Pure Custom Pedigree: inside Kuchel Custom Trucks

Words by Anthony John-Pier. Photography by C5 Photography.

Kuchel Contractors in the Barossa Valley in South Australia is a shining example of a well run transport company and with years of experience in the custom car scene, and customising its own truck fleet, the time has come to turn its passion of modification into a new arm of the business – Kuchel Custom Trucks. Australian Custom Truck’s John Pier has the scoop.

They say trucking is in your blood and that’s the case with Tony Kuchel of Kuchel Contractors in the Barossa Valley in South Australia however, along with the diesel coursing through his veins there is the passion for customisation.

Tony took over the business from his father Max. When Tony started the operation was a four truck operation.

Today the company has grown to become a 15 truck fleet which are all Western Stars.

The diesel in Tony’s blood must be pretty good as he can remember painting the IH on the engine blocks of Max’s Internationals.

“I was a school kid in the early ‘60s and was doing stuff on his trucks. I painted his engines, the rocker covers silver and the spider wheels as well as fitting hubcaps and adding accessories. Dad loved it! It was in the blood and today it is continuing with Kuchel Custom Trucks. My kids have grown up around trucks and this is the next phase,” explained Tony.

Tony was a pioneer putting murals on the side of his trucks and his mates’ 3070 Accos. Murals are common place today but back then it was rarely seen on a truck. New trucks were also custom painted for International in Mile End Adelaide, as well painting for many local operators at the time.

Tony’s photo album showcases custom paint jobs on Atkinsons, Kenworths, Macks, Mercedes, MAN, Louisvilles, Dodge and Volvo as well as Internationals in the late seventies and eighties.

So custom painting of trucks is not something new for Tony at all.

“Back in 1977, Michael Reimann and I both bought Acco 3070’s and we modified the front guards and chromed air cleaners, hubcaps and fitted bullet lights on the roof and painted murals on the cabs,” he said.

“We added a fold down bed and extra trimming inside the cab done by my lifelong friend Steve Baum, who still does extra trim on trucks today.”

He said Steve is an expert on diamond pleating at the nearby Stateside Trim.

Tony and his wife Anne, who manages the office, have three adult children, Kendall, Jacob and Jordan.

They say a family who plays together stays together. All three children have the creative bug, including Kendall’s husband Bruce who works beside them in the office. Together the creativity is coming together in the form of Kuchel Custom Trucks.

“With Kendall’s expertise and experience, she is a qualified tattoo artist and accomplished air brush artist including portraits and can literally paint on any surface, whether it be skin, metal, wood or plastic,” Tony said proudly of his daughter’s ability.

“Jacob completed his apprenticeship at Wakefield Trucks and is a fully Qualified Diesel Mechanic . He did fit-outs and pre delivery on Western Stars at Wakefields.

“Jordan is a fully qualified Auto Electrician and has been doing our work for years. He loves to do rewiring and installation of electrical components,” explained Tony.

“All three are very passionate about rebuilding and refurbishments.”

Tony has been into hot rods since the ‘60s and all of his children have restored and rebuilt at least a couple of hot rods. Kendall has completed her own 1933 Coupe, Bruce has just finished his XM Falcon, Jacob has just chopped the roof on his 34 Ford Pickup and Jordan is assembling his 1947 Chev Pickup truck. The photos here are of Tony and Anne’s 1954 C 600 Ford parcel truck that Tony designed and built as their motor home.

“Anne was very particular and wasn’t going to settle for a sleeper cab. The Ford has all the mod cons -toilet, shower, big screen TV, kitchen and a double bed,” he lists the luxuries.

At present, the staff are working on Phil Elbourn’s 1970 International Loadstar with 6V53 Detroit rebuilding from the chassis up. One of Kuchel’s early Western Stars, a 20 year-old 3864, is also undergoing a refurbishment.

While Tony has always customised his trucks as the fleet grew he has come to realize that each individual driver likes his own truck to look a bit different.

“Drivers are very important in the whole industry. A happy and contented driver is your biggest asset. Everything is a little bit different on our trucks but obviously they still belong to a fleet. Even from a practical view point, a lot of what we are making and selling has evolved from wanting to improve our trucks. Western Star is a good truck but some subtle changes we have made have improved them and in turn cut our maintenance and cleaning times,” he said.

“It’s about being practical and keeping maintenance costs down.”

Looking at the Kuchel Custom Truck’s brochure there are some new things available that simply make so much sense.

Kuchels raise the mattress base in the sleeper by 100mm. This does not alter the structural integrity but allows large slide out fridges to fit under the bunk. Previously to access the locker under the mattress to store your bag it was a matter of lifting up the bed but by changing the front fascia in front of the bunk drivers can simply slide their bags under the bunk.

Kuchels also fit a slide out table/desk that fits behind the passenger seat. They also cover the cab floor in tough wood grain vinyl. It is very easy to keep clean and drivers can walk around in their socks as if they are at home.

Tony has designed a stainless piece that is mounted on the bonnet rather than the air cleaner in which to house the popular strip of lights.

“It is virtually like a deflector shield and it stops the bugs from getting in behind the air cleaner. The wiring goes into the bonnet which is not a problem,” he said.

“Today’s engines run very hot and the exhaust pipes also become very hot and bugs get baked onto them.

“We fit a 7” pipe over the standard 5” pipes. It is not an expensive option. It just makes it so much easier and quicker to clean and maintain,” explained Tony.

Kuchels have also designed their own bracketing system for the plastic guards on the drive tyres. It fits to the bottom edge of the guards allowing for an even clearance all of the time. The rear bracket is incorporated into a rear light bar that gives a very clean and unhindered rear end.

There are many other items and services available.

“We are a one stop shop; from complete restorations to new vehicle fit outs, including lights and panels, steps, deck plates and all electrical accessories and interior improvements and custom painting,” Tony told Australian Custom Trucks.

“There aren’t many places where you can go to get all of the work done.

“We are not about doing crash repairs but restorations and rebuilds, customising to the client’s requirements.

“We offer a personalised service and it is definitely in the blood because this is what the family want to do.

“It’s their future and they are really interested in this side of things. It has been my passion all of my life, good looking machinery and the family are continuing the tradition,” he said extremely proud of the next generations achievement.

The future is looking extremely bright for Kuchel Custom Trucks.