The T660 was the 2008 replacement for the long-running T600. It kept the cab of its predecessor but redesigned the hood and lower bodywork, and it brought PACCAR-built diesel engines under the bonnet for the first time in the aerodynamic line.
Kenworth T660 at a glance
| Introduced | 2008 |
|---|---|
| Replaced | Kenworth T600 |
| Cab | Aerocab cab and sleeper carried over from the T600 |
| Hood and fenders | redesigned, first aerodynamic update since 1990 |
| Headlamps | composite, faired into the fenders |
| Grille | similar to the T2000 conventional |
| Engines | PACCAR diesel engines |
| Front axle ratings | 12,000–14,600 lb (5,400–6,600 kg) |
| Rear axle ratings | 23,000 lb (10,000 kg) single to 46,000 lb (21,000 kg) tandem |
| Sleeper lengths | 38, 62, 72 and 86 inches |
| Discontinued | 2017, in favour of the T680 |
The T660 has no Wikipedia article of its own; it is described in a section of the English article on the T600, which is used here together with the model history in the article on Kenworth.
History of the Kenworth T660
The T600 had been in production since 1984, and for 2008 Kenworth replaced it with the T660. The cab structure stayed the same — the Aerocab cab and sleeper were carried over — but the hood and lower bodywork were extensively redesigned. For the first time since 1990 the aerodynamics of the hood and fenders were updated, with composite headlamps faired into the fenders and a grille similar to the one on the T2000.
A major change was under the bonnet: the T660 adopted diesel engines produced by PACCAR itself rather than bought-in engines. The chassis was offered with front axle ratings from 12,000 to 14,600 lb (5,400 to 6,600 kg) and rear axles from a 23,000 lb (10,000 kg) single to a 46,000 lb (21,000 kg) tandem.
Buyers could choose from four sleeper lengths: 38, 62, 72 and 86 inches. The high-roof Aerodyne was available on the three longer versions and the low-profile FlatTop on the three shorter ones. In 2016 Kenworth announced that the T660 would be discontinued in favour of the T680; production ended in 2017, 32 years after the T600 had been introduced.
Design and features
- Updated aerodynamics: the first redesign of the hood and fenders since 1990.
- PACCAR engines: the aerodynamic conventional moved to in-house diesel engines.
- Composite headlamps: faired into the fenders, with a T2000-style grille.
- Four sleeper lengths: from a 38-inch FlatTop to an 86-inch high-roof Aerodyne.
- Wide axle choice: front axles up to 14,600 lb, rear tandems up to 46,000 lb.
Kenworth T660 versions
- T660 FlatTop: the low-profile version, offered in the three shorter sleeper lengths.
- T660 Aerodyne: the high-roof version, offered in the three longer sleeper lengths.
- T600: the model it replaced, with a different hood and lower body.
- T680 (2013–): the third-generation aerodynamic conventional that succeeded it.
The T660 replaced the T600 and shared its place in the range with the wide-body T700 and the heavy T800. The earlier aerodynamic conventional was the T2000. More trucks are in the Kenworth collection.
Sources
- Kenworth T600, English Wikipedia: T660 section: hood, headlamps, PACCAR engines, axles, sleepers, end of production
- Kenworth, English Wikipedia: place of the T660 in the model line, discontinuation in 2017
