When you drive a Peterbilt 379X, you'd better get used to drawing a crowd.

Peterbilt conventionals are already many a trucker's favorite, but the 379X takes appearance to a new level. The large stainless sun visor and twin 15-inch stainless cowl-mount air cleaners, chromed steel Texas-style bumper and lots of bright trim all highlight the truck's most outstanding cosmetic feature, its highly polished aluminum fenders.

Inside, brushed aluminum abounds, giving the truck an almost aircraft-like look. A full array of 2-inch gauges, including separate left and right side fuel tanks, contribute to the feeling that you're piloting an airplane. The brushed aluminum is complemented by the polished shift handle and shiny stainless shifter base with its laser cut 379X. I liked the long toggle for the courtesy lights' switch, another nice feature in a truck full of nice features.

I drove the Pete 379X to the Iowa 80 TravelCenter of America, where I parked it at the far end of the parking lot. It was fairly empty at 2 p.m. I didn't want to invite even the hint of a scratch to the truck that Peterbilt would display for the next two days.

Returning from lunch an hour later, I saw the truck had drawn a crowd, with quite a few trucks parked nearby and truckers walking 'round the Pete.

Step Inside

The 379X's good looks extend into the sleeper compartment, where brushed aluminum and charcoal trim give the 70-inch Ultracab its own unique character. There are ample cabinets and closets, all faced in charcoal vinyl and trimmed with brushed aluminum. The bunk seems extra-wide, with room for a couple to sleep comfortably.

The exterior has the same attention to detail as the interior, with the polished, punched-out Peterbilt oval grille, the (KW-style) vertical grill bars, 7-inch chromed twin stacks that look even larger with their solid heat shields and one of the 379X's signature items, the polished aluminum centerline trim accenting the hood. No need to go to your chrome shop. The 379X comes with LEDs on stainless panels at the air cleaners, below the doors and at the base of the sleeper.

On the Road

While the 379X is all about style, I did get a chance to learn how it performed. Grossing more than 76,000 pounds, the 500 hp C-15 Caterpillar had no problem handling the load. The fully featured Pete sent its power through an Eaton Fuller 18-speed gearbox to a 3.55 Dana 40,000 drive tandem. The special Peterbilt aluminum wheels carried Bridgestone 11R24.5s. With nine pages of single-spaced specifications, the build sheet had more features than I could mention here.

It amazes me how many new friends one can make on the CB when driving a spectacular tractor. The Pete handled well in crosswinds, and had a comfortable yet stable ride, thanks to Peterbilt's proprietary Flex Air Suspension.

My biggest concern was how well the polished aluminum fenders would hold up against the aggressive chlorides used for snow removal. I asked Peterbilt's Todd Acker why they weren't made of Alcoa's Dura-Bright aluminum to resist staining and corrosion. He said that in their tests, the alloy that the fenders are made from is the same as the fuel tanks, and requires the same care-no more and no less.

The 379X has all the positive attributes of a Peterbilt and then some. You don't have to enter a show truck contest to take pride in your ride, and this truck certainly is one to be proud of. To those who will be buying this special edition, which has started rolling off the production line, I have only one thing to say . . . I'm jealous.

Vital Statistics

2003 Peterbilt 379X
• Wheelbase: 267 inches
• Bumper to Back of Cab (bbc): 127 inches
• Engine: Caterpillar C-15 "Bridge" Engine, 500 hp @ 2100 rpm; 1850 lb-ft @1200 rpm
• Transmission: Eaton Fuller RTLO 18918B 18-Speed Overdrive
• Drive Axles: Dana Spicer DSP40 with 3.55:1 ratio
• Tires: Bridgestone 11R24.5
• Dry Weight: 17,879 lbs