FERGUS, Ont. – The Fergus Truck Show, rain or shine, is one of Ontario’s longest-standing traditions, drawing visitors from in and even out of province to showcase their wares, compete in truck pulls or just get an eyeful of painted up, chopped and antique trucks.

This year’s show was no exception: truckers, along with their families and friends, gathered to admire some of Ontario’s best-looking trucks, and even dream of one day getting something they could show themselves.

And Truck News was there with the best of them, admiring and dreaming, and asking visitors to the show what kind of truck they would buy and how they would spec’ it if price was no object…

Family business man Brent Kurtz of Brian Kurtz Trucking in Breslau, Ont. entered one of his family’s prize trucks in the show (a 1958 Kenworth) but he was already hard at work on his next project, and more than able to come up with the specs on it if price was no object:

“I’d get a Kenworth but the year would be in the 1950s somewhere, I’m working on a 1954 right now, but I’d upgrade it if I had all the money. I’d do my own spec’ing. I’d probably go five and a four, 235, 260 day cab with big power. For suspension I’d get Kenworth or Pete air ride, either one.

“Then I’d hot rod it. Get low ride, slam her down a little bit to the ground, big visor, straight pipes, stainless, blue. I don’t know if I’d keep the original interior.”

Gary Kelly, a salesman for Premier Peterbilt in Brampton, Ont., was a man who knew exactly what he wanted: “The truck I would buy would be a Peterbilt model 379 for resale, and I would spec’ it out with a 70 inch unibuilt ultracab sleeper with a platinum interior, twelves and fourties 475 CAT upgradeable, with an 18-speed transmission and a clutch to handle it. I’d have straight pipes, a 270 inch wheel base, with battery boxes in between the front drive and the fuel tanks and that would be pretty much it.”

Rick Primeau, a former driver now in safety and recruiting for LE Walker Transport in St. Thomas, Ont., showed special interest in creature comforts as well as a sense of humour that probably used to serve him well on the road.

“I’d want a long frame, a large bunk with full amenities inside – shower, washroom, microwaves, comfortable leather seats and a double bed.

“I’d want mirrors (on the outside of the truck) positioned in the right areas so there wouldn’t be any blind spots. I’d want a big engine, with double turbos, like one of them big CATs.

“And as far as looks go, I’d want lots of stainless, a double high rise condo, and I’d want it painted black – with lots of stainless – did I already say that? LOTS OF STAINLESS. And a big mural on the back of the bunk that says ‘My divorce settlement.'”

George and Candy Burns had pretty specific ideas about the dream truck they’d use for their one-team operation out of St. Catharines, Ont.

Said Candy: “If price were no object we’d get a 379 extended hood Peterbilt, although we’d have to watch the wheelbase so we could go to B.C. If it were still available I’d like a very large CAT engine. For transmission I’d like a 15 double-over, but they’re very hard to come by or even have somebody work on anymore. As for how we’d do it up, it would be black metal flake with silver accents, lettering and lots of chrome, with purple lights on the back, purple lights underneath and purple lights on the breather. The reefer would be stainless of course, and 48 feet, which is easier to load. It would be a ThermoKing, probably a Trailmobile, for the reefer unit.”