1963 Studebaker Transtar
Transtar was the model name given to the line of pickup trucks produced by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana, from 1956-1958 and 1960-1963 (although the last vehicles were sold as 1964 models). The name was used on most trucks in the Studebaker E-series, but not all. The Transtar name was first introduced for the 1956 (2E series) model year in 1/2-ton, 3/4-ton, 1-ton, 2-ton, and 2-ton heavy duty capacities. The three smaller models were available with factory-built pick-up bodies. The basic styling of these trucks dated back to the 1949 models, though they had received some styling and engineering changes in 1954 and 55. The Transtar name continued to be used on most of the 1957-58 3E series trucks, though a stripped-down Studebaker Scotsman model without the Transtar name was introduced in the 1958 model year. The 57-58 Transtars received an aggressive new fiberglass grille that attempted (largely successfully) to make Studebaker’s outdated cab design look fresh and new. For unknown reasons, the Transtar name was dropped for the 1959 4E series Studebaker trucks and changed to Deluxe.
The 1963-model 8E-series trucks went into production on August 31, 1962, after the Studebaker truck plant had been shut down for a full six weeks. There were a few changes and improvements in the 8E-series trucks. All V8-powered trucks got a new engine block with a full-flow oil filter. Despite being diagnosed with cancer, Sherwood Egbert continued his frenetic pace at the helm of Studebaker. He was convinced that there was a market for diesels in medium-duty trucks, so Studebaker introduced a new line of diesel-powered 1-ton (8E15) and 1½-ton (8E25) trucks for 1963. They were powered by the 3-cylinder, 97-horsepower, Detroit Diesel model 3-53 engine. Unfortunately, it would be another twenty years before a U.S. market for such trucks developed, and sales of these models were disappointing.
The beneficiary of a frame off restoration this truck was 100 percent redone according to the consigner. An 8E-13 model rated at 1 ton. A massive front grille painted in white frames the front and sports 3 large “teeth” with a single headlight on either side. A wide chrome bumper below which is near perfect protects this front, as does the vented hood flanked by the rounded front fenders with the turn signal lights atop. A single pane of glass windshield and cab lighting above along with straight doors with well minded gaps and a large chrome mirror hanging on either side, is a nice contrast to the red exterior, and believe me when I say red, as it is DEEP RED!
On the rear flatbed which is total oak board varnished to perfection within a strong black painted metal frame then side push through strapping that holds the vertical wood “beams” with their wider horizontal wood slats which sections can be removed at random.
Everything was redone and with a swing of the doors you are greeted with a beige molded vinyl panel which has the pull, window crank, and door actuator levers within this beige panel. Surrounding it is straight red steel. Floating on black rubber floors is a wide full-length bench in beige vinyl with no marks or tears. The dash has the instrument cluster to drivers left and also shows a column mounted tachometer with an original large black steering wheel on top of this column. In the center is the “climatizer controls” and on the passenger side a black painted glovebox which floats in a field of the red steel dash front. Shifting is courtesy a long floor shifter, and all is really nice inside.
Hopping up into this excellent example of the “Stude staker, she fired right up and idled smoothly. All was working perfectly with this truck, and it runs as well as it looks. This is a true turn-key vehicle fully restored and in the most professional way. Dual rear tires, cab lights and that big front grille you will be just short of a big rig, and if you want to go that route, we have one of those too! This though is way more practical and imagine showing up to a job with this example, talk about getting attention and remaining in a customer’s mind!
