KW #400001, #400002

Transport Hall of Fame claim to have the very 1st Kenworth #400008 the gray ghost




but I have an email from Grant in New Zeeland
th@ Shell NZ had #400001 and #400002
#400001 has been writen off



Cya

[ch9786]

g'day again swish it's all in the interpretation of first ....and then FIRST!

chassis number 400008 just happened to be the first truck ABLE to be completed...supplies and parts (or assemblies) being the issue.

it has been said that the first few trucks out of bayswater were shipped off to far flung lands just so there may be no bad press if it all looked pear shaped on this new truck building venture.

i say bah humbug!!...it's just the order things fell as they could be realistically produced.

hope that helps and cheers

Thanks Detective, I always wondered why number 1 was actually number 8.

such an historically important vehicle,put it in the hands of a kiwi and...

You are correct Detective, The Chassis numbers were alocated before production started.Then its just a race as to which one comes off first. Cheers James.

g'day....even the connotation ''written off '' can be a misnomer, as what was written off to one firm (or person) as an insurance term, can be readily purchased, repaired and then sold, put back to work etc, etc. by the next firm or person.

these big american trucks weren't put to bed that easily and chances are 400001 may survive, somewhere, in a more humbled environment .

fwiw and cheers

Some would say that KW are still out by 2 chassis numbers as to which was first delivered in Oz.

Any thoughts? Decco, Spotty Jim, others ......

g'day jimbo...where've you been?? good point and no problems with that thought

lets not forget that kwikasair/alltrans was very high profile for the kenworth camp, so as you say...what went out the door earlier albeit with a lower profile??

are we close on that notion?

cheers

Right customer but .........?

righto jimbo...i give up!!...put us out of our misery will ya!!??