For Graham Redington, Managing Director of the Northchill Group, his Kenworth T900 Legend, chassis number 65, is unequivocally the latter. Christened The Big Kahuna, this rig is more than just a truck; it’s the culmination of a lifelong passion and a rolling masterpiece that turns heads on every Kiwi road it graces.

The Kenworth Legend series holds a special place in the hearts of trucking aficionados. These are not mere retro-styled trucks; they are meticulously crafted tributes that blend iconic, old-school aesthetics with the pinnacle of modern engineering and performance. 

When Kenworth announced the T900 Legend in 2017 to celebrate the classic model, it was a call to action for collectors and die-hard fans. For Graham Redington, the call was impossible to ignore, and the story of how The Big Kahuna joined his fleet is one of perfect timing, a bit of negotiation on the home front, and a deep-seated love for the Kenworth badge.

A Deal Struck in the Factory

The journey began not with a plan, but with a chance conversation. Graham was at the Kenworth factory to see a new K200 coming off the production line for his fleet. It was there that Brad May, then the sales manager for Kenworth, planted the seed.

“Brad May said to me, `would you look at a T900 Legend’?” Graham recalls. The question was loaded with significance. Kenworth had previously released a limited run of 75 T950 Legends, and as Graham notes, “none of them came to New Zealand.” So, the prospect of a new Legend series, and the chance for a Kiwi operator to get in on the action, was tantalising.

Graham’s interest was immediate and specific. “So, I said to him [Brad], ‘Well, shit, I’ll take a T900 Legend, as long as I can get the number I want. I want number 65, as it was the year I was born’.” This wasn’t just about acquiring a limited-edition truck; it was about making it deeply personal from the very first step.

Of course, such a purchase required a conversation with his wife Michelle. At the time, Graham and his son Mitch, who sells Kenworths, were already in the middle of a project – a Mack Superliner they intended to restore. When Graham pitched the idea of the T900, his wife’s response was supportive but pragmatic: “That’s cool but sell the Superliner.” 

For Graham, the decision was simple; “I’ve always been more of a Kenworth person through and through,” he admits. “So, it was a no brainer, really.”

The Superliner was sold, paving the way for a new Legend to enter the fold.

The ordering process itself added to the truck’s mystique. Kenworth opened the order books for a single 24-hour period.

“Whatever’s ordered in that 24-hour period is all they’ll ever build,” Graham explains.

In that frantic window, dealers scrambled to secure a build slot for their most passionate customers. When the dust settled, around 285 orders for the T900 Legend had been placed. And among them, secured for Graham Redington, was the one he wanted: “mine was build number 460065, so chassis number 65”. The birth year truck was a reality.

The Making of a Masterpiece

A truck of this stature couldn’t simply be standard. From the moment it left the factory, The Big Kahuna was destined for a level of customisation that would set it apart even from its limited-edition brethren. The truck was shipped not to New Zealand, but to Geelong, Australia, to the renowned workshop of the Klos brothers.

“My truck went from the factory to Klos brothers in Geelong. Justin and Turk, they laid down all the stripes and the colours,” Graham says.

The chosen colour scheme reflects the modern identity of the Northchill fleet, a sleek, powerful Toyota grey. This colour wasn’t a long-standing corporate mandate but an evolution.

“We never, ever planned to have grey trucks,” Graham explains, “but I bought a K200 off a mate of mine in Aussie [Nick Duke], and it was already in Toyota grey. And then we just decided to keep some grey trucks, and they sort of evolved from there.”

The grey became synonymous with the company’s logistics business, and many of the trucks wear a proud motto on the back: ‘Life’s too short to drive ugly trucks’.

The customisation in Geelong was a hands-on affair. Graham flew his signwriter, Cliff Mannington from Mount Maunganui, all the way to Australia to ensure every detail was perfect. Cliff hand-painted the signwriting along with Justin Klos at the Klos Bros workshop, underlining the level of craftsmanship invested in the project. The Klos team also handled the extensive stainless work and the entire custom fit-out. One of the most remarkable details is the pinstriping, which was all meticulously done by hand. As Graham proudly says; “The one brush they used, that stayed with the truck.”

It’s a small artifact that represents the soul and artistry poured into the vehicle.

Once the work in Australia was complete, the truck was shipped across the Tasman. It received its final finishing touches, including the fifth-wheel fitment, at SouthPac Trucks before it was finally ready. The result is a seamless blend of classic lines and modern fleet identity, a truck that is both a personal treasure and a flagship for the Northchill Group. 

The name itself is a final, perfect touch. “My wife named it that, because I’m the boss,” Graham laughs. With the fitting plate NO65, The Big Kahuna was officially born.

More Than a Truck

For Graham, this was never about adding another unit to his sizable fleet of 40 trucks and 52 trailers. This was personal.

“I never bought it as a fleet truck. It was always my own truck,” he says. “Even though they’re all our trucks, but that one’s mine.”

Its usage reflects this special status. It’s not on the daily grind; instead, Graham says, “I only really ever do the concerts.” After seven years, the odometer has only just ticked over 208,000 kilometres, incredibly low mileage that underscores its role as a cherished showpiece.

So, what makes it so special to him?

“It was just a one-off truck, a pretty special truck,” he says simply. It represents the best of both worlds; “It was just a cool truck back in the day. This is pretty much that same truck again, but just with the latest running gear.” 

It’s the visual and visceral appeal that truly resonates; “It’s a head turner, it’s just old school cool,” Graham says.

His passion for unique rigs doesn’t stop here. He’s since gone on to buy a Legend SAR and even briefly owned a W900 he intended to restore before realising he had too many projects. It’s clear that trucking is more than a business for Graham.

When he does get behind the wheel, the experience is everything he hoped for. “It’s beautiful to drive,” he says. “It drives like a nine-tonne lounge suite. It handles well because it’s got a longer wheelbase than normal.”

The Other Driver’s Seat

The keys to The Big Kahuna are not handed out lightly. In fact, besides Graham, there’s really only one other person who gets to drive it: Toby McLean, Operations Manager for Ontour Logistics Ltd.

Toby, who normally pilots a K104, confirms the truck’s protected status. “It’s Graham’s baby and it doesn’t really get used too much unless my truck’s out for maintenance or something,” he says.

“There’s not a lot of kays, but it wasn’t brought to be a fleet truck either.”

Toby’s perspective is invaluable, as he can compare the Legend to its modern and classic counterparts.

“It’s like a Nine-oh, but a little bit lower and handles a bit better,” he says. “So, it’s pretty much like a 909 but sportier.” 

Toby appreciates the blend of old and new. “It’s cool because it’s got all the old school features, the flat dash and the split windscreen,” he says, adding that it’s “just an old shape with all new stuff.”

Getting into the cab is a trip back in time, with one feature standing out in particular.

“The cool thing is that they’ve got the air powered windows, so they go up and down with air powered switches. It’s like being back in the 80s,” Toby says. 

Yet, beyond these retro touches, everything feels familiar and perfectly integrated, just like a new 909. Graham has also put his personal stamp on the interior with a very powerful aftermarket audio system and a Texas Ranger CB that’s been converted to 27 Megahertz.

When asked what he likes most about the truck, Toby’s answer is immediate. “The stance of it probably, it is a beautiful looking truck”. It’s an experience to drive it, not just a job. “It certainly turns heads,” he confirms. “You feel cool driving it too.”

Even a near-perfect truck isn’t immune to a driver’s critical eye, and Toby does have one minor critique.

“The high intakes,” he says. He prefers a different style of vortex intake that sits lower at the same height as the bonnet, believing they are “10 times better than what’s on it now.” It’s a small detail, but it speaks to the level of thought drivers put into the form and function of their rigs.

Does his reliable K104 “miraculously break down a lot” to give him more seat time in the Legend? Toby laughs it off. “No, it’s really reliable. But I drive the Legend every now and again, just to charge the batteries.” And when it’s time to hand back the keys? That’s not an issue. “I actually have my own set!” he reveals with a grin. It’s the ultimate sign of trust from the big boss.

The Big Kahuna is more than just Graham Redington’s personal truck. It’s a rolling ambassador for the Northchill Group, a head-turning icon at concerts and truck shows, and a physical manifestation of a passion for the Kenworth brand. It’s a story of opportunity, craftsmanship, and personal history, all embodied in nine tonnes of chrome, steel, and old-school cool. It is, in every sense of the word - a true SouthPac Legend.