Kenworth K100
Built: 1979-1997 · Series: K100
More machines from model year 1979
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Kenworth K100 – the cab-over heavy truck from Kirkland, Washington, six- to eight-cylinder diesels of 14 to 14.6 litres, up to 257 kW
Kenworth, based in Kirkland, Washington, and part of PACCAR since 1945, built the K100 from the 1960s into the 2000s as a heavy cab-over-engine truck. This page gathers the models the register could not assign to a dedicated range, from the plain designation K 100 and K100 through the factory variant K100C to the fully coded K100C-6X4/4600+1320, whose type plate carries the axle formula and wheelbase dimensions directly in the name. As a cab-over with the cab positioned above the front axle, the K100 was shorter than comparable conventional trucks and for a long time was the American answer to length restrictions on truck combinations, before conventional trucks gained the upper hand there from the 1980s; in countries without such restrictions, the cab-over layout stayed in use longer.
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The register lists 5 versions here with up to 257 kW from six- to eight-cylinder diesel engines of 14,000 to 14,600 cc, kerb weights of 7,901 to 8,695 kg, gross weights of 22,679 to 24,600 kg, lengths of 6,350 to 7,800 mm and widths of 2,450 to 2,600 mm.
In the heavy-duty class, the K100 competed with other American cab-overs such as the Freightliner FLT and the White-Freightliner COE, and was built both as a tractor unit and with various axle formulas for special bodies; the large diesel engines fitted came, depending on model year, from makers such as Cummins, Caterpillar or Detroit Diesel.
When buying a used K100, the key points are the frame and cab mounting, since the cab-over cab is designed to tilt for engine work and the tilt mechanism and locking can show wear, plus the condition of engine and clutch, brakes and axles given the high gross weights, and corrosion on the frame and cab on older trucks; spare parts for the engine and drivetrain usually come through the supplier of the particular engine.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Kenworth K100, Kenworth (Hersteller, PACCAR)
Technical data
Engine
| Cylinders | 8correct |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 14,600 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 7,020 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,600 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 5,250 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 8,695 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 24,600 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Wheels | 6correct |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Kenworth K100 weigh?
The unladen weight is 8,695 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Kenworth K100?
24,600 kg.
What engine does the Kenworth K100 have?
8 cylinders, 14,600 cm³ displacement.
What are the dimensions of the Kenworth K100?
7,020 mm × 2,600 mm.
When was the Kenworth K100 built?
Production years: 1979-1997.
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 10 individual figures for this model. They come from 2 recorded sources; 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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