Memphis Flash: Ray Fleming’s Peterbilt 379

Words: Warren Aitken · Photography: Warren Aitken

A 2006 Peterbilt 379 with a C15 named “The Memphis Flash” and owned by Ray ‘Elvis’ Fleming has got heads turning in Queensland. Warren Aitken has the story.

It seems fitting that when you’ve spent the majority of your life answering to one of two nicknames; ‘Elvis’ or ‘Rocker’ that when you’re given a blank canvas for your new truck it would end up vibrant, eye-catching and named “The Memphis Flash”.

Ray ”Elvis” Fleming has been in the industry since he was seventeen when he started in an old 700 series dodge, with a 653 in it pulling loads between Albury, Melbourne and Wagga Wagga. For thirty five odd years he worked for all manner of companies doing all manner of jobs, until six years ago when he had the opportunity to go out on his own.

“Don’t buy your own truck, no money in trucks, can’t make a living out of trucks,” Ray heard from ‘all and sundry’. “Well why the f@#k has everyone got them,” was his reply. So he scrimped and saved a deposit for his first truck, a classic W-model Kenworth.

His W-model came with a lot of history and during the past six years it was used as a tipper carting for Leighton Sand and Gravel, “a great company to work for” Ray remembers. It is currently fulfilling Ray’s contract with Toll to cart for Coles Distribution. Although the W-Model is far from spent, the need for a later model truck was pressing on Ray and it was time to go shopping.

Originally a later model Kenworth had been on the top of his shopping list, but Ray recalled a chance outing with a mate a year earlier to the workshop of Retruck Australia, one of Australia’s premier importers and convertors of Peterbilt Trucks. Retruck had a completed 379 Pete on the floor at the time which caught Ray’s eye, all he asked was “can I get it in black?”

So when the time came to make a purchase Ray walked back in to see Stuart and the boys at Retruck, “let’s do it” he said. Ray had several design ideas and only a few specific requirements. He needed a 230” wheelbase, he wanted a CAT motor, “I wanted the CAT, I like the CAT”, and Ray also wanted an eighteen speed box. Retruck had no problems and quoted him up a 2006 Peterbilt 379 with a C15 and all the bling Ray could imagine.

Retruck have a trusted team in the states who crated up the disassembled 379 ready to ship, the 600hp C15 ACERT motor was given a full rebuild in America. It also underwent a conversion from the twin turbo back to a single turbo as Ray himself had said “Twins are fine, there’s just no point in having them for what we do, twice as many things to go wrong and twice as expensive to fix.”

Once the container arrived at Retruck in Brisbane the fun began. The first job was to shorten the chassis. From the factory the 379 was on a 265” chassis which the boys were able to shorten to 230” for Ray. The truck was already fitted with a 46,000lb rear end, running NEWAY ADT suspension. The next job was to remove the 13 speed box and replace it with an 18 speed 22 series Eaton Fuller transmission.

The paint work took a massive five weeks as plans and designs fell by the wayside on a daily basis. The Retruck boys working constantly as Ray added new concepts and ideas to the original design.

Metallic flakes were a last minute addition to the chassis and running gear. The original chequered concept gave way to the flames, a throwback to Ray’s love of Hot Rods. Retruck brought in Greg from BrushFX to hand paint the flames and add the orange banding for a great finishing effect.

The purple used throughout is a custom colour based on House of Kolors Passion Purple Kandy. While the outside was being finished, the interior had been pulled apart panel by panel in order to customise the cab and the 48” sleeper. Ray wanted to integrate the black and purple colours throughout which Retruck were able to do. Using a special upholstery paint, the plastic panels were painted black and all the soft trim was painted in the same customised purple. Then Retruck went one step further, with the state of the art Hydro Dipping facilities they were able to add a full flame effect to the entire dash. The effect is amazing! Hydro Dipping allows them to choose any design, pattern or colour and adhere it to almost any surface. Ray has added a few extra touches himself, including imitation knuckle dusters as truck and trailer brake levers.

With the interior completed and the truck assembled it was time for Retruck to add the bling. A full chrome package was ordered through Big Rig chrome shop in the USA which included the stainless steel drop visor, extra lights and stainless fittings around the sleeper, under the doors and in front of the air intakes.

They also fitted an 18” Texas Eagle front bumper, a 7” Lincoln Chrome exhaust system and a unique letterbox front grille. The two 180 gallon, or 680 litre, tanks were removed, painted and polished. Retrucks own fibreglass dual rear guards were made up to compliment the Peterbilt 22.5” rims. All in all, the end result is not just a head turner, Ray says “in my forty one years of driving she’s the best truck I’ve ever driven” The Memphis Flash certainly lives up to its name, A true trucking rockstar!

Rear Vision: where are they now?

Do you know where this truck is today, or have an update on its story? We would love to hear from its owners, drivers or anyone who helped build it.