The T400 was the shorter-hood member of Kenworth’s aerodynamic family. Introduced in 1988 as a regional-haul tractor, it was a Class 8 variant of the T600 with a shorter bonnet, and its series name went on to cover a whole Australian range.
Kenworth T400 at a glance
| Introduced | 1988 |
|---|---|
| Role | regional-haul tractor |
| Based on | Kenworth T600 |
| Class | Class 8 |
| Hood | shorter than the T600, for a 112-inch BBC length |
| Applications | regional shipping, local delivery and vocational work |
| Production (US) | 1988–1997 |
| Australian series | T400, T401, T401 ST, T402, T403, T404/SAR, T408/SAR, T409/SAR (T450, T480) |
The American T400 is described in a section of the English Wikipedia article on the T600; the Australian series is a list in the article on Kenworth. Both are used here.
History of the Kenworth T400
Kenworth introduced the aerodynamic conventional in 1985 with the T600, which had a set-back front axle and a sloped hood. In 1986 the idea was adapted to a heavy-duty chassis as the T800; in 1988 came the shortest-hood version, the T400, aimed at regional haulage rather than long-distance line haul.
The T400 was a Class 8 variant of the T600 semitractor with a slightly shortened hood, giving a bumper-to-back-of-cab length of 112 inches. That made it easier to fit a longer trailer within the length limits that mattered for regional and local delivery work, and it was also offered for vocational duties. In the United States the model was produced from 1988 to 1997.
In Australia the T400 name grew into a series rather than a single model. The list of previous Australian Kenworth models gives a T400 Series running from the T400 through the T401, T401 ST, T402, T403 and the T404/SAR, T408/SAR and T409/SAR, with the T450 and T480 listed alongside. The SAR versions of the series are still part of the Australian range today, as the T410 SAR and T610 SAR.
Design and features
- Shorter hood: a 112-inch BBC, shorter than the T600 it was derived from.
- Regional role: designed for regional shipping and local delivery as well as vocational work.
- Class 8: the same heavy class as the T600 and T800.
- Australian series: the T400 name covered a long list of Australian models.
Kenworth T400 versions
- T400 (1988–1997): the American regional-haul tractor.
- T401 and T402: further models of the Australian T400 Series.
- T404/SAR, T408/SAR and T409/SAR: the short-bonnet versions of the series.
- T450 and T480: the larger models listed with the series in Australia.
The T400 was the short-hood member of the T600 family, next to the heavy T800. Its Australian short-bonnet descendants are covered with the SAR. More trucks are in the Kenworth collection.
Video: 1990 Kenworth T400
Video by bonder456 on YouTube.
Sources
- Kenworth T600, English Wikipedia: T400 section: T600 variant, 112-inch BBC, production years, applications
- Kenworth, English Wikipedia: T400 of 1988, Australian T400 Series list
