Founded in 1912 by brothers George T. Gerlinger and Louis Gerlinger Jr. , Kenworth has proven itself over the years to be a leading manufacturer of Class 8 trucks. Originally known as The Gerlinger Motor Car Works, the names of two stock takers that bought the company in 1917, Captain Frederick Kent and Edgar K. Worthington, were combined to form the name Kenworth, and so thus, Kenworth it came to be, a name that would become renown for producing some of the most robust, durable, reliable, and toughest trucks ever to hit the roads and highways.
Portland, Oregon. Where the company was founded as the Gerlinger Motor Car Works in 1912.
Kirkland, Washington. Where Kenworth’s main headquarters are located.
Bayswater, Victoria. Where Kenworth’s Australian headquarters are located.
One of the first trucks to roll off the production line under the name of Kenworth in 1923.
Kenworth builds the first trucks in the industry to be sold with a diesel engine as standard, along with the industry’s first sleeper cabs, in 1933.
After the Attack of Pearl Harbour in 1942, America’s involvement in the Second World War became highly imminent. Kenworth made their contributions to the war effort by producing heavy-duty six-wheel drive wreckers such as this 580, for example, and even made components for the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress in 1943.
In 1944, Kenworth was bought by businessman Paul Pigott and became a division of the industry giant PACCAR, or Pacific Car and Foundry as it was known back then.
The company’s 523 model line-up, introduced in 1946, were the first to be produced after the war. The 523 COE was Kenworth’s first major contribution to the cab-over sector.
Launched in the mid 1950s, the 900 series was another one of Kenworth’s first post-war offerings. 3,000 of them were supplied to the Yukon for oil exploration purposes.
In 1962, the first Kenworths to be sold in Australia were the S-925s, of which were imported from the USA by two Australian businessmen Ed Cameron and George Blomfield.
The K100 was Kenworth’s next contribution to the cab-over sector, after the 523 COE.
The K-125CR cab-over. The first Kenworth to be fully built in Australia.
Originally launched in the mid 1960s, the classic W900 became an instant Kenworth icon and is still being built today. This particular model is a 1974 W924AR with an extended bonnet, powered by a Detroit Diesel 12V-71 two-stroke engine delivering 475 horsepower, 1762 newton-metres of torque, and mated to an Eaton 13-speed overdrive transmission.
The SAR, acronym for Short bonnet, Australian, Right hand drive, a model that was the step in the right direction for Kenworth in the Australian market when first launched in 1975. Also the first model to be fully designed in the country.
Kenworth introduces its revolutionary Aerodyne sleeper cab in 1976.
A K100E, customized to look like the Decepticon sub-group Stunticon leader Motormaster from the Transformers franchise.
When introduced in the mid 1980s, the T600, nicknamed ‘Anteater’ in reference to it’s sloping presence, shifted Kenworth into the aerodynamic sector of the industry. This is the T600A, featuring the company’s iconic Aerodyne sleeper cab.
The T650, launched in 1987, was a key contributor to the Australian road train sector in the industry, for its capability of hauling loads across the remote areas of the Australian outback.
After the T650, Kenworth launched the iconic T950 in 1992. With its tough presence and extremely powerful motor, the T950 has become a firm favourite in the Australian trucking industry, whilst further maintaining Kenworth’s reputation.
In 1996, Kenworth introduced the T2000, an aerodynamically proportioned prime mover that set new standards for the industry in style and comfort.
The Kenworth Dealer Hall of Fame. Located in Alice Springs, the museum was first opened in 2005, and has since payed homage to Kenworth’s rich history in Australia.
The T660 moved Kenworth further into the aerodynamic sector after its 2007 launch.
Introduced in 2010 for the Australian market, the K200 is the company’s latest flagship cab-over, setting high standards for comfort, efficiency, and power.
The T700 is Kenworth’s latest contribution to the aerodynamic sector, and has been described as the most spacious and aerodynamic model built by the company.
To celebrate 25 years of the company’s W900L, of which was launched in 1979 with an 130″ wheelbase and extended sleeper cab, Kenworth released a special limited edition model. Dubbed the ICON900, it made its debut at the 2015 Mid-America Trucking Show.
Alex K Car Blog 