Freightliner has revealed it is bringing a rare 1950 model A64-800 ‘Bubblenose’ to Australia as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations.
The Bubblenose will be on show at this month’s Brisbane Truck Show alongside the brand’s modern day offerings including a stock-hauling special Coronado 112 and Cummins X15 fitted Argosy.
The A64-800 was one of 116 trucks built that year for Consolidated Freightways, the freight company established by Leland James.
James had approached truck companies with an idea of using lightweight aluminum for truck components instead of regular steel. After his idea was dismissed, he hired a team of engineers and built the vehicles himself under the guise of Freightways Manufacturing Company.
Formed in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1940, it was two years before the manufacturer changed its name to Freightliner Corporation.
It soon became North America’s leading heavy-duty vehicle manufacturer and after serving the war effort, resumed truck manufacturing at a new facility in Portland, Oregon, in 1947.
The ‘Bubblenose’ model on the Freightliner stand was initially used as part of the CF on-highway fleet, but appears to have also been worked hard as a logging truck and as the basis for some sort of crane.
It was found, in a rather dilapidated state, sitting in the woods near Mt Hood and was lovingly restored by the Freightliner manufacturing team at Portland, Oregon.
Joining it on the Freightliner stand is the Coronado 122 stock-hauling special, which can pull up to 140-tonnes with ease and also draw a crowd thanks to its muscular design and Bar Up bullbar and new twin exhausts stacks.
There will also be an Argosy cab-over with a 110-inch sleeper and just-introduced X15 Cummins engine featuring ADEPT technology that fully integrates the Eaton UltraShift Plus transmission to maximise performance and efficiency.
Freightliner will also present the proven CL112 tool of trade, which boasts a light tare weight, ideal axle positioning and proven reliability as well as the popular Coronado 114, which was developed specifically for Australia and delivers much valued flexibility.
