Craig Egan’s restored 1987 W900 AR Kenworth has been named American Truck Historical Society Australian Chapter’s 2023 Truck of the Year.
Operating Romsey-based produce carrier, Just in Time Transport, Craig has almost always had trucks a part of his life.
He purchased the Kenworth when doing some work for South Coast Freighters. Once he learnt its history and spied the date on its fuel tank matched his own birthday (February 14), he knew it was fate.
“It was the last truck built for Peter Hayes Haulage at Bega. Peter Hayes was bought out by Towns Haulage followed by South Coast Freighters,” Craig said.
“The Kenworth was a surplus truck that they didn’t need anymore and it was pretty worn out. Eighteen years later, here we have it fully restored. It’s been a long time in the making.”
“Various people have worked on it throughout the journey and a lot was done in-house. It was fully stripped down, we put a later model engine in the truck and then re-hosed, gave it all new electrics, and new paintwork. It’s basically back to being a brand new truck.”
The truck is named after Craig’s newest granddaughter ‘Miss Matilda’, which is signed on the side of the cab along with a nod to his home in Mount Macedon.
It was the perfected details like the brush signage that saw it claim the Truck of the Year title.
Craig had the winning Kenworth on display at the American Truck Historical Society’s Lancefield Truck Show last month.
