Thousands of Peterbilt owners, enthusiasts and current and former employees are expected to gather Oct. 25 at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, Calif., for a special event celebrating the 75th anniversary of Peterbilt Motors Company.
The 75th Anniversary Peterbilt Truck Show is anticipated to feature as many as 400 show trucks representing milestone models from throughout the company’s history, a reunion luncheon of current and former employees, supplier and vendor exhibits, music, guest speakers, a charity raffle for a Model 359 and Peterbilt’s interactive anniversary tour trailer, hauled by a Model 579 Anniversary Edition truck.
“This will be a very special event that will bring together everything that is essential to our 75 years of industry leadership – our customers, our employees and dealers and our vehicles,” said Darrin Siver, Peterbilt general manager and PACCAR vice president. “It will be a celebration of Peterbilt’s past, present and future.”
The show is the creation of longtime Peterbilt enthusiast and truck restorer Rick McClerkin, a former employee of Coast Counties Peterbilt in San Jose, Calif., and owner of Roadway Antique Trucks.
“The enthusiasm and excitement surrounding this event continues to grow and we’re expecting a large turnout,” McClerkin said. “For anyone who loves the Peterbilt brand, this will be a once in a lifetime event to see some of the greatest trucks in history – including one of the first chassis ever produced, a 1939 model owned by the Fremont (Calif.) Fire Department – and celebrate with fellow Peterbilt owners, drivers and fans.”
McClerkin said show truck registrations are already near 150 and he expects the capacity limit of 400 trucks will be reached well in advance of the start of the show. The peoples’ choice truck beauty contest will have five categories – antique conventional, working conventional, antique cabover, working cabover and best of show. Winners will be determined by votes from event attendees.
Attendees even have a chance to take home a classic truck of their own if they win the grand prize 1976 Model 359 being raffled to raise money for breast cancer research.
One of the highlights of the event will be the Peterbilt anniversary tour trailer that is traveling throughout North America visiting Peterbilt dealerships and other industry events. The trailer is a custom-built, double-expandable 53-foot trailer with Peterbilt memorabilia, interactive displays, a history wall display, a PACCAR MX-13 Engine and cab and sleeper cutaways Of Peterbilt’s new Models 579 and 567.
