COVER FEATURE - NOVEMBER 2003
Some trucks just make you stop in your tracks and stare. This was the effect that Jorge Cortez’ Kenworth had on us when we first saw it in Las Vegas at the International Trucking Show. It’s unique colors and exciting graphics made it stand out above the rest - it seemed to just scream “cover truck” at us when we walked by. And how could we ignore a big, screaming, purple rig! What we didn’t know was that we had seen this truck before, but it looked completely different. The truck had undergone a major facelift and, in fact, is still under some construction (as are most show trucks).
Two years ago, at a show in Irwindale, California, we saw this truck for the first time. It was Mayflower green with multi-colored stripes and covered with chrome. It was looking good, but it seemed to have too much “stuff” on it. About that time, the truck, part of the fleet owned by LA Transport of San Diego, California, was given to Jorge to drive. But he wanted to change the truck and make it “his own” so he went to work. With the blessings and permission of the owner, Jorge removed many of the extra accessories and replaced several others. Overall, he spent almost two years on the truck.
The truck is a 1996 Kenworth W900L with a 435 Cat, a 13-speed, 3.55 rears and a 265 inch wheelbase. The KW’s exterior features extensive amounts of chrome-plated aluminum including the tool boxes, custom-made steps, battery boxes, and tank farings. The rig also sports over 320 lights (which have chromed bases and glass lenses), 8-inch stacks, a stainless steel bug guard, a louvered cab visor and a polished stainless steel turbo wing. The aluminum grille bars were also chrome-plated, as well as the mirror brackets, exhaust brackets, and much of the suspension. Chrome plating aluminum is very tricky and expensive, but the deep shine that this process provides is absolutely amazing - and it’s easy to keep clean!
The truck’s front end was lowered four inches by having the springs “pressed” tighter. Jorge says the rig still drives nice, even with the pressed springs. To accommodate the truck’s full fenders and keep everything level when pulling a trailer, Jorge had the 5th wheel raised. Behind the sleeper is a custom headache rack featuring polished diamond plate, surrounded by a purple painted trim. The lower portion of the rack’s frame was wrapped in stainless. A light bar was fabricated with a steel frame and then also wrapped in stainless. This light bar proved to be very heavy, but it sure is durable.
The interior of Jorge’s Kenworth is equally amazing. The inside of the 72-inch double bunk sleeper is fairly stock, but the cab is decked-out with chrome gauges, a custom wood center console, aluminum pedals with wood accents, a chrome and wood steering wheel, stainless trim accents on the bottom of the door panels, and a sunroof. Jorge ordered a sunroof from Kenworth and installed it himself. “It’s really quite easy - easier than you’d think,” said Jorge, “It just takes a lot of time and patience.” He must have done a good job because it looks great, is fully functional and doesn’t leak a drop. But what’s really exciting about this KW is the paint job.
Inspired by a hot rod Jorge once saw, the rig was painted dark metallic purple violet with yellow pearl and orange flames (sort of). They’re not really flames, but the design is flame-like. We came up with the term “skeletal flames” to describe the graphic’s peculiar shapes, which are not at all like a standard flame job. It sort of resembles lightning, too. It took almost a week to tape the truck (the hardest part was matching each side to look exactly like the other) and then another two weeks to complete the actual painting. A few coats of clear were then applied to the entire truck, giving the paint a deep, brilliant, protective finish that makes it unmistakable.
At thirty-three years old, Jorge is proud of all that he has accomplished with the truck, but he didn’t do it alone. He wanted to thank Francisco Salcido, Roberto Chavez, Julio Chavez, Eduardo Aceves, Esequial Sanchez, his family and everyone at LA Transport for their help and support. Jorge has been with LA Transport for about six years (off and on) and was an owner operator before that. Married for five years, Jorge and his wife have two children.
Although they currently live in San Diego, Jorge
and his wife recently purchased a new home in San Antonio, Texas and are planning
to move at the end of the year. Jorge hopes the company can find him some loads
out there so he can keep working for them and continue to run the truck he put
so much time and energy into. If they let him stick around, Jorge would like
to do even more to the truck (of course). We’d like to thank Jorge for his time
and wish him all the best in whatever he and his family decides to do.