The Peterbilt 281/351 is a line of
tractor unit
A tractor unit (also known as a truck unit, power unit, prime mover, ten-wheeler, semi-tractor, tractor truck, semi-truck, tractor cab, truck cab, tractor rig, truck rig or big rig or simply a tractor, truck, semi or rig) is a characteristical ...
s built by
Peterbilt
Peterbilt Motors Company is an American truck manufacturer. Established in 1939 from the acquisition of Fageol Truck and Motor Company, Peterbilt specializes in the production of heavy-duty ( Class 8) and medium-duty (Classes 5–7) commercia ...
that ran from 1954 until 1976. The 281 series had a single drive axle, the 351 two. It was very popular with truckers, with the 351 series outlasting the 281.
History
The Peterbilt 281 emerged from Peterbilt's assembly plant in
Oakland, California
Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast of the United States, West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third ...
in 1954.
It earned the nickname "Needlenose" from its narrow nose and butterfly hood, popular with truckers for ease of engine access and superior visibility. Like its companion series 351, it had only two small round headlights.
Remaining in production until 1976, the 281/351 was a durable and popular series. The basic design made way for different models, with tilt cab-over-engine models introduced in 1959.
A model 281 and 351 (the latter in some scenes) were featured in the made-for-TV movie ''
Duel''
in 1971.
References
{{Reflist
External links
10-4 Magazine truck article, ''Duel Lives On!''Official Peterbilt website
Peterbilt vehicles
Vehicles introduced in 1954
Tractor units