This is my one of a kind, hand-made, 1961 Peterbilt Lowrider Hot-Rod.
She's been an amazing 18 year labor of love and learning experience to design, fabricate, and build to her completion.
It's an absolute ball to drive and people go nuts over it! It's definitely a huge attention getter!
I started with a 1984 GMC C-35, 1-ton dually pickup. It ran great, however the body was not in the best of shape, so I pulled all the sheet metal off down to the bare frame.
I then pulled out the drivetrain and completely rebuilt everything.
The engine is the original 454 from the pickup, and it now features gear driven timing, a nice moderate RV cam, and an Edelbrock intake and carburetor.
A custom air intake system breathes through semi-truck Vortox air cleaners, that are fully functional.
It is cooled by a new 3-core, aluminum radiator.
The 3" dual exhaust system is plumbed under the cab and goes through Flow-Master mufflers, that then go out the 6" semi-truck stacks.
...so Yes, the stacks are fully functional and sound killer! She barks!
It has a Turbo 400 transmission that was professionally rebuilt, with a shift kit installed.
The chassis is fully air-ride, and the brakes and tires are relatively new, as it's only been driven to shows and cruises.
It runs and drives beautifully!
The cab is from a 1961 Peterbilt model 351-A, and has been heavily modified. (the 'A' designates it as an aluminum cab)
I gave it a 5 1/2" roof chop, and has been channeled 10" over the frame to sit nice and low.
The doors have heavy-walled aluminum bridge plating where the window frames have been cut to match the roof, to insure absolutely no cracking will occur from people slamming the doors shut.
The doors actually came from a model 352 cab-over, which is why the door handles are so low, and why it has a vent and a 'peep' window in the passenger door. (which I think are cool features)
The visor is hand-made, as is the faux rooftop air-conditioner box (which now houses a roof vent, so it still has function.)
The 32" coffin sleeper was donated by a friend for the truck, and is a perfect period-correct match. It also sports a vintage Taylor-Wing rooftop spoiler.
The hood was modified from a model 359 Pete, and is now a butterfly hood.
The grill has been narrowed 8", and the louvers do function.
On the back is a bed built using the side panels from a 1950 Chevy pickup truck. The cab-guard was custom built in-house.
The fenders and the (2), 25 gallon fuel tanks are the only things purchased new for this build. Everything else utilized in the truck has road history.
There is a full receiver-hitch tucked behind the center license plate, and there's a plate in the center of the bed that lifts off to allow the use of a 5th wheel or gooseneck hitch.
A hatch in the bed gives access to a storage compartment underneath, good for carrying a jack, tire chains, jumper cables, or a couple cases of beer.
There are 2 batteries in the sleeper side compartment. 1 is the main just for running the truck, and the 2nd is a house battery, which runs all the auxiliary lights and stereo system.
The driver's side compartment houses the stereo amp, and the truck's air compressor.
The interior is completely hand-made. The walls and overhead are black tuck n' roll, and the rest is all finished woodwork. (I Love vintage yachts, and wanted this to feel like one inside)
The custom upholstered seats are leather with Peterbilt logos embroidered into the headrests.
Sitting inside this truck is a kick. The seats fit beautifully and are very natural and comfortable.
The windows and mirrors have a sweet spot where they all line-up, so even though this truck has a severe roof chop on it, the visibility is very nice.
A full compliment of gauges is in the dashboard, with color-correct switches in the overhead that run all the auxiliary lighting.
Naturally, there is a CB, and a great stereo system. It also has the period-correct vintage Fuzz-Buster, linear amp, and Super-Snooper.
This truck has a tilt-steering column, and is equipped with twin-sticks. (one for shifting, and the other is the E-brake...so both fully function.)
There have been other scaled-down semi-trucks built before, but the stance and paintjob are what really set this truck ahead of the pack.
As a 40+ year professional sign painter and hand pinstriper, I let the truck tell me what it wanted, and it wanted a lot!
This truck is covered from one end to the other with pinstriping, like any good lowrider should be!
I've driven this truck from Portland to Sacramento, up over the mountain passes, all while towing my travel trailer behind it.
She's been in lots of shows all over the West Coast, and has brought home a bunch of trophies.
I would have no problem getting in this truck tomorrow, and trust driving it to the East coast.
It has been a ball and an adventure building, owning, and driving this truck. It's like no other truck in the world.
The time has come and I need to let her go, and somewhere out there is that unique individual who can give her the home she so rightly deserves.
