Optimus Prime Peterbilt stunt truck from ‘Transformers’ franchise on the auction block

Details on the Barrett-Jackson auction are at this link.

An interesting post hit the digital halls of the web via Cnet this past week — the Peterbilt above was pictured via the Barrett-Jackson auction house’s website attendant to its upcoming mammoth vehicle auction Jan 24-31 in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Cnet ran this brief on it and one other vehicle involved in the auction.

Model year? Yes indeedy, it would be exempt from installing electronic logging devices via the terms of the FMCSA’s recently released mandate: it’s a 1992 379 with what looks to be a Caterpillar 14.6L 3406 under the hood.

Here’s Barrett-Jackson’s description of the rig’s provenance:

When it came to creating the first live-action “Transformers” movie, the most important characterization was certainly that of “Optimus Prime.” An entire team of artists and illustrators worked tirelessly, drawing potential trucks and cars, trying to zero in on just the right look for each robot/vehicle. When the film’s production designer showed Michael Bay a photo of the enormous Peterbilt tractor, the director was immediately taken by the lines and size of the truck, even through he know he would face intense criticism for his choice — in the same way he did for selecting a GM Camaro in place of the original VW Beetle known as the beloved robot Bumblebee [one of those Camaros is being auctioned, too, according to Cnet]. Both of Bay’s picks ended up enthralling new audiences as well as diehard fans of the sci-fi series. The Peterbilt, a more aggressive truck, was also used as Bay’s tip-of-the-hat to Steven Spielberg’s 1971 film, “Duel.” This vehicle is one of the tractors used. It was a picture and stunt vehicle and is being sold “AS-IS” and “WITH ALL FAULTS” and is subject to execution of a Paramount Waiver…

Catch more views of the rig, register to bid, and etc. via this link to the Barrett-Jackson site.

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