The Peterbilt 385 of 1996 was a shorter version of the aerodynamic 377, built with a 112-inch bumper-to-back-of-cab body and a set-back front axle as standard. It was developed to compete with the Freightliner FLD 112 and lasted until 2007.
Peterbilt 385 at a glance
| Maker | Peterbilt Motors Company (PACCAR) |
|---|---|
| Production | 1996–2007 |
| Class | on-highway, Class 8 |
| Layout | conventional cab |
| Derived from | 377 |
| BBC | 112 inches, with a 120-inch version later |
| Front axle | set-back as standard |
| Rival | Freightliner FLD 112 |
| Replaced | 120-inch 385 took over from the 377 |
History of the Peterbilt 385
The 385 arrived in 1996 as a shorter companion to the 377. Peterbilt built it with a 112-inch bumper-to-back-of-cab body, which made the truck more compact than the 377 and suited regional operations where a long bonnet was not needed. The front axle sat back as standard, and the shape was close to that of the 377, with a different hood slope.
The target was clear from the start: the Freightliner FLD 112 occupied the same part of the market, and Peterbilt wanted a truck of comparable size. A 120-inch version followed, and in time it took over the role of the 377 itself, so the 385 became the standard shorter aerodynamic tractor in the Peterbilt range.
Production continued until 2007. By then the 386 had been introduced, combining the aerodynamic hood of the 387 with the traditional 1100-series cab, and the medium-duty range was being renewed alongside. The 385 remains the model that brought the shorter-bonnet configuration into the Peterbilt highway line.
Design and features
- Compact body: 112 inches from bumper to back of cab, shorter than the 377.
- Set-back front axle: standard, improving weight distribution and the turning circle.
- Different hood slope: close to the 377 in shape but noticeably distinct at the front.
- Market target: developed specifically against the Freightliner FLD 112.
Peterbilt 385 versions
- 385 (1996–2007): the 112-inch model.
- 120-inch version: longer body, which eventually replaced the 377.
- 377: the larger aerodynamic conventional it was derived from.
The model it was derived from is the Peterbilt 377, and the truck that followed the idea is the 386. The wide-body aerodynamic tractor of the period is the 387; more in the Peterbilt collection.
Video: 2007 PETERBILT 385 For Sale
Video by Truck Paper on YouTube.
Sources
- Peterbilt, English Wikipedia: 1997 introduction as a shorter 377, 112 and 120-inch versions, replacement of the 377
- List of Peterbilt vehicles, English Wikipedia: production years, Freightliner FLD 112 comparison, set-back axle
