Bob Harley’s needle-nose 1972 Peterbilt 358A pounded the asphalt for 20 years as part of his RD Excavating and Trucking, a 17-truck fleet Harley’s helmed for 30 years.
A few years ago, following a steer tire blowout that tore up the truck’s front end, Harley retired the rig as a work truck. He sent it to 4 States Trucks in Joplin, Mo., for years of rebuilding it as an antique show truck.
Harley’s “Bad Attitude” represents his low tolerance for laziness and self-awareness of his own moodiness. When his young stepson saw the rig, he said “It looks mad,” further solidifying the moniker.
Harley’s pretty Peterbilt, a finalist in the 2015-16 Pride & Polish National Championship, met another beautiful champ in August at the Great American Trucking Show – Brita Nowak, the 2016 Overdrive’s Most Beautiful winner.
Nowak, a Florida-based independent, charmed attendees with her passion for all things trucking. She was treated to a professional make-up session before a photo shoot in front of Harley’s rig.
“I’m known for my tough trucking attitude, so I love it that I get to pose in front of such a beautiful truck named ‘Bad Attitude,’ ” Nowak said. “We had so much fun and loved meeting everyone. It made me realize how proud I am to belong to this industry.”