more 24 hour loading and unloading ------------but there was lots off fun times.

I let my subscription to Large Car Mag expire----------need to re up it though . Steve and Michellle are interesting people but I got sick of never knowing when it would come in the mail and started buying them at Wilkens in OK but dont get there much any more . Sounds like I will re up it

Edited by a4t-1600 8/31/2016 10:26

WItitan2

Posted 8/31/2016 14:15 (#5501554 - in reply to #5501212)
Subject: RE: 4at, colorado kenworth ?

Pierce county WI

I googled that truck. Not exactly my style, but to each their own. The show truck that catches my eye is farmer's oil born to lead. That truck is beautiful. The photos they took for the Rockwood calendar are alright too. I buy large car at Iowa 80. It's bi monthly now too. Back 6 or 7 years ago I hauled a lot of Thomas and betts poles for a big wind tower power line they were running from Texas to Montana. We ran 54 all the time, and the bull racks you saw was pretty cool. I'm so sick of trucking this week I could puke. Nothing like hurry up and wait. I hate brokers, shippers, receivers, etc. Well it's almost farmin and tiling time. Oh, I read that country singer Clare dunn is from eastern Colorado and worked on a harvest crew. Ever get to meet her?

a4t-1600

Posted 8/31/2016 17:09 (#5501718 - in reply to #5501554)
Subject: RE: 4at, colorado kenworth ?

Dearfield Co.

I am not a fan of drop panels on any truck , The farmers oil stuff (known as Flamers Oil in lots of places ) Is Ok but still not quite my style either but born to lead uses the same colors I had on a 359 back in the mid 80s that has been one of my favorite paint combos over the years. They have a exceptional painter that does work for them even though if you are a walk in your truck might take $50000 to get done and 2 years to do so and several repaints. This truck is the same fellow I met in Jail at Louisville several years ago that caused the garbage talk in a thread about Louisville I responded too LOL.

Kersplat was the truck until the last paint job if you ask me-------Earl is kind of off the radar after he bought a hawian orchid with silver frame c-16 379 flat top 310 wheel base truck a buddy of mine turned back to the finance company with 40000 miles on it------he told every one he bought it new and ordered it but he didn't it came out of AZ . the friend who owned it posted a picture of it pulling a end up around the flagstaff area early on in the Large car mag forum days ---------Last time I saw it was unloading fats at Dodge City and the truck was tough like it had to work unlike Kersplatt

I have been sick of trucking and farming myself------been a long tough year this year. Tired of having to take jobs to try and run things at 110% to break even. As far as Clare Dunn goes I never ran across her to my knowledge but heard stories of her even years back . Two Buttes isn't that far away from the farm and I might of crossed paths and not known even who it was--------

WItitan2

Posted 8/31/2016 17:26 (#5501735 - in reply to #5501718)
Subject: RE: 4at, colorado kenworth ?

Pierce county WI

I agree, the drop panels suck. I'm really traditional, I like polished air tanks, tasteful visors, and I still like air horns. Born to lead has that sharp paint job with the Winslow stripes and that chromed v8. If Clare Dunn came through here harvesting, I'd make the payment on my combine, and leave it in the shed.

a4t-1600

Posted 8/31/2016 17:56 (#5501769 - in reply to #5501735)
Subject: RE: 4at, colorado kenworth ?

Dearfield Co.

I think she was on a ensilage crew if I can believe my wife. The wife said so and today I must say she is right at least while she is looking over my shoulder

tanner

Posted 8/31/2016 18:17 (#5501812 - in reply to #5499460)
Subject: RE: 4at, colorado kenworth ?

Northern Ks

I can remember mid 80s would set on top either vail pass or isenhower tunnel and listen to a v12 detroit from phoenix and couple kta cummings from grand junction square off and come up mountain couple 3408s from denver also

a4t-1600

Posted 8/31/2016 19:33 (#5501968 - in reply to #5501812)
Subject: RE: 4at, colorado kenworth ?

Dearfield Co.

One of the 12s was old man machelli from Phoenix -----------white with green stripes on the hood 359 ex hood. I tired many times to buy the truck . When you say v12 thats the truck that came to mind for me. His trucks always parked at Dinos 6&85 restaurant on Vasquez in Denver while waiting for a reload or to unload.

WItitan2

Posted 8/31/2016 20:25 (#5502079 - in reply to #5501968)
Subject: RE: 4at, colorado kenworth ?

Pierce county WI

There was a fleet just south of us called sizer? Ran v12s I think in kenworth cabovers. Didn't Coors run powerliners with v12s? Speaking of powerliners and national carriers, the truck on the freightliner powerliner brochure( not the white freightliner) was an o/o for national carriers I read.

a4t-1600

Posted 8/31/2016 20:57 (#5502200 - in reply to #5502079)
Subject: RE: 4at, colorado kenworth ?

Dearfield Co.

To the best I recollect the power liners that were red and white that pulled for coors all had Ks, the same as the ones Leprino had . They were a odd spec and were KTA 525 formulas. The trucks were specced by the same guy at freighlinerin Denver. He later left and went to KW in Greeley then back to MHC and was general manager there until he retired, If you watched when he went to KW leprino switched to t400s with l10s and at the end they had t600s when Digby bought out the transportation side of leprino. There were several on at national I can't remember the power though. But I do know that I can count the number of 12s in them on one hand. The v12 wasnt well received in this area due to the hills and its lower tongue compared to the Ks and the 3408s. The thing I liked the best about freighliner and the power liners were you could design your interior patterns----------some wild stuff came out of the factory in that period .

tanner

Posted 8/31/2016 23:35 (#5502529 - in reply to #5499460)
Subject: RE: 4at, colorado kenworth ?

Northern Ks

Thats the one, the k-w with the 3408 was at one time parked in shed out east of watkins somewhere, his health went bad think he bought it new, his son had blue pete with 3408. had fresh inframe so it was mild could keep up with him fairley well with a 425 he couldnt wait to get enough miles on so don freese could tune it, think one of the ktas is still out to junction, he ran it as long as could stand fuel bill. had a 10 sp with a 4 speed aux. It was a kw also and his dad had a pete with 525,they helped me out couple times at loma scale

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