For the first time in more than a decade, the Mid-America Trucking Show brought back the "Big Rig Build-Off" as part of the 2024 PKY Truck Beauty Championship. In its first year back, four custom truck shops were invited to compete in the “special ‘elite builders only’ class” -- Johnson Hill Customs, Dickerson Custom Trucks, Davis Brothers Designs, and Massey Motor Freight.
Unfortunately, Massey Motor Freight and owner Troy Massey hit a snag during their build and their truck was not completed in time for the March show, leaving three shops left to compete for top honors in the special category. Results from the Big Rig Build-Off and other top categories from MATS can be seen here.
In the video above, catch the custom build from Adam Johnson and his team at Spring Valley, Wisconsin-based Johnson Hill Customs -- a 1980 Kenworth K100 cabover restomod. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for videos detailing the other two builds from the Build-Off.
Johnson, also the owner of the K&D Transport small fleet, started Johnson Hill Customs as a shop to maintain his own fleet of trucks as well as build custom trucks. The 1980 K100 shows an outside-the-box approach to rebuilding a classic truck. "Basically this is kind of our twist on a restomod," he said.
The truck, custom-built from the ground up, sits on a 248-inch wheelbase. Parts used on the rig are a mix of custom-made pieces in the Johnson Hill Customs shop and pieces from Lincoln Chrome, SH Tube, Hogebuilt and more.Video and photos by Lawson Rudisill
Johnson said the K100 was basically "a barn find" with no motor or transmission when he found it.
The shop put in a Cummins N14 Celect, adding some modern amenities the original motor wouldn't have had, such as cruise control. The motor pushes power through a 10-speed transmission and 3.55 rears.
