Peterbilt 351 – specifications
Built: 1957 · Series: Other models
Data for the version built 1957 · Data origin: Official register · sources
More machines from model year 1957
Peterbilt – other models: the collective page of US semi-tractors outside the named ranges, Caterpillar 3406 diesel engines up to 14.6 litres, also entered in Finland's vehicle register
This page gathers the Peterbilt semi-tractors the register could not assign to a named range. Peterbilt was founded in 1939 in California, is now based in Denton, Texas, and has belonged to PACCAR since 1958; the brand represents the classic US conventional layout with a long bonnet, in contrast to the cab-over design common on European trucks. Some of the vehicles listed here appear in Finland's vehicle register under the designation Puoliperävaunun vetoauto (BC), Finnish for semi-trailer tractor – a sign that US trucks have also been registered in Scandinavia as show or working vehicles. Many of these vehicles were powered by the large-displacement Caterpillar 3406 diesel of 14.6 litres.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists here 11 versions with an output of about 350 kW, displacements from 12,176 to 14,629 cm³, all six-cylinder, unladen weights from 5,860 to 8,840 kg, gross weights from 10,719 to 23,587 kg, lengths from 6,430 to 8,800 mm and widths from 2,450 to 2,580 mm.
Peterbilt is regarded in the US as a prestige marque among long-haul drivers and owner-operators; the long bonneted trucks with large-displacement diesels differ markedly from the more compact European cab-over layout and are occasionally imported to Europe as show trucks or working vehicles.
On an imported US truck, check the overhaul history of the Caterpillar 3406 engine, corrosion on the frame, which given the US climate was often less thoroughly protected, the condition of the fifth-wheel coupling, and the sleeper-cab area; parts run through specialist US-truck importers rather than the ordinary European dealer network.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Peterbilt (weitere Modelle), Peterbilt (PACCAR, Hersteller), Zulassungsdaten Traficom (Finnland)
Technical data
Engine
| Cylinders | 6correct |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 14,000 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 8,630 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,450 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 8,500 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 22,800 kgcorrect |
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Peterbilt 351 weigh?
The unladen weight is 8,500 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Peterbilt 351?
22,800 kg.
What engine does the Peterbilt 351 have?
6 cylinders, 14,000 cm³ displacement.
What are the dimensions of the Peterbilt 351?
8,630 mm × 2,450 mm.
When was the Peterbilt 351 built?
Production years: 1957.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 7 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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Other models in this series
Sources: Traficom — Finnish vehicle register (retrieved August 2026) · Data sources and cross-checks
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