Ordered three years ago, this special limited edition Peterbilt 389X has finally arrived on Australian shores just in time for its owner’s 60th birthday celebrations.
When Craig Membrey of Membrey’s Transport and Crane Hire ordered the ‘Green Dream’ – a limited edition Peterbilt 389X – he didn’t expect it would take as long as it did to arrive on his doorstep.
But as it hit home soil – arriving at Adelaide port last Friday – it was a very welcome sight.
Peterbilt’s popular model 389 was first introduced in 2006 and will cease production by the end of the year to make way for the new model 589.
The brand released 1389 units of the limited edition 389X model and Craig was lucky enough to snap one up.
“It’s a birthday present to myself,” said Craig, who celebrates his 60th on June 7. “There are six 389s coming into Australia but mine is the only limited edition one.”
Based in Melbourne, Membrey’s Transport and Crane Hire was started by Craig’s father Jack Membrey in 1962 – with Craig taking the reins in 1989, putting in the hard yards to grow the business into what it is today, with over 250 pieces of gear.
He well and truly lives by his motto of ‘make it happen’. “How lucky am I to have the only Peterbilt 389X in the country!” he said.
Craig was actually handed the keys to his new beast in May 2023. He and his kids Leah (19) and Jack (16) headed over to the Peterbilt factory in Denton, Texas, for the occasion. They were lucky enough to have timed the trip to coincide with the new truck coming off the production line.
[L-R] Leah, Craig and Jack Membrey outside the Peterbilt factory in Denton, Texas. Image: Membrey’s Transport and Crane HireAt the time, Craig expected it would take no longer than three months to get his newest toy home – but due to shipping delays, it was a whole 12 months before he laid sight on it again.
Though it isn’t Craig’s only Peterbilt – there are two others in his fleet – this is the first one he’s purchased brand new.
The Green Machine is truck number 1029, in honour of his son Jack’s birthday on October 29. Though he’s still at school, he looks set to eventually follow in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps.
“I was lucky to get the serial number 1029 for Jack’s birthday, obviously in America they flip the month and date around. I have two limited edition Kenworths in the fleet – a Legend 900 and Legend SAR which are both number 29. I couldn’t get number 29 with the Peterbilt but was lucky enough to get build number 1029,” explained Craig.
Before Craig gets to take the truck for a spin on Australian roads, it’ll be converted from left-hand to right-hand drive, along with being highly customised – or “Membreyised” as Craig calls it – with all the “bling and shine”.
Craig has enlisted Truckworks in Adelaide to do the conversion and once complete, the truck will make its way home to Melbourne.
“I’ve been to the Peterbilt factory four times now and kept dreaming. Now I’ve put it all together. But there’s things you’ve got to do so it’ll probably be a few months until I get it on the road.
“For a long, long time, a new Peterbilt has been on my bucket list. Peterbilts are the Lamborghinis of trucks.”
While much of Craig’s fleet is put through its paces is some of the most demanding jobs, that won’t be the case for the Green Machine. It will be more of a show truck, though Craig says he’ll still be doing the odd job with it too.
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