Our second new member of the Bridgestone Million Mile Club is this crisp 2000 Freightliner Argosy from the SCS Transport fleet of Christchurch. Affectionately known as Sassy Cat, its name is a clear indication as to what colour the cast iron block is painted under the floorboards.

SCS Transport owner Scott Duff gives us the rundown on the Argosy’s history.

“My sister Shelley originally purchased the Argosy new in 2000, and a few months later we formed SCS Transport together. In fact, it was one of the first three Argosys to hit the road here in New Zealand. We originally specced the truck with a C12 Caterpillar, so it had the low floor in it. Roadmaster did the build, and it was running a four-axle trailer, set out for 32 pallets.

“Unfortunately, in 2006 the unit got tipped over with about 1,000,000km on the clock, and a near-new C12 between the rails. This wrote off the unit. I purchased it back off the insurance company and ordered a new high-tunnel cab out of the United States.

“We did this so it would be compatible with a C15, and eventually we fitted a C15 into it. That went well, but the C15 eventually gave out. I had a C16 sitting around at the time, so we dropped that into it, as well as fitting a set of heavier 46,000lb diffs and a 22918 Roadranger.

“The C16 is running a C15 ECU, so just sitting at 550hp, but there’s definitely plenty of torque. We have also had Roadmaster stretch the trailer and add a fifth axle.

“So, yeah, it is now a genuine 36-pallet combination. It is a real shame that Freightliner stopped making the Argosy.

“They are a simple truck to work on, with all the right components – easy to get parts for. Yeah, she’s been pretty awesome for us, averaging around 150,000km per year; she has around 3,500,000km on the clock now. A good workhorse; she’s still doing the job for us.”