Here’s another beauty I came across at the Southern Classic Truck Show, next to a working Freightliner cabover of small fleet owner Ben Cadle I’ll tell you more about a little bit later. This one belongs to Craig Krumpton of West Columbia, S.C., retired from a career with the state. Krumpton picked this 1971 Kenworth W900 up in 2008, buying it from a friend’s father, who himself had purchased it from the original owners out of Louisiana.
The first owners were a represented by the original insignia here on the doors — by the time Krumpton had gotten in touch with them, owner-operator Steve P. Skolnik had passed, but his wife obilged passed along plenty of memories about their time hauling. Come to find out, Krumpton says, they “had gotten married in the truck.”
Current owner Craig KrumptonOriginally, the unit had a 36-inch sleeper and a 335 Cummins, which in 1985 was replaced with a 400 Cummins and 15 Speed transmission, also outfitting it with the pristine 76-inch classic Double Eagle sleeper. They ran the unit up through the mid-1990s.
Krumpton’s “left pretty much everything original,” he says, but for some small adds, such as the stacks, which he replaced.
Painted on the side of the sleeper — again, part of the original paint.Krumpton shows the unit for enthusiasts and tells the truck’s story to anyone who asks. It also serves the practical purpose of hauling his own classic cars and antique tractors to other shows, he says. Catch further views in the gallery below.
