Mafia Secrets – July 2021
Leave it to visionary Tony Huttenstine to take a brand new 2020 KW W900L and decide that the “perfectly fine” 42-inch factory sleeper needed to go.
He bought this new and already very cool Kenworth in late 2019 with a vision to build the perfect early 1990s-era W9 throwback ride, complete with an early style Aero-One 60-inch sleeper. The first goal was to make it down to the Mid-America Trucking Show, presented every March in Louisville, Ky. Tony collaborated with co-conspirator Kyle Cousins, fearless leader of Carthage, Mo.-based Fleenor Bros. Trucking, on several of the tasteful mods that were being considered – the used stand-up sleeper, which was in spectacular condition, the maroon VIT interior in the cab to complement the sleeper upholstery, 7-inch monster stacks, diamond sleeper windows, a stainless steel retro bow-tie sun visor, and narrow cab and sleeper skirt panels.
Huttenstine was under a great deal of pressure to make the late March 2020 deadline for the Mid-America Trucking Show. Tony spent every waking hour securing parts and coordinating everything from paint, to fabrication, to upholstery, electronics, accessories and more. Well, let it be known the job was completed on time. But it was the year of the pandemic, so the Kentucky event was canceled, like most 2020 spring and summer events.
Tony Huttenstine decided to let the gang at 4 State Trucks customize his brand new 2020 Kenworth W900L.
Huttenstine left no detail undone, as he selected some truly super cool upgrades that make this truck look timelessly classic and a real truckers’ truck.
Check out the special touches such as the unique placement of the seven bullet lights atop the cab, the single grille bar and painted grille insert, the vintage mirror mounted turn signal lights and inboard air cleaner lights – front and back. And you can’t miss the flush mounted one-off deck plate and rear tail light panel that was built by the boys in the Chrome Shop Mafia metal fab shop. Cody trimmed out the entire edges of the frame cover with a painted perimeter and rivet-head accents. Then, not to stop short, they fabbed up a matching rear light panel with two subtle diamonds pressed in the stainless steel to complement the rear sleeper windows.
The high polished Hogebuilt flange-style full fenders, mounted with hidden brackets, the 20-inch Valley Chrome bumper, the slammed front suspension on air bags and the frenched in airline connections in the rear cross member are all eye-catching upgrades as well. I will stop here, but there are literally a hundred more details worth writing about.
Tony has racked up 100,000-plus miles since taking ownership of this fine ride. He is leased to Fleenor Bros., so you are apt to see this KW just about anywhere in the big ol’ USA. We recently caught up with northern Missouri’s Huttenstine as he passed through Joplin, and we filmed a “walk around” GBATS Friday YouTube video. Just days prior to our filming, this truck had been in the body shop after encountering an intense California sand storm. Every piece of forward-facing stainless steel had to be replaced, the grille surround, air cleaner lights, bumper, headlight bezels, windshields and more, as well as a boatload of repainting.
The inside of the truck is equally as amazing as the exterior.
The impressive button-tuck upholstery is gorgeous. The detail work on the shifters, seats, steering wheel, pedals, park knobs and more makes you want to stay inside, doors shut, while maintaining 70mph.
Tony has truly been a great guy to get to know over the last couple of years. Definitely one of the nicest and most professional gents we have ran across in recent years. He got his start in trucking as a young man delivering lumber and building materials locally. But, his dad and family members had trucks leased on to BTI, so Huttenstine got pulled into the owner-op game.
Tony was quick to give a lot of credit to his friends and the many parts providers he had the pleasure of working with, as we chatted our way around this incredible KW. I have seen many W9s in my day, but none any more tastefully done than this one. Hats off to the keen eye of Mr. Huttenstine. Home run, Tony – you nailed it! LL