The Peterbilt 282 and 352 were the cabover models of 1959 to 1980, and the first Peterbilt cabovers with a tilting cab, which gave mechanics proper access to the engine. The 282 had a single drive axle and the 352 two, and after a 1969 update the line was sold as the Pacemaker.
Peterbilt 352 at a glance
| Maker | Peterbilt Motors Company |
|---|---|
| Production | 1959–1980 |
| Layout | cab-over-engine, tilting cab |
| Models | 282 single drive axle, 352 tandem drive |
| Cab | first UniLite cab |
| Cab lengths | 54 to 110 inches |
| Headlamps | quad lamps after the 1959 redesign |
| Name | Pacemaker from the 1969 revision |
| Variant | 352H with raised cab, 1975–1980 |
| Replaced by | 362, introduced in 1981 |
History of the Peterbilt 352
The 282/352 replaced the cabover version of the 281/351 in 1959. Externally the new truck was similar to what had gone before, but it gained quad headlamps and, more importantly, a tilting cab: the whole cab could be tipped forward to expose the engine, which made routine servicing far easier than in a fixed-cab cabover. The model also introduced the UniLite cab, the larger and wider design that Peterbilt used for its cabovers.
Buyers could order the truck with a cab between 54 and 110 inches long, which covered everything from a short day cab to a long sleeper for team operation. In 1969, as part of a revision of the cab, the model took the name Pacemaker, a marketing label that stuck to the line for the rest of its life.
In 1975 the range gained the 352H, a version with the cab mounted higher on a larger radiator to make room for the bigger engines then coming into use. The cabover line was replaced in 1981 by the 362, the first completely new Peterbilt cabover in 22 years, which brought a curved three-piece windshield and a more aerodynamic cab.
Design and features
- Tilting cab: the first Peterbilt cabover whose cab tipped forward for engine access.
- UniLite cab: a larger, wider cab than the earlier cabover, with more room for the driver.
- Many cab lengths: from 54 to 110 inches, covering day cabs and long sleepers.
- Quad headlamps: four lamps in place of the two round units of the previous cabover.
- Pacemaker name: applied to the line from the 1969 revision.
Peterbilt 352 versions
- 282: single drive axle.
- 352: tandem drive axle.
- 352H (1975–1980): raised cab and larger radiator for bigger engines.
- Pacemaker specification: the 1969 revision with the new name.
The cabover story continues with the Peterbilt 362 and the aerodynamic 372; the conventional of the same years is the 281 and 351. All models are in the Peterbilt collection.
Video: 1969 Peterbilt 352 CABOVERS RULE
Video by AMY LOVELY on YouTube.
Sources
- Peterbilt, English Wikipedia: 1959 launch, tilting cab, quad headlamps, Pacemaker name, 352H, 362 replacement
- List of Peterbilt vehicles, English Wikipedia: production years, cab lengths, UniLite cab
- Peterbilt, French Wikipedia: cab and sleeper sizes, layout of the 282/352
