Cars owned by celebrities often appear on the used market. Some with dubious histories and others less so. Any classic white Mercedes SL with red leather will claim to have once belonged to Audrey Hepburn. A much rarer celebrity vehicle is the semi-truck. These vehicles aren't as glamorous as classic cars such as a Cadillac or Rolls-Royce, so they are hardly what the richest stars swan around in. However, country music sensation Johnny Cash put in an order for one, a 1985 red Peterbilt 359 truck.
Sales started in 1967 of the 359. It competed against their sister brand Kenworth, and their W900. Leaving production in 1987 the 359 is an icon in the PACCAR-owned company's history. Now in the ownership of a Kentucky-based truck fanatic, the truck finally left the dealership in the hands of his father, not Cash's. It left his family in 1994 before appearing on social media in Illinois and getting bought by the family again.
What's Special About Johnny Cash's Peterbilt 359?
Cash ordered this vehicle but didn't buy it. The most distinct modification in 1985 was the vehicles' “The Johnny Cash Show” branded wind deflector. The interior has an appropriately luxurious specification for one of country and western's biggest stars. This interior is completely original. Sporting an El Dorado VIP seat that looks incredibly comfortable, along with red leather door lining and carpeting. The red motif continues on the outside, which is a rich red. Partnering with this shade are gold highlights, which would have matched the star's wind deflector.
The truck itself is a Peterbilt 359 with an extended hood, officially called the "EXHD". This provides plenty of room for the powerful 3408 Caterpillar engine. According to DEPCO Power Systems, a specialist in industrial power, the 3408 left production in 1985. However, they claim the engine is still in high demand with a maximum capacity of 520 horsepower. The company does claim that trucking was not the best application for the 3408 as the extra power didn't offset its extra weight. The truck features a 15-speed overdrive transmission.
Why Did Johnny Cash Buy A Truck?
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Ordered in Nashville, this truck is surely the most southern state semi-truck around. After all, Inside Hook reported that Cash drove a Rolls-Royce and that this particular example has recently undergone electrification. Most famously, Cash owned a mix and match Cadillac. Constructed of multiple cars, the vehicle was for “One Piece at a Time". A range of Cadillac models from between 1949 and 1970 contribute to the one of a kind car. With this penchant for luxury cars, it seems unlikely that Cash would have bought it for himself.
In his music career, Cash grew accustomed to touring, both as a solo artist and as a part of The Highwaymen, a sort of country music super group featuring Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. Musicians need their equipment with them and to do so requires big semi-trucks like those made by Peterbilt. The 359 not only has the power to pull around this equipment but also the road presence. Large stacks, and a prominent grill, shout the musician's arrival.