The Sneaky Pete PHR Factoid

I work in the Test Dept. at the Peterbilt Manufacturing plant in Madison ,Tn . We get to initiate freshly-born Petes in Test.   Just wanted to let you guys know we got a real kick out of the Sneaky Pete Factoid ! The picture doesn't really show but the rear wheels on Sneaky are an option on current Peterbilt models and they are HUGE! Instead of 4 tires on a rear axle , with those there are only two. I've always wondered how those would look on a street rod , now I know. Anyways , we are taking the Oct issue of PHR  to our R&D guys and seeing if Peterbilt could go into the street rod business , heh heh!Sneaky could use the 825hp Cat C-15 engine , though...  

Michael Leeds, the builder, actually tried to get a Peterbuilt direct from Peterbuilt for the project, but was waved off as a crack pot. Leeds is a well-known automotive artist, car builder and architectural designer in the Santa Cruz area, and you may remember was featured a few years ago on Monster Garage (he helped Jesse James build a "Trike" out of a Peterbuilt).

The engine is the same type used in Jay Leno's Blastolene Special, which is out of an eastern European tank. Leeds is a super guy, and I've never met anybody as creative and hard-working. I want to shoot Sneaky Pete as a feature, and hope Peterbuilt will take Leeds more seriously in the future.  

Everyone that I've shown that to thinks it's great! I'll catch some of the brass and show it to them.Maybe we could get the ball rolling, it would be great PR for the company. We'd love to see a feature on it. Incidentally , I forgot when I posted this thread but went back and checked out the tire size. 445/50R/22.5 , told ya they were huge and they even have that hot rod look to 'em!  

Yeah baby! Big 'ol tires. I think the truckers refer to those rigs as "10-wheelers," since the dual wheels are no longer "dualed."

Please stay in touch and let me know what your "big wigs" say about Sneaky Pete. I'm sure Leeds would love the help with this machine. For what it's worth, his Peterbuilt is a '63 model I think.  

I am all over it like a bad monkey! We've got some hardcore car guys in my department and we try to help out our fellow hot rodders any way we can. I've got a 2001 T/A , and a 1989 Camaro convertible getting the full treatment including a LS1/T56 plus a tricky suspension. Another co worker has a'72 Chevelle SS , a '72 ElCamino SS , a '72 Chevelle convertible , and just for giggles, a '72 Chevelle 4-door with under 60k on the clock (still haven't figured his favorite make and year of car yet). Another has a '06 Corvette that's not even a month in his possession since being bought new, plus numerous Fairlane ,1st gen Camaro and Mustang owners. I moderate a large GM website along with Mr. Rupp and I own another. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything and will stay on them about this .