How do you like this beauty? Sent to Biglorryblog by Rod Simmonds who says: "It's one of 6 new T800 US Spec Kenworths privately imported into NZ by TD Haulage."
Rod continues: "It features latest Signature EGR, hence the larger bonnet for cooling."
No matter how many times I see them I still think the Kiwi bonneted eight-leggers look VERY strange!
Not sure whether the bird on the air cleaner is an emu...or Woody Woodpecker! Now click through here for one more...
TD built the in-house bins for woodchip cartage around the North Island says Rod. "It continues a long tradition of sourcing own gear for TD, Dynes and Godfrey group." Smart rig for sure Rodders...
I think this TD story would make a great story for T&D the next time BT gets over there. Hands up all who agree.
It's a bit of an odd fellow though.
As some of you might notice, this truck has the classic style cab with the split windshield, but it has the aerocab era hood... how did they manage that?
I am more worried about that emu, if it is an emu it must be a champion swimmer.
Kev the Kenworth Kiwi perhaps.
Yes TD/Godfrey good story, always at the leading edge of innovation.
You get used to the look of bonnetted 8-wheelers, Brian, especially when they are as commonplace as they now are here in NZ; we all thought they looked strange at first.
Just in case any of you thought that Rod's second photo has been stretched sideways, I can tell you that I saw TDH17 yesterday and the radiator grille really is that wide, and that is going to take a bit of getting used to on a KW.
The bird on the air cleaner is the "Goodnight Kiwi" from the closing down sequence of one of the TV stations years ago when this cartoon character was shown climbing the TV mast and tucking himself into bed in the dish at the top of the mast. It looks nothing like a kiwi and kiwis don't climb anything to go to sleep, but that's how the cartoon went.
Wow TD haulage using Cummins is a turn-up for me. Back in the days when I was just a nipper they were the arch Detroit user 8V92TA's I think. Back in 2000 they were heavily into series 60. I know I’m well out touch now but has the company been sold, Detroit dropped the ball or do Kenworth not offer the Series 60?
i used to work for td's before moving to aussie.john dynes went away from the detroits in favor of cat c15 acerts rated at 525hp for a while then the head mechanic in rotorua, who owns a k108 with a signature, talked him into the big red powerplants which i think was the best way to go. mind you i was driving td 8 with a cat and i was very impressed with it altough at the time john only had a couple with the cummins and they pulled better than a schoolboy.