Haul of Fame: The Rat Rod (Custom-Built Peterbilt 359)

Some trucks come and go.

Some trucks define an era.

For Bryan Martin, the Rat Rod, a custom Peterbilt 359, wasn’t just a rig — it was a chapter of life that ran hard for more than a decade.

A wide range of Peterbilt parts and accessories were used to craft this rugged, sleek build.

It hauled, survived, evolved, and became a rolling extension of its owner. And like all great eras, it eventually came to an end — not because it failed, but because it earned its legacy.

Not every truck belongs in the Haul of Fame.

This one had to.

Rat Rod isn’t here because it was perfect, rare, or untouched. It’s here because it worked, survived, evolved, and became legendary over more than a decade under one owner.

This Peterbilt 359 wasn’t a weekend toy or a short-lived build — it was a long-term relationship between a man and a machine that shaped careers, memories, and miles.

What makes it Haul of Fame worthy isn’t one part, one paint job, or one story.

It’s the fact that this truck lived a full life — scars, setbacks, heavy loads, scale house scrutiny, and all — and still came out the other side respected, remembered, and impossible to replace.

This is the story of that era.

Watch the Video: Haul of Fame YouTube

A Truck Out of Time

On paper, Rat Rod never made sense — and that’s part of the magic.

• Built from an ’87 Peterbilt 359 glider kit
• Not titled or put to work until 1990
• Legally a 1990 Peterbilt 359 — a truck that technically never existed

Back then, trucks were titled when they went to work, not when they were built. Rat Rod sat behind a barn, waited, and came to life on its own schedule.

From day one, it was different — even before Bryan ever touched the keys.

Built Right Before It Was Cool

The Randy Humphrey foundation.

Before Bryan, Rat Rod belonged to Randy Humphrey out of Florida. Randy built trucks to work — not to pose — and that mindset never left this one.

Pop the hood and the truth was obvious:

• Clean hose routing
• Proper clamps
• No shortcuts

Even when the truck looked rough, it was always mechanically dialed in. When Bryan bought it in the early 2000s, he became only the second owner — right place, right time, right truck.

Power With a Purpose

Originally, Rat Rod ran a V8 Cat 3408 — loud, iconic, and undeniably cool. But reality eventually stepped in.

They were:

• Extremely heavy
• Hard to find parts for
• Even harder to find mechanics who truly understood them

So the truck evolved.

Final drivetrain during Rat Rod era:

• Caterpillar 425 horsepower
• Heavy-duty 9-speed overdrive
• 4-speed Spicer auxiliary
• Peterbilt low air leaf suspension

Still old-school. Still mechanical.
Just built to survive modern reality.

Cool Factor #1: Honest Wear

Nothing fake. Nothing forced.

Rat Rod never pretended to be perfect.

• Faded paint
• Dents and dings
• Cracks in the hood
• A turbo failure scar stamped into the metal

Every mark came from real work — not from a fab shop trying to recreate “patina.”

It's an authentic style built from its hard-hauling history. And that can't be bought. 

Inside the Cab: Rugged Personality Over Polish

Bryan leaned fully into Rat Rod’s identity.

• Phillips 66 service station sign flooring
• Speed limit sign headliner
• Raw door panels with vintage decals
• Original steering wheel and shift knobs still intact

REMEMBER: You can install multi-colored 2-inch marker lights that are wired to change with a simple flick of a switch.

Place them in multiple areas of your truck, like the rear-T lightbar or underbody panels nestled beneath your frame-chassis.

The lighting setup and paint job seamlessly pair with the smooth, windowless rear sleeper design. 

These design choices weren't necessarily expensive. 

But they were the perfect way to achieve that gritty aesthetic. 

The Aftermarket Upgrade That Changed Everything

The most impactful modification wasn’t flashy.

Bryan had the “Big Hole” Conversion done — Uni-Bilt style — allowing:

• Full seat travel
• Proper recline
• Real comfort on long days

That single modification kept Rat Rod livable — and kept it on the road year after year.

Modern Touches That Mattered

Air wipers looked cool.
They never worked well.

The conversion to electric wipers brought sanity back to rainy miles — proof that Rat Rod wasn’t frozen in time. It evolved when it needed to.

That balance — old soul, smart updates — defined the era.

Cool Factor #2: The Truck That Got Pulled Over

With its ratty, tattered theme, the Rat Rod looked like an easy target for highway inspections.

Looks are deceivng. 

Scale houses thought otherwise after inspections:

• No leaks
• Clean brakes
• Tight mechanical condition

It might’ve cost Bryan time — but never tickets.

Chrome Shop Mafia Touches

As Rat Rod aged, Chrome Shop Mafia played a key role in keeping it roadworthy without sanitizing its character.

Key CSM contributions included:

• Chrome Shop Mafia rear light bar
• New battery boxes and battery toolbox
• Brand-new replacement fuel tanks, finished with custom patina work

Rather than making the truck look new, the CSM team — with craftsmanship credited to Johnny — intentionally aged the tanks to match the truck’s earned character. They looked old, but functioned like new.

That philosophy mattered.

The Grill Guard That Changed the Stance

The massive custom steel grill guard wasn’t about looks.

It was about survival.

• Protecting a rare 359 extended hood
• Saving thousands in potential repairs

At roughly 750 pounds, it:

• Pulled the front end down
• Changed the truck’s stance
• Required suspension adjustments

The solution?

Chrome Shop Mafia handled the correction, adding spring blocks to restore ride height while keeping the guard — and the attitude — intact.

Proven Under Pressure

Early on, Bryan accidentally hauled 111,000 pounds of liquid cattle feed.

Overloaded.
Overthinking.
Sweating every mile.

Rat Rod handled it.

No failures.
No drama.
Just grit.

Scars Earned, Not Hidden:

• Ditches ✔
• Deer strikes ✔
• Fuel tanks dragged until they caved ✔

Those original Peterbilt factory tanks were crushed nearly nine inches — and never leaked.

That’s old-school toughness.

More Than a Truck

A decade-plus of identity.

For over ten years, this wasn’t “Randy Humphrey’s old truck.”

It was Bryan’s Rat Rod.

People recognized it, talked about it, and remembered it. 

It had a sound, a smell, a presence. 

The End of an Era

Why it was finally time.

Eventually, Bryan made the call.

Not because Rat Rod failed.

Not because it was worn out.

But because eras end — and new ones begin.

Selling it meant:

• Upgrading into a newer truck
• Turning the page
• Letting the legend stand untouched

Some trucks you fix forever.

Others you preserve by knowing when to let go.

Why Rat Rod Belongs in the Haul of Fame

Rat Rod earned its place not because it was flashy — but because it was real.

It hauled when it was heavy.

It survived when conditions were ugly.

It evolved when practicality demanded change.

And it stayed mechanically sound while wearing every mile on the outside.

For over a decade, this truck wasn’t just driven — it was lived in.

That’s what the Haul of Fame exists to honor.

Not just the trucks that look good under lights —but the ones that carried weight, carried memories, and carried their owners through an era of their lives.

Rat Rod did all three.

That's what makes this custom truck a Haul-of-Fame worthy pick.