Robbie Swartz has had his eye on an iconic Seattle Star Kenworth since he was 16 years old.
When he decided 10 years ago that he was going to look for either a W model or an SAR, he never would have thought this teenage dream may become a reality, but it did.
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When Robbie spotted Mick Gardiner’s 1965 S model Kenworth, he was hooked.
He says the truck always stole the truck show trophies, and it wasn’t hard to understand why.
“I remember Mick had the truck parked up in the shed, so I rang him asking to buy it off him,” Robbie says.
“It took a bit of good milking and about three or four phone calls, but I got it.”
The 1965 S model Kenworth is powered by a 600hp Detroit 12V71TA and is an Australian icon that travelled the Hume for many years carting steel on a flat top.
“Mick’s got all the trophies. It won a lot when it first came out,” Robbie says.
“Mick was a hot rodder, so he used to take it to lots of hot rod shows.”
This rig stole the spotlight under Mick’s hand, raking in first place with its glinting chrome and aesthetic paint job.
Robbie initially found the Kenworth in great condition, just mostly “dirty and dusty”.
“We’ve just done little bits pieces to it, because we don’t want to pull it apart as there’s a fair bit involved in it,” he says.
“We’re mainly fixing the thermostat, radiators, airlines, pipes, hoses, you know, basically all the maintenance.
“I haven’t changed the paint, but it is about to get repainted because it’s got cracks and it’s bubbling in spots.”
Robbie says there’s a plan in motion to have a “trusted bloke” bring the old blue beauty back to full gloss.
These days, the Seattle Star isn’t hauling steel anymore, for Robbie it’s more of hobby.
His love for trucks began with his dad who would cart livestock, meaning Robbie grew up with trucking in his veins and dirt in his boots.
Now with Robbie behind the wheel of his beloved Seattle Star, the dazzling rig continues its journey down highways and into truck lover’s hearts.
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