Special Feature: By Ryan Rosetta Freedom means different things to differentpeople. Forsome,it’sjustthe opportunity to build a business from the groundup. Forothers,it’stheabilityto charttheirowncourseinlife. Intrucking, freedom has long been symbolized by the open road stretching out toward the horizon. ForLeviHertzler(41)ofBovill, Idaho, that freedom is represented by a rare and unmistakable truck – a 1985 Kenworth W900B Liberty Edition. Over four decades after Kenworth introduced this special model, Hertzler’s truck continues to embody the spirit of independence, hard work, and American pridethatinspireditscreation. Atfirst glance,thetruckcommandsattention. Its long hood, polished aluminum accents, classic lines, and distinctive Liberty Edition paint scheme instantly transport enthusiasts back to an era when most truckers took pride in their equipment andtheirprofession. Whilemanytrucks have come and gone since the mid-80s, the Liberty Edition still remains one of Kenworth’s most memorable special edition offerings. The story of the Liberty begins with one of America’s most recognizable symbols:theStatueofLiberty. Gifted to the United States by France and then dedicated on October 28, 1886, by then President Grover Cleveland, the statue has long represented liberty, democracy, opportunity,andhope. StandinginNew York Harbor, “Lady Liberty” welcomed generations of immigrants seeking a better life while serving as a powerful reminder of the freedoms that define the United States of America. As the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty approached in 1986, Kenworth sought a way to commemorate theoccasion. TheresultwastheLiberty Edition, which was a limited-production truck that celebrated both the statue’s centennial and the values it represented. Made available in both the W900B model conventional and the K100E model cabover, the Liberty Edition carried a patriotic red, white, and blue paint scheme reminiscent of Kenworth’s very popular Bicentennial Edition trucks introduced a decade earlier in 1976. According to Kenworth’s press release announcement at the time, the Liberty Edition was developed to be the“ultimateowner-operatorrig.” The truck featured an exclusive package of options not available on any other Kenworthmodel. Optionsincludedin this package were polished aluminum fuel tanks, aluminum wheels, dual air breathers, stainless quarter fenders, a stainless sun visor, dual chromed exhaust stacks and air cleaners, leather high-back seats, a woodgrain steering wheel, and a Sonysoundsystem. TheLibertyEdition not only reflected Kenworth’s complete commitment to quality craftsmanship, but it also reinforced their newly-minted ad slogan – “The World’s Best.” “The Liberty name was chosen to reflect such significant events as the 28 10-4 Magazine / July 2026 restoration of the Statue of Liberty and the growing commitment in the United States to quality and craftsmanship,” Kenworthexplainedatthetime. The company ultimately received about 350 orders for the limited-edition trucks, making them relatively uncommon even whennew. Today,findingasurviving Liberty Edition is increasingly rare, and finding one that is still working is even morerare. Thatrarityispartofwhat attracted Levi Hertzler to his truck. Acquired in 2021, his Liberty had spent approximately 16 years stored in a warehouse in Spokane, Washington. While many of the popular trucks from the era accumulated millions of miles or disappeared into scrapyards long ago, this one emerged from storage with only about 550,000 original miles showing on theodometer. Inmanyways,thetruck isasurvivor. Sincebringingitbackto work, Levi has carefully maintained the truck while updating it to meet the demands of modern trucking. Originally equipped with a 400 Big Cam Cummins, the rig received a major ROLLING LIBERTY!
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjA1MjUy