The Peterbilt 353 was the construction-oriented version of the 359, introduced in 1973 and built until 1987. It combined the butterfly hood of the older vocational trucks with the wide radiator grille of the highway 359 and added flat steel fenders for site work.
Peterbilt 353 at a glance
| Maker | Peterbilt Motors Company |
|---|---|
| Production | 1973–1987 |
| Layout | conventional cab |
| Use | construction and vocational work |
| Hood | butterfly type |
| Fenders | flat steel |
| Grille | the wider grille of the 359 |
| Replaced | 341 and heavy-duty versions of the 351 |
| Successor | 357, from 1986 |
| Engine quoted | Cummins NTC350, 350 hp |
| Gearbox quoted | Fuller RTO9513, 13 speeds |
History of the Peterbilt 353
The 353 was announced in 1973 as a construction truck derived from the 359 highway tractor. It took the wider grille of the 359, which gave the larger radiator area that heavy site work demanded, and kept the butterfly hood that opened for engine access. Instead of the cycle-style fenders of the older trucks it had flat steel fenders, which stood up better to scrapes and made the truck easier to repair.
In the range the 353 replaced the 341 and the heavy-duty versions of the 351, and it became the standard Peterbilt for tipper and mixer work through the 1970s. French sources describe the 1974 specification with a Cummins NTC350 of 350 hp, a Fuller RTO9513 thirteen-speed gearbox, air brakes, leaf springs at the front and air suspension at the rear, in 6×4 form for gross weights from about 14.9 tonnes as a rigid or 38 tonnes as a tractor.
The model was still in production in 1986, when Peterbilt began the biggest revision of its range in years: the 357 took over the vocational role as the successor to the 353, and the 378 replaced the 348 and 349. The 353’s flat-fender hood survived as an option on the 357, a reminder of how long the construction look lasted.
Design and features
- Construction specification: flat steel fenders and a simple hood for site work rather than highway polish.
- 359 grille: the wider radiator grille of the highway tractor gave extra cooling for heavy loads.
- Butterfly hood: engine access from both sides without lifting a single-piece bonnet.
- Long service life: fourteen years in the catalogue, from 1973 to 1987.
Peterbilt 353 versions
- 353 (1973–1987): the standard construction truck.
- Tipper and mixer bodies: the usual applications, on the same chassis.
- 357 (from 1986): the successor, which could still be ordered with a flat-fender hood.
The highway tractor it was based on is the Peterbilt 359, and its successor is the 357. The older vocational truck it replaced is covered with the 281 and 351. More in the Peterbilt collection.
Video: Rare 1980s Peterbilt 353 290 cummins start up and revs
Video by Unlimited3406 on YouTube.
Sources
- Peterbilt, English Wikipedia: 1973 launch, 359 grille, replacement of the 341 and 351, 357 successor
- List of Peterbilt vehicles, English Wikipedia: production years, flat fenders, butterfly hood
- Peterbilt, French Wikipedia: 1974 specification, engine, gearbox, weights
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