A look at Freightlines Group’s classic conventional trucks, including Freightliner Century Class and Western Star models that helped define NZ linehaul
This month we look at some Freightlines Group trucks with ‘hoods’. The reason I say ‘hoods’ is this: a few years ago, I referred to a ‘bonneted truck’ on social media, only to receive several replies that trucks have hoods, not bonnets, and subsequently, I’ve referred to them as hoods ever since. It is somewhat interesting that the actual term for a truck with a hood is a ‘conventional truck’, as opposed to cabovers or COEs, which of course stands for Cab Over Engines.
Back when I was a kid hanging around in trucking circles, people would say real trucks have hoods and I guess most traditionalists would agree. Linehaul trucks in the US have evolved over the last few decades to the point whereby cabover trucks are all but extinct, with conventional trucks owning the market over there. The irony is that the rarity of cabover trucks in the US has increased the popularity of them on truck show circuits and in restoration sheds.
The Freightlines group had plenty of fine examples of conventional trucks with Freightliners, Kenworth’s and Western Stars being favoured brands over the years in most of their fleet applications. Owner drivers and contractors found favour with drivers sitting behind the engines and numerous different grille mounted badges.
Arguably some of the most iconic were run by Auckland-based contractors Foresight Automotive Ltd, who had a trio of king cab C120 Century Class Freightliners aptly named ‘The Penthouse’, ‘The Apartment’, and ‘The Studio’. Foresight Automotive also ran ‘Portland Express’, an equally iconic 4964 Western Star that wore many different colour schemes over the years.
For my two cents worth, whether it’s a cabover or has a ‘hood’ on it, I rate both types of configurations equally and anytime I get the opportunity, I’m keen to take either for a spin.
Images by Dean Middleton