Expat Kiwi Bobby Ngamoki only had one truck in his mind — a Peterbilt. Now he’s the proud owner of two.
Bobby Ngamoki has only ever had two trucks he could call his own — both are Peterbilts — and that’s the way he likes it.
The subcontractor for Owens in Brisbane swore to himself one day if he ever brought a truck it would be the well-known American brand.
Bobby is currently operating is a 1988 362, which he bought secondhand and has owned for three years.
He has fitted 4ft (1.2m) air horns, a custom grille and, most recently, a Texas drop bumper.
The Peterbilt has a 110-inch (279cm) sleeper cab with wings and looks the part, but Bobby has plans to stretch the chassis another 2 metres.
“I want the real American look,” he smiles.
“I pull a 48ft [14m] side loader and can legally stretch it to 2 metres.”
Across the back of the cab is sign-written ‘Class of ’88’. Bobby reckons that for a 24-year-old truck, the Peterbilt still in great shape.
Bobby plans to turn his second Peterbilt into a hot rod.
“It will be a low rider with 10-inch [25cm] pipes, I’ll take the bumper off and put running boards on it like a ’34 coupe, and I’ll have it 10 inches off the ground. I still have a bit of kid in me, a bit of a hoon,” he laughs.
Bobby believes that deep down it’s almost every truckie’s dream to drive a Peterbilt.
“I get pulled up all the time. Drivers and customers get all excited. They take photos as I go down the highway, hanging out of their windows.”
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Photography: Peter Schlenk