Back
German Truck Enthusiast’s Dream: Experiencing a Kenworth T659 in Australia
For 20-year-old German truck enthusiast Christian Apel, a recent trip to Australia became a dream come true when he finally came face-to-face with one of his favourite trucks, a Kenworth T659 operated by Rocks Plus.
Christian travelled from Germany to Melbourne with his grandparents for a four-week holiday, with one truck high on his list to see. His connection to the Rocks Plus T659 began in 2024 after seeing photos of the truck on social media. Inspired by its appearance, he spent six to eight months carefully recreating the vehicle from LEGO, paying close attention to the details of the original.
The truck itself had been delivered to Rocks Plus by Bayswater Truck Centre Sales Consultant Bob Fuerst in 2023. Christian first met Bob in 2018, and the pair have remained in touch ever since. They also share a family connection as second cousins.
Before travelling to Australia, Christian built a second LEGO version of the T659 with the goal of personally presenting it to Rocks Plus owner Michael Kasso.
Meeting the Real Kenworth T659
One of the highlights of Christian's trip was visiting the Rocks Plus site with Bob and seeing the truck that inspired his creation.
"I was quite surprised and taken aback when Bob first told me about Christian," said Michael. "There are so many trucks out there and I'm so appreciative that Christian went to the effort of doing something like this for me. I'm really quite chuffed."
When Christian presented the LEGO model, Michael was blown away by the level of detail.
"I thought it was impressive when I saw the LEGO build in the photos, but to see it for real, it's incredible. You can even unclip the roof to see inside the truck," he said.
The model has since taken pride of place in Michael's home office.
"I have three young boys, and my youngest son has been eyeing it off, but I've told him he's not getting his hands on that one!" Michael joked.
The experience didn't stop there. Michael also gifted Christian a Rocks Plus hoodie and a diecast Kenworth model before arranging for him to ride in the T659.
"For him to come out and have a look at the truck, climb inside it, get photos of it, and then get to go for a drive in it, is just the icing on the cake," said Michael.
For Christian, the experience exceeded expectations.
"It felt unreal. It was an amazing experience to go for a ride in the Kenworth," he said.
Behind the Scenes at Kenworth
The adventure continued with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Kenworth manufacturing facility in Bayswater, organised by Bayswater Truck Centre and PACCAR Australia.
For Christian, seeing the factory was a major highlight.
"I liked the tour, the factory was really cool. It's the first factory I've ever seen from the inside," he said.
One moment that stood out was seeing the famous chassis spin in action.
"The chassis is actually built upside down, and then they do the chassis spin to flip it over, so I got to see that, which was really cool."
Christian was also fascinated by the mix of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology involved in building Kenworth trucks.
"I didn't realise that so much of the truck is still built by hand. Some parts of the cabin are built by hand, and other parts are built using robotics."
To cap off the experience, Christian had the opportunity to sit in a brand-new Kenworth T909 fresh from the production line and take photos beneath the iconic Kenworth sign.
A Passion That Spans Continents
Back home in Germany, Christian had only ever seen one Kenworth truck in person. During his visit to Australia, he not only saw countless Kenworths on the road but also met the people behind the truck that inspired his LEGO creation, rode in a bonneted Kenworth, and toured the factory where Australian Kenworth trucks are built.
For a young enthusiast who travelled thousands of kilometres to experience Australian trucking culture firsthand, it was an unforgettable journey and a powerful reminder that a passion for Kenworth trucks can connect people across the globe.