Continuing with our theme of legendary Kenworth trucks, this time we follow the journey of a 1966 K923. Not only was it NZ’s first K-Model Kenworth cabover, but it was also too wide to be allowed on NZ roads. Here’s the story of chassis number 82592, another Southpac Legend.

This 1966 Kenworth K923 was a standout of its time. Not only was 82592 the 13th Kenworth to come to NZ, but it was also the starting point for the large cabover market share held by Kenworth today and now being extended by the new generation K220.

It was also a Newark Cab Kenworth, so had no fibreglass. Current owner and restorer Craig Gordon explains: “My understanding is that this model was designed for the European market. It’s got a straight through dash, and quite an open cab.

“It’s all aluminium, roof and aluminium window castings, has a front flap on the cab that opens up so you can work on the dash from the outside and mesh stays with the radiator, so when you tilt the cab, you can stand up inside and work over the front of the engine.”

Craig says it also has a folding grille “which is not normal on a K-Series Kenworth” and hasn’t got steps under the doors [it’s got swinging frames], so it was a totally different style of truck to the next Kenworth K-Series that came along.”

According to Craig, the 1966 K923 arrived in RFL’s blue and white livery. However, unfortunately, because it was over-width they couldn’t take it. “NZ at that time was 8ft and this truck was 8ft 2in. So, it couldn’t get on the road.” 

Despite the setback, Dalhoff & King, Palmerston North decided to drive it around NZ and show it off to all. It was at a Rotorua show in ‘67, where it finally found its first NZ role, as a stock truck for JV Geany from Rotorua.

“Peter Geany’s father and grandmother bought the truck in `67,” says Craig.

“Dennis and Myra Geany took it to their yard, took the standard round indicators off and replaced them with flat ones. Then Barry Caulfield [who was at Bridgestone back then], cut the wheel studs down on the front and made it the legal width.”

The K923 was fitted out as a stock truck and trailer. It came powered by an NH250 Cummins with a 4-speed main and 4-speed auxiliary, had a Page and Page rear end and Rockwell top loader diffs.

However, Craig says that “like many American trucks back in those days” the truck had no brakes on the front axle, (just maxi brakes on the first driver and service brakes on the rear). So, when JV Geany did finally get it on the road, they weren’t allowed to take the trailer off because there wasn’t enough braking.

Craig says that the truck went on the road in ‘67/68 with Sonny Barnes at the helm and in the first 12 months he put 100,000 miles (160,000km) – most stock trucks at that time only did 80-90,000km. 

“It performed really well, and the existing trucks they [JV Geany] had could never keep up.” he says.

Apparently, the Geany’s had a habit of not painting truck chassis, so when it went on the road it wasn’t hard to miss. It had a red and yellow cab and a blue chassis. They also put the exhaust system along the chassis and relocated the air cleaner, oh and painted the grille red. By all accounts ‘it looked quite strange’.

Craig says that the following year the Geany’s changed the front axle and put a braked one in, it was slightly narrower so had the good studs on it.

“But the problem is, they put Maxi brakes on the front axle and when you’re in the cab, the handbrake button is by your right knee,” says Craig. “It’s a reverse button too, so you push it in to put the brakes on. Not something you’ll want to do when shifting gears,” he jokes.

When the Geany’s got round to changing up their fleet, the K923 was traded in, and Ernie Salter (Salter’s Transport in Tairua) bought it. He put a self-loading crane on the back and sent it out on cartage and recycling duties.

Later it was traded in again, back to Dalhoff & King Palmerston North, before GG Hamilton in Marton bought it. They tidied it all up and used it for carting potatoes.

Next, the K923 went from moving spuds to moving lemons. It headed north and started a new career in the towing business with Auckland Towing Services in Auckland.

From there, stories began circulating that NZ’s first Kenworth cabover had been destroyed. However, Craig Gordon recalls that he was talking to a guy at a show in Rotorua and discovered that this was thankfully untrue. In fact, the K923 had made its way to Greg Clarke at Mt Maunganui, where it was pulling bits and pieces of machinery around the farm.

Craig took a trip to Clarke’s farm and asked `what were the chances of buying the truck?’

“He was asked what he was going to do with it to which he replied, ‘restore it back to its original.’ Gregory immediately dropped $1000 off the asking price. And so, in 2018/19, the K923 became Craig Gordon’s of Mt Maunganui.

“First to go was the tow truck rear,” says Craig. “And while it was working in Auckland, it was given a homemade grille and it looked awful.” So that went too.

“It took me three and a half years to get an original grille for it.” says Craig. “A guy had one on a shelf because he’d converted one to a conventional.”

He says that somewhere along the way a 310HP turbo has been put into it, but he’s found another engine and correct rear end, so he’s got most of the parts. It’s going back to 100% original, exactly how it was on the road, every nut and bolt, even the modified indicators. 

As to when exactly it will be restored has yet to be confirmed, as Craig is in the process of building a toy shed and has five trucks to work on.

“I’m doing my father’s W924 first and then I’ll do this K923.”

Craig says that once completed, the truck will stay in his shed as he’s trying to preserve history.

“It’s a nice old truck but it’s quite strange. It’s only a 52-inch cab but there’s more room in there than in the late model ones, because they’ve all got big frames and insulation. This is just a bare bones truck with heaters under each seat.”

Craig believes that this 82592 is the only K923 in Australasia, and judging by the amount of people that want photos and to know more about it, is probably true. 

“Even the guy from Kenworth Australia hadn’t even seen one,” says Craig, “so it must be something special.”