Peterbilt 389
The other icon, and like the W900 now out of production. A 389 in good order with a clean specification is closer to an appreciating asset than any other truck in this list.
Fuel economy
5.2-6.5 mpg
loaded, at highway speed
Fuel per mile
$0.692
at $4.049 a gallon
Tractor weight
18,500-21,000
pounds, day cab to large sleeper
Used asking
$45k-$200k
condition moves this more than the model
What the fuel gap costs
Against the most efficient tractor in this reference, over 120,000 miles at this week’s diesel price.
$24,517 a year
Known issues
Age on the older ones, and the aerodynamic penalty every day it works.
Verdict
The most defensible of the classics on resale, and the least defensible on fuel. If you are going to run one, run it on lanes short enough that the fuel gap does not compound.
Others in classic and long-nose