Beginning in the 1970s, the United States saw a dramatic rise in the popularity of trucker culture. Many television shows and movies highlighted the adventures of life on the open road, and more than a few drivers on the road today credit their original interest in trucking to these Hollywood offerings. Several popular TV shows and movies from the 1970s and ‘80s included what quickly became iconic Kenworth trucks.
Appearing in theaters in 1989, the climax of this sixteenth James Bond film features a chase with four Kenworth W900 tractors, all hauling tankers filled with drugs disguised as gasoline.
The scene features several driving stunts, including driving a tractor on one side and driving a tractor on only the rear wheels.
Sixteen Kenworth trucks were used to film the scene, including several specially modified by Kenworth to be able to complete the necessary stunts. Most were given improvements to the engines so they could run faster, but one was also modified with an extra steering wheel so it could be driven by a hidden stuntman, while another was given specialized suspension so it could lift its front wheels. Even though a rig was created for the stunt involving the tractor driving on one side, it was not needed as the driving stunt coordinator was able to accomplish the feat without it.
The same year, Kenworth released the new W900L with a 007 Limited Edition featuring the same paint scheme as the trucks in the movie. The trucks even came with CDs that had music from the James Bond films. Many of the 007 Limited Editions can still be seen on the road today.
