Kenworth Celebrates 90 Years
1976: Kenworth introduced the industry’s first raised-roof sleeper, the Aerodyne sleeper. Initial production was a special version called the VIT 200 Bicentennial Edition, to coincide with America’s 200th birthday.
1936: The first sleeper was designed into a Kenworth in 1933. Shown is a diesel-powered sleeper-cab model in 1936.
1933: Kenworth becomes the first American truck manufacturer to install diesel engines as standard equipment. The new trucks proved to be a big hit with customers, who also reaped fuel savings as diesel was just one-third the price of gasoline.
1978: This Kenworth K100 moved the space shuttle Enterprise during ground operations at Huntsville, Alabama.
Early 1960s: Kenworth introduced two new models. The W900 conventional featured classic lines, long hood, wider and taller cab, a re-designed instrument panel, and enhanced driver comfort. The K100 cabover was designed for maximizing cargo within state restrictions.
1920s: The 1920s saw many innovations in truck design. This early fleet illustrates the transition from solid to pneumatic tires and from open to enclosed cabs.
Early Kenworth assembly process.
1985: The new T600 improves aerodynamics by 40 percent and changed the industry forever. The radical sloped-nose design saves customers up to 22 percent on fuel compared to traditional conventionals.
1994: Kenworth introduces its first ever medium duty conventional – the T300, which evolved into the T170, T270 and T370 models in 2007.