Feature Truck for Fall 2004

1951 Kenworth

by Ed Roberts

 Manuel Andrade brought his 1951 Kenworth tractor and 1950 Brown semitrailer to our Old vs. New truck show last Spring. The rig was also at the Fontana truck show in May and was featured on a bumper sticker promoting the show. Manuel’s cousin Joe Cabral bought the Kenworth new in 1951 and used it to haul meat from Denver to Los Angeles. Later he hauled fish from Eureka to L.A. and beer the other direction. The truck was rebuilt every 10 years and currently has a 1968 Cummins 335 engine and 5x3 transmission. The KW was retired in 1978 and Manuel got it in 1989. The only problem it had was a damaged fender. The truck is still painted in its original colors. Manuel is the second owner of the Brown semitrailer, which was bought new by the San Jose Potato Co. When he re stored the Kenworth, Manuel added power steering and air conditioning so he could be more comfortable driving it to the numerous events he attends. The truck is always driven wherever it goes, never trailered.

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