The world of vintage highway tractors is not unlike some of what’s considered “traditional” markets for collector vehicles: there are big-time collectors who seek out the best and the rarest. While this is a world not entirely familiar to yours truly, I can certainly appreciate rigs like this 1986 Peterbilt Model 362 listed here on Facebook Marketplace for $45,000. Old-school cabovers are among some of the most attractive and successful working rigs this country has ever built, and there’s a strong following for them. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip.
Despite not being an expert on vintage Peterbilts, I instantly recognized the face of this truck. Here’s a hint as to why: I have little ones who enjoy the movie Cars, and one of the best-known supporting characters is a grumpy battery hauler that Lightning McQueen mistakes for his team transporter (“Mack?! I ain’t no Mack, I’m a Peterbilt!”) Given how intimidating these beasts look in real life, it’s fitting that the truck in the movie is one of the few characters that will spook small children. This truck looks quite clean front to back with good chrome, clean paint, and no obvious signs of rust or accident damage.
One of the distinguishing features of a 362 is the three-piece windshield and the larger, more roomy cab. While these trucks were first and foremost designed to do a job, they were also meant to take care of the driver. Comfort was as important as performance, which is why Peterbilt used a wider cab design. In addition, the 362 was also made available with a variety of engine options, including Caterpillar, Cummins, and Detroit Diesel engines. This one has Cummins power and 240K miles on the clock, which is pretty low for a vintage hauler like this.
So, if you’re a fan of old Peterbilts, how does $45,000 hit you? Well, if you look at it as a used truck you can put back into the lineup, it’s always going to have strong resale. With 300 horsepower, 13-speed manual with overdrive transmission, and Air Ride suspension, you can still use one of these every day in relative comfort with strong performance. Just the other day, I saw one of these in traffic with a gorgeous paint job, perfect chrome, and some nice accessories, and it was practically stopping traffic. I love old COEs, and this one has plenty of curb appeal.
Just to see the tone, much obliged to the site, and Jeffs great writeup,,,, always nice to have a knife in the gut at this hour. Takes me back, by golly, when knives in the gut were part of the job,,,at this hour. My 2nd reaction,,,where’s the rest of it? To fill in a bit, this is a hobby truck, as seen by the Wis. “collector” plate, the “A” indicates this is #2 for that #. I wonder what the Packer colored truck next to it is, anyone? IH, GMC, KW? This probably pulls a flatbed with other toys, very popular, and much safer than actually driving an antique to a show. For the record, very, VERY few single axle 362s, in fact, I can’t ever remember any. The 352/362 was a road truck, a drivers truck, and any company that had any overnights, and cared about their driver, put them in a Pete. I,,’scuse me, something in my eye,,,had a good friend in the 80s, his name was Al, died at 47 on a routine surgery, yeah, miss ya’ Al,,, anyway he was the very 1st truck driver for Quad Graphics. The 1st truck was a single axle IH 4070, but soon outgrew that,, got a 352, then a 362, all Cat power. They were excellent trucks. In fact, my 1st truck, a Western Star, had the White “Reyco” spring ride, and a shop cut it off behind the sleeper, and grafted a 362 Air Leaf and frame stub. It instantly transformed it into a better truck. The Air Leaf was not the smoothest ride, that was 8 bag KW, but was a durable suspension. For me, and many others, broken leaf spring days were over for good. It was revolutionary, and changed the industry standard, much like tubeless tires did.
I can pretty much depend on “Lothar” to post stuff from my home state, one of them Native American names, we used to laugh on the CB , you could tell they weren’t from around there, “Nahnee”, “Neenoo”, in the Fox Valley, near Appleton, and a hive of paper and food products come from there. Like pizza? Yep, paper towels? Yep, all Fox Valley. The seller here I’d bet is an old gear jammer, maybe had the truck shortened, not sure where he found the single axle Pete, that was Freightliner/IHs job, but these trucks, and KWhoppers, changed cabovers nasty reputation forever. They rode so nice, we called them “long nose cabovers”. This truck has a “fleet” motor, the 300 Cummings[sic], that we called the “shiny 290”, and a 13 speed, 13th would be the O/D, or “trouble gear”. Depending on axle gears, these trucks would do 75 mph easy, and from a time when 55 was the speed limit, it could indeed get you in trouble. Driving a 359 Pete, a Milw. Co. Sheriff let me off with a warning late one night, an old guy, he was cool, he saw the truck almost every night and knew I was running late. Cops did that back then.
Some states don’t allow old trucks for working anymore because of emission standards, but I believe there is a exemption for hobby trucks. It needs “Not for Hire” and red tape that would make immigration seem easy, in plain view, and no, if it doesn’t have a “DOT”, then you can thumb your, oops, I mean, roll right past those scales, unless you want to volunteer. I don’t recommend it. Great find, hey, nice runnin’ with ya’, I’m gonna swing off into the 76, go 10-100, get some motion lotion, I’ll see ya’ on flip side, and I’m a gone,,,
Thanks everyone, it’s who I am, and who I’ll always be, I guess.
Hey Howard, I love when these old road tractors come up, they generate more discussion than just about anything! I’d bet this guys pulling a drop deck, taking his toys, like the Bull Nose KW next to it, to all the shows. Ya know this thing could’ve been pulling a big van trailer for a moving and storage co.
Sorry Jim Randall, I do not believe that is a Bull Nose KW, the yellow one next to the Pete. The front body work on a Bull Nose goes straight out from the bottom of the windshield about 8-9 inches and is flat enough to set a cup of coffee on it. This yellow truck looks like a 50s, maybe early 60s Freightliner with it’s rounded corners. A Mack and GMC were rather square corners. And no one noticed this Pete has the 3 windshield wipers, very desirable, most only had 2. I think 1985-1986 only years with 3.
I don’t like to disagree but the shiny 290 was usually red and was an updated version of the 250 and 270 Cummins. The 300 was usually tan and was what they call an NTC engine. I drove them both and even the earlier 220 Cummins in an Emeryville. Yes I’m still driving after 51 years and Lord above it is different today than when I began. I’m sure we shared some of the same asphalt together.
So look forward to your stories, and comments Sir!
Keep the shiny side up…
@ Howard: 10-4 Good buddy!, I knew (and was not disappointed) that you would respond to this posting, and I appreciate the wealth of (personal) knowledge that you share concerning this rig! :-)
Wow. When I saw this I thought the same thing as Howard. Where’s the rest of it? I don’t remember ever seeing a single screw Cabover Pete before. At least not a very nice one like this. I’ve never had an opportunity to drive any kind of Peterbilt . Only Freightliners ( Freightshakers) and Internationals. I’ve said before on here, a 13 speed is perfect for a Crummmins!!! Cabover trucks are a very unique driving experience, you can’t see out of them as well as a person may think. I know I’ve mentioned driving a Cabover Freightliner in Manhattan, Brooklyn Queens, etc. And you have to be on your “A” game watching for pedestrians especially. When their right in front of you, you can’t see them.
This is a great write up Jeff, thank you for posting this. And for your research. I truly enjoy everything Barnfinds has on its site.
In reality that is nearly “zero” miles on a truck like that! Great find!
Put a bull bar on it and headache rack on the windshield and cruise the streets of L.A. and Portland.
How are you supposed to see where you’re driving? Please explain.
Why did these fall out of favor? Without the “nose” in front I would think a cabover would be easier to drive, maneuver and park. Plus they just plain look cool! I remember when cabover Petes, Internationals and sometimes Kenworths were everywhere.
I think access to the engine bay was a big motivator – the long hoods are quite a bit easier to get at. They also generally have a longer wheelbase, which makes the ride more comfortable than a cabover. Something this short would be fantastic for backing up a set of superBs.
I think, with it’s small & tighter roadways, cabovers are still quite popular in Europe. Freightliner made the Argosy for a couple of decades, ended production in 2020, but you just don’t see that many of them on the road.
I love these old cabovers, am especially fond of the look of the Mack Ultraliner and Ford CL9000. I’ve never driven a cabover, but took a ride in the neighbor’s truck as a kid, it was quite a thrill.
Hello there….I totally enjoyed Howard’s write up ! Being originally from France, trying to understand the numerous subtleties of this form of English was a challenge that enriched my own knowledge of Shakespearien language, I love it! Never been a trucker but always admired the profession along with the rigs. I had the same question about the COs….why did they literally stopped being used? In Europe, that’s all you see except at truck shows where the « long nose » are a novelty that people admire. The opposite from here it seems. Back in Chicago, in the early ‘80s, on a cold snowy day, early am, my boss was driving a Le Car and found himself stuck sideways to the nose of a CO cruising at about 50mph on a snow covered portion of I90. The driver did not see what happened but eventually got alerted through CB by other truckers. He slowed down very progressively into the emergency lane, both drivers exchanged greetings 😅😅, my boss was never the same after this very scary experience. So, as some other commenter said: you don’t see as well as one would expect from these CO….cheers!
“Quite popular” is a huge understatement, since – as Dlegeai already pointed out – that’s virtually the only layout you will find on our European roads, especially when it comes to semis. The conventional “long noses” fell out of favor somewhere around early sixties I guess, and even sooner here in Poland – suffice to say, first and only long-nose post-war truck we made ceased production in 1959, and even then we were already making COE-s since 1948. However, that doesn’t mean there were no long-noses on our roads, but these were mostly old Soviet trucks, like ZiL-130. The only modern long-nose I can think of was the T-series Scania, though they’re more like a COE with cab moved a bit to the rear rather than classic, conventional engine-in-front trucks.
Now, speaking of the subject truck, even though for us kids the big, conventional long-noses were one of the symbols of the USA I always liked the look of COEs more, especially Petes like this one, and Kenworths. And while much more similar to what I could see on our streets, they were still distinctively different, and I don’t mean the size of the truck only. I guess it’s because of the front axle position, which on most American COEs is directly under the driver’s seat, while in Europe it’s usually set back, and driver seats more in front of it rather than directly over (take the Mack FM-700 for example, which looks much more “European” than the standard F-700).
From personal experience, you can actually see better out of a conventional. A cabover you’re sitting a bit higher up and you can’t actually see the first several feet in front of you.
I believe it had to do with fuel mileage, they started making big trucks and large car more aerodynamic to get better fuel mileage.
Hi Terrry, not an expert, like Harry sez, I believe in the 80s, the gubment enacted maximum length laws for trailers, but overall length was abolished. You could have as long a tractor as you wanted. Before that, trucks had strict overall length laws, and with a short cabover, you could haul a bigger trailer. Couple feet of freight adds up over time. Since “conventional” trucks inherently ride better, and just cooler, cabovers faded out pretty quick. I think Freightliner /Volvo was the only one to offer a cabover until 2006. They have a nasty blind spot on the right side, and a testiment to my driving ability, I never ran over anything.. You could always tell someone not used to a cabover, the right wheels would be on the shoulder. Some drivers loved them, others would quit the job if they had to drive a cabover. I drove what the boss told me to drive.
Save you a few bucks if you were always going back and forth on a ferry boat ⛴️ where they charge you based on length too Howard, like here on the coast. For the record, i always thought a 13sp. was all you needed in a rig. Nice Pete. Thanks for the article Lavery.👍
I honestly don’t know but I blame California and their stupid laws that have forced manufacturers to conform to some pretty weird things
In the 80s when they relaxed the overall length requirements is when they started to go away slowly. Very cool rigs 😎
Conventional trucks are way more comfortable. But a cabover just looks fabulous. My driving days are behind me but still love big rigs!!
cabovers,cook in summer,freeze in winter,firewall had very little insulation and you sat on top of a hot motor not many had ac and heater could hardly keep the windshild defosted,but this rig would make a good camper trailer puller
The conventional truck wit the hood out front was by far a smoother ride compared to the drivers seat situated directly above the steering axle or the left front wheel. Cabovers could maneuver in tight city’s far better,drove them for15 years of my 35 year trucking career. A lot of fun back then
I drove cab overs a lot of miles in my younger days. Sadly I never drove a Petercar. I did have the 13 speed transmission but with gutless oil leaking Detroit Diesels. If they weren’t leaking, they were empty. At least the ones I was associated with did. 😆 Brings back so many memories.
I’ve seen trailers go from 48 feet to 53 feet and now to 60 feet in the last 25 years. In certain sparsely populated areas they are allowing trucks to pull two 53 foot trailers.
53 is the norm up here it seems Jack. The Aussies 🇦🇺 🪃 really have some long trailers if you’ve ever seen them in the Outback. 🏜
Jim Randall says the truck beside it is a “Bull Nose” KW.. I will not disagree with him, BUT it might also be a “W” Model Mack???? There used to be a lot of single axle COE’s running I-10 in southern California pulling double flatbeds of hay. Also the furniture “stick” haulers out of North Carolina and Virginia pulling drop deck vans.. This would make an excellent toy hauler or 5th wheel camper tractor.. Licensed as an antique / historical vehicle or a RV you do NOT need a CDL, or have to cross the scales. Although it is a common courtesy to do so they can see how you are plated..
Hey Brocky, I’m wrong a lot! But that stirs the discussion and someone like you or Woofer will come up with an answer. Could be a W series Mack but with 270 built that would be a slim chance. I took a few minutes to dig and think it might be an H model Mack, going by the belt line rib. Ether way, someone who knows more than me (which isn’t much!) will come up with the right answer.
Needs another axle. Period.
Never drove one, but apparently the single axles are favored by the guys that do city deliveries to tight loading docks 454rat.
Stan. I had a single screw Freightliner Cabover and I can absolutely agree that you can manuver a single screw truck easier in tighter spots. In tight areas, such as inner city locations it really does help.
Check out the seller’s FB page for some full size pics of the bull nose truck with a flat bed body & trailer for hauling hay (?), as per Brocky’s comment. Also has some nice pics of a 372.
Old truckers never die , they just get a new Peter built, & remember you shouldn’t say coming up on exit 10 but instead say “Approaching exit 10”
Ahh, The good old days, Lucky to have an uncle that got to haul the Mercury Rockets around the U.S. in the late 60s ! He would always stop by to visit on his trips !!
International used to make a cabover with the lower windshields… could the driver actually see a pedestrian ahead ?
Chuck, That was the IH Sightliner.. and yes you could see better.. BUT the new breed of drivers with their flip flops might get sunburned feet!!!
Troy, That is what I said above.. with a 5th wheel RV no problem.. If you are hauling a trailer with other trucks or farm tractors it is best to enter the weigh station and let them look at how you are plated. If they pull you around back it is mostly to confirm that you are not commercial in any way, and to take pictures!!!
This is the rig to have without all that emissions garbage and DEF that is more harmful to the environment than the black smoke get a really nice 5th wheel travel trailer and go see this beautiful country. You just need to put not for hire at eye level for the state police and with exception of Minnesota you can avoid the weigh stations and don’t need a CDL to drive it
Gentlemen.
That is a Freightliner Bubblenose Cabover.
Don’t know the year, but here ya go:
https://www.pinterest.com/carron0218/freightliner-bubblenose/
The yellow with green stripe is a Peterbuilt. Go to the seller’s FB page and click around, there are some good pics of the truck. It is a flatbed with a short flat bed trailer, probably a SoCal hay hauler, as Brockney described.
Also, the seller has a like new Peterbuilt 372 which he uses with a lowboy tailer to haul the hay hauler to shows.
Thanks for the update.. This truck and some others are listed in the recent issue of the ATHS Wheels of Time magazine.
Gentlemen
I’m pretty sure that yellow beast in the background is a Freightliner Bubblenose Cabover.
Goggle it under images.
Peterbuilt, for sure. In the writeup, click on the blue highlighted,”here on Facebook Marketplace”. Then click, “Seller Details”, “View Profile”, “Photos”. Lots of road tractor photos. The seller appears to be a retired driver who collects and restore old Peterbuilts.