In 160 hardback pages, author Jim Beach tells the Peterbilt story. It began when lumber baron T. A. Peterman, frustrated with the pace of getting logs to mills by river, steam tractor, or even horse team, experimented with adapting early automobile technology. In 1939, the remarkable logging trucks he’d made out of surplus army trucks finally went on sale to the public and Peterbilt was launched.

This illustrated history from MBI Publishing/Motorbooks follows Pete from its beginnings to its emergence as one of the worlds most successful truck manufacturers. Beach highlights the models that made Peterbilt such a presence in the trucking industry, as well as those trucks that figure prominently in the Peterbilt story — from the classic "iron nose" and "narrow-nose" butterfly hood, to the cabover models; from the high cab model and first tilt hood to flat "pit style" fenders; from the rarest Peterbilt ever manufactured to what may always be seen as the company’s flagship truck, the long-nose Model 379, built from 1987 through 2007. The story is complete and it’s richly illustrated.

If you’re ordering it, you’ll need the ISBN number — 076033269X. Price is a reasonable US$30.00.