The Peterbilt 389 of 2006 replaced the 379 at the top of the conventional range. Its 131-inch bumper-to-back-of-cab body was the longest Peterbilt had ever produced, and the model came with redesigned headlamps, fenders and trim that separated it from the truck it succeeded.
Peterbilt 389 at a glance
| Maker | Peterbilt Motors Company (PACCAR) |
|---|---|
| Production | from 2006 |
| Class | on-highway, Class 8 |
| Layout | conventional cab, long hood |
| Replaced | 379 |
| BBC | 131 inches, the longest produced by Peterbilt |
| Cab | shared with the 2005–2007 379 |
| Hood | longer than any earlier Peterbilt conventional |
| Lighting | redesigned headlamp clusters |
| Special version | 389X Pride and Class |
| Export | Australia, through a third-party right-hand-drive conversion |
History of the Peterbilt 389
The 389 appeared in 2006, a year before the 379 left production. It used the cab of the final 379 but added a longer hood, upgraded headlamps and aerodynamic improvements, and the result was the longest conventional Peterbilt had ever built at 131 inches from bumper to back of cab. For buyers who wanted the traditional long-nose look, it was the natural continuation of the 359 and 379 line.
The model was offered with the same sort of power as its predecessor, and it was sold in Australia through a third-party conversion to right-hand drive, which kept the Peterbilt name in that market after the 379. A luxury version called the 389X, also known as the Pride and Class package, added a higher level of trim and equipment for buyers who wanted the most elaborate form of the truck.
The 389 remained the flagship of the long-hood range for nearly two decades, alongside the shorter 388 in its early years and the aerodynamic models for fleets more concerned with fuel. In 2015 the 388 was folded into the range as the 123-inch 389, leaving the 131-inch body as the defining version of the model.
Design and features
- 131-inch hood: the longest bumper-to-back-of-cab measurement Peterbilt had built.
- Redesigned front: new headlamp clusters, fenders and trim compared with the 379.
- Shared cab: the 1100-series cab of the final 379, with the same interior layout.
- 389X package: the Pride and Class version with extra trim and equipment.
- Australian sales: right-hand-drive conversions offered through a third party.
Peterbilt 389 versions
- 389 (from 2006): the standard 131-inch conventional.
- 389X Pride and Class: the luxury trim package.
- 389 123-inch (from 2015): the former 388, folded into the range.
- 388 (2006–2015): the shorter version sold under its own number.
The 389 replaced the Peterbilt 379; the shorter version of the same truck is the 388, and the aerodynamic alternative is the 386. More in the Peterbilt collection.
Video: 2015 Peterbilt 389 Owner Operator Cummins 550 18 Speed
Video by Peterbilt Steve on YouTube.
Sources
- Peterbilt, English Wikipedia: 2007 launch, longer hood, headlamps, shared cab
- List of Peterbilt vehicles, English Wikipedia: 131-inch BBC, 389X, Australian conversion, 388 renaming
