MOVE’s Andrew Church is thrilled to have the truck on display at the museum.
Photo by
Bree Harding
Priscilla might have been the queen of the desert, but this Kenworth was the king.
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It’s no secret that prime movers are the biggest vehicles on our roads, but there’s still a hierarchy among the sizes of the big rigs.
The 2005 Kenworth C510 10x6 is a beast.
CAT decals and Kenworth badges on brushed stainless steel add stunning detail.
Photo by
Bree Harding
It was bought new by Brambles Industrial Services to haul road trains on Western Australian highways.
It was the largest highway registered model on the road at the time.
After 11 years of heavy work, the giant Kenworth — perhaps better known as Moby Dick after the fictional giant whale of the sea — was sold at auction to Slingshot Haulage in 2016.
In 2018, Slingshot began restoration works in its own workshop, however, specialist tradespeople were needed to complete the complex job.
South Australia’s Kuchel Custom trucks brought the final vision to life by fitting a V12 Caterpillar engine (3412 80BHP 2800lbsft torque) and renovating the sleeper cabin to include a shower with hot water and a toilet.
The 18-speed K-Whopper was re-registered in 2021.
The custom plates are an abbreviation of the truck’s nickname.
Photo by
Bree Harding
A glossy white and yellow duco, brushed stainless steel, mounted with chunky Kenworth badges and CAT decals, Moby Dick’s Northern Territory registration plates read MOBY-D.
A bullbar that looks more like a ladder to trucker’s heaven.
Photo by
Bree Harding
Paired with classic pin-striping and a painted quote on both sides — “When the going gets tough ... the tough get going” — the beast has a bullbar that more resembles a ladder.
An inspirational quote is painted on either side of the mover.
Photo by
Bree Harding
Given its size, the driver can’t see five or so metres immediately in front of the truck, so, just like a reverse camera at the back, it has a forward-facing camera mounted on the bullbar for better visibility.
Inside, the big Kenny is just as impressive.
MOVE’s Andrew Church gets behind the wheel of the big rig.
Photo by
Bree Harding
A stylish woodgrain dash and Eaton Fuller gear shifter dominate the front-most features, where the driver and passenger take in the view from their seats that are lined with fluffy faux sheepskin in a rich shade of burgundy.
Behind the seats, a plush ‘road house’ invites a weary driver to rest and refresh in a level of comfort most would not expect to find inside a truck.
A button-tufted leather interior screams opulence.
Photo by
Bree Harding
A full-sized toilet and shower with hot water give the driver some creature comforts while on the road.
Photo by
Bree Harding
The walls and ceiling inspire visions of a luxurious Chesterfield lounge with matching button-tufted burgundy leather on the walls and ceiling.
There’s a fridge, a smart TV, a microwave, a fold-out bed and, as mentioned earlier, a toilet and hot-water shower.
Its size is menacing; its history is impressive.
Photo by
Bree Harding
The C510 is Kenworth’s grand answer to the Grand Hilton.
A grunt-filled home on wheels in the desert.
This titanic truck can be viewed at MOVE at Kialla for one month only.
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