Climbing into the driver’s seat of an 18-wheeler is enough to give most enthusiasts a “King of the Road” feeling, but the classic Peterbilt sitting before us takes that to a whole new level. This is an old-school monster truck that has been revived in recent times and is now turning heads at various events.
The 1986 Peterbilt “King of the Road” 6×6 may share gatherings with bro trucks that can hardly crawl over a curb these days, but this Class 8 commercial truck, the largest one available, is a proper climber, having crushed its fair share of cars back in its monster truck days.
During that time, the vehicle used to be owned by Don Buchholtz of Wyoming, Iowa. However, it seems that the high-riding beast has traded hands and is currently in the possession of Ohio-based Tony Sterwerf.
Tony Sterwerf, an aficionado who owns a trucking company, has installed some upgrades on this iconic piece of American machinery earlier this year. The vehicle was showcased at the Cole Motors Freedom Truck Meet in June and caught the attention of multiple YouTubers, including Built Diesel Mafia and Crude Diesel.
Thanks to monsterphoto, a small blog dedicated to monster trucks, I was able to find some technical data and a few images that showcase the capabilities of this six-by-six behemoth when it’s done parading around.
Sporting 66-inch tires, the semi is powered by a Caterpillar 3406 893 ci (14.6L) straight-six diesel engine, which is mated to a ten-speed transmission. The power is sent to all six wheels via a 2 1/2-ton transfer case, while the trio of 5-ton FWD military axles can handle the immense power.
The 1986 Peterbilt King of the Road stands tall at 13 feet and weighs an impressive 23,000 lbs, which explains its potential for crushing cars.
Old images captured the KOTR flattening vehicles at the Florida Fair, with the woman behind the wheel earning the nickname “Princess of Power.”
Interestingly, a gentleman named Robby Morrison commented on a Facebook photo posted by the new owner, mentioning that he is the son of the former driver. Such impressive machines always have a way of bringing people together, whether it’s in person or over the web.
