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They
say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but this
completely restored and modified 1953 Pete learned how to
stand proud, run fast and fetch a big stick – and do it
all in style. After fifty years of use and neglect, this
butterfly-hooded beauty was given a second chance at life by
owner Dino Guadagni and the rest of the folks at Western
Distributing Transportation. As mascot of their huge fleet
of top-of-the-line Peterbilts, the ’53 is a good
representation of the company’s commitment to running only
the best equipment - and having fun while doing it.
Dino Guadagni not only owns the ’53 on our cover but heads
Western Distribution Transportation Corp. (WDTC).
Established in 1977 as a subsidiary of Western Distributing,
the largest alcohol and beverage distributor in Colorado,
WDTC was originated as an in-house carrier for the parent
company to improve their reliability and more effectively
control pricing. Today, WDTC still arranges the
transportation for Western Distributing but only 12% of what
they haul is for them. WDTC is now a nationwide truckload
carrier, operating in all 48 states, with five divisions of
their own including an armored carrier, produce transporter
and heavy hauler company.
Western Distributing was started on the heels of prohibition
back in 1933 by Dino’s great grandfather Guido. The timing
was perfect and the company flourished. Three generations
and almost 70 years later, Western Distributing now has 17
subsidiary companies, each responsible for their own
success. Besides the distribution-related companies, the
family also owns and operates a travel agency, several
automotive dealerships, a racing team and a specialized
racing engine and related parts company, just to name a few.
Dino’s father not only runs Western Distributing but is
also a prominent Pro Stock drag racer on the NHRA circuit.
Viery Gaines (better known as "V") squeezes in 28
races a year while still running the multi-million dollar
conglomerate. After years of trying, "V" finally
beat veteran Warren Johnson at a race in Dallas last year
and became a prominent member of the 200 mph club. Dino gets
out to the races as often as possible but running WDTC and
maintaining the ’53 keeps him pretty busy.
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The ’53 was purchased in November of 1997 from Bob Crouch
in Longmont, Colorado. Bob had bought the nearly-dead truck
from an individual in Nebraska some six years prior, with
the intent to restore it, but never quite got to it. Dino
acquired it for $2,500 and brought it home to show mom.
Unfortunately, mom couldn’t see the big picture and
shrieked, "What! Have you lost your friggin’
mind?" Back then, most folks thought Dino was crazy. As
you can see in the "Before" photograph, the old
’53 needed a lot of work, to say the least. After changing
the batteries, fixing some wires, borrowing a starter and
adding some fuel, they climbed inside to see if the old
beast would even start and what do you think happened –
the seat fell through the rotten floor! After a milk crate
was added for sitting, they turned the engine over, and with
a huff and a puff it started right up. That was the last
glory of the old machine for a while as it was then
dismantled and spread over the shop floor.
Scrapping the frame and engine was the first decision. Dino
provided the ideas and creativity while the guys in the shop
at WDTC performed most of the work. They started with a 1985
Pete frame and then added a modern-day Pete suspension. The
wheelbase was determined (300 inches) and work began. New
wheels, tires, air lines, valves, electrical and plumbing
were all done in the first few months. Then it came motor
time. Originally, the boys put in an old 550 horsepower
Caterpillar test motor with 650,000 miles on it but later,
their friends at Cat hooked them up with a brand new 600 HP
3406E. It’s painted blue to match the truck, covered with
chrome and pinstriping, and has lots of big power. Next came
the trannys. Growing up on 5 & 4’s over the years made
a two-stick configuration not only Dino’s choice but most
of his drivers too.
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Dino’s objective was for the truck to be long and low like
a cruising hot rod. The stacks would be straight and tall,
the bumper wide and low, with lots of chrome and lights –
a real driver’s dream. Mock-ups with stretch wrap,
cardboard, marker pens and a lot of imagination helped
create the overall "look" of the body. A sleeper
from a late 1980’s Pete was inherited but, being from a
newer model truck, the sleeper was too tall so 3 inches were
cut from the top and bottom to keep the truck symmetrical.
The cab and sleeper were mated and placed atop the frame.
Replication fenders were found and bought. At this point,
they decided to stretch the cab’s cowl section to allow
the air breather intake tubes enough space as not to
interfere with the hood. The hood, being in such a rough
state, had to be completely rebuilt. In the rebuilding
process it was lengthened and improved with new stainless
steel hinges. At this time, a new floorboard and seats were
dropped in.
Wanting the old rig to ride like a new truck they (with help
from their friends at Tri-State) engineered an air frame for
the cab and sleeper to sit on. Next, they retrofitted the
stacks, bumper, horns, visor and lights. It was now all
assembled and primed for paint. At this point (December
1998), the guys in the shop called it their "rough
draft" version of the finished product. Now everything
was dismantled (again) and sent to Diversified Paint and
Body to be finished. The frame returned first and boy what a
difference a little blue paint made. As the various parts
returned and the project really began to take shape,
everyone’s excitement level began to rise. Stan Swank, who
has pinstriped the WDTC trucks since the creation of the
company, striped not only the cab but the frame, the axles,
transmission, engine and anywhere else he could find an open
space. Chrome nuts, all 980 of them and still counting, were
put not only on the top end of the truck but also in the
hidden areas under the chassis and engine as well.
It was now early February 1999 and everybody agreed that the
goal would be to complete the truck and take it to the
Mid-America Trucking Show in late March. In the next 30 days
or so, the truck was completely re-assembled (again) and all
of the wiring, gauges and switches were installed. What a
nightmare! Special thanks go out to Jim and Larry at Empire
Upholstery for laboring every single day and night on the
interior of the truck. They took what looked like the inside
of a stove and changed it into a spectacular showcase to sit
in and drive. All of the guys in the shop worked hard to
achieve their goal – even Dino and Stan found themselves
spending many nights polishing assorted parts to a brilliant
shine. Dino gives much of the credit to Stan saying,
"He gave me the inspiration and the push to keep all of
us from strangling each other throughout the whole process.
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The last few days (beginning of March) were filled with test
drives and figuring out what needed to be fine-tuned or
fixed. While all this was going on, trailer #58, a spread
axle reefer, was refurbished. It went under the same
detail-intensive rebuild as the tractor. Then they had to
find a load to get them to Louisville, Kentucky (the site of
the show). None of WDTC’s trucks go anywhere for free –
even this old beauty! Their friends at Coors hooked them up
with a load of beer and everything was set. The night before
it’s departure, a bad air compressor and a few valves had
to be replaced. Then the big day came – the rig’s maiden
voyage. Smiles, tears and lots of swearing accompanied the
truck as she pulled out of the gate.
Although they didn’t do as well as they would have liked
at that first show, since then they’ve bagged a few
trophies (including a Best of Show) and took 4th place at
the Shell SuperRigs show in Walcott, Iowa. They’ve also
recently added a train horn, blue neon lights (under the
truck and in the engine compartment), and are in the process
of finishing the inside of the sleeper. Jim and Larry have
already put in a couch that pulls out into a bed, a
refrigerator, solid wood cabinets with granite countertops,
a TV, a sub-woofer for the sound system, and a wet bar
trimmed with mirrors! This truck just gets better and
better, and were sure the best is yet to come
Building
and showing this old ’53 has been a real boost for the
company’s morale. Everyone feels like a part-owner of the
truck, and they are proud to have such an awesome ride as
their fleet’s mascot. WDTC already has one of the nicest
fleets in the country and the ‘53 just adds that crown
jewel to it all. Dino is now looking for a butterfly hood
Kenworth to rebuild…anybody know of one for sale?
10-4 would like to thank Rick Walker for driving the old rig
out to California (with a load of course) and putting up
with us for the better part of a day while we took pictures
and marveled at the truck’s perfection. Dino and everyone
at Western should give themselves a big pat on the back for
giving this old Pete a new lease on life – a second chance
to live – only this time in style!
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