Riding High: the Harley-Davidson Freightliner Coronado twins

Words by Staff Writer. Photography by Easton Chang.

Two black Freightliner Coronado 114s carrying Harley-Davidson styling were among the more unusual collaborations ACT featured in Issue 2. They took two strong American transport brands and turned them into a matched pair of working heavy vehicles with a deliberate show-truck presence.

An idea that started in North Carolina

The project grew from a visit to Freightliner’s Cleveland manufacturing plant in North Carolina. Dr Kolja Rebstock noticed Freightliner staff wearing Harley-Davidson clothing, a simple observation that eventually led to discussions between the brands in Australia.

The Australian trucks were then customised in-house by Freightliner as a demonstration of what could be added to a production vehicle without losing its working role.

The details made the pair

ACT recorded Doyles leather trim and interior artwork, stainless-steel components fitted by Daimler Trucks at Huntingwood and black cab paint by Workhorse Collision Repair.

The success of the styling came from consistency. The two Coronados shared the same visual language rather than being treated as unrelated builds.

Underneath the artwork

Both Coronado 114s used the Detroit DD15 15-litre engine, listed in the original feature at 560 hp. The pair carried the Harley-Davidson identity across the cab and trailer, giving the combinations a presence that went well beyond a set of decals.

Easton Chang’s photography was important to the original feature. His images captured the trucks on the road, in the workshop and alongside a motorcycle, reinforcing the connection ACT was documenting.

Looking back, the feature records a moment when manufacturers were becoming more willing to use customisation as part of brand presentation rather than leaving it entirely to owners after delivery.

ACT archive note: This feature records the collaboration and trucks as they appeared in 2013.