Western Star Trucks 1983 Promotional Film

My old man got a tour of the Kelowna plant back in the early 90's. He's got photos from it in an album somewhere.

I grew up about an hour from the factory, used to be the high point of any trip into Kelowna. Getting to see all the brand new trucks packed into the lot, awaiting shipping.

Too bad Daimler ####ed it all up.

 

I lived in Kelowna for about 15 years, after WS left though. Always wanted to buy one of the last kelowna 4900's with a cat. Drove one for years then many Daimler ones after and they were junk in comparison.

Something about having hwy 3 and 5 in your backyard for testing grounds eh

 

I watched that western star video the other night. Too cool!

 

Family photo album has quite a few pictures of the old Star my dad drove back then before he bought his own.

 

Can't resist this one. Thanks, LoadOut. My 1st truck after years as a company driver, late '88. 1982 4964, ( with a ton of miles) fresh 350 BC, 10 speed direct, 170ish WB, 40" sleeper, White "Reyco",1 month in, after several broken springs, had the back cut off behind the sleeper, and put a Pete cutoff from a 362, made it about 180", best move I ever did. While I never had to open the motor or trans,, I put over 300K on that horse, and replaced just about everything else,,,myself, if I could. I leased the truck to an outfit in Green Bay, pulling rail cans, ran mainly Wis/UP to Chicago, and back. Regional stuff, maybe 80K miles/year. Grossed about $1.10/mile, which was average money in the 80s. Home almost every day. When I bought the truck in fall of '88, I paid $22,000. People laughed at me, as WS wasn't big in the Badger as say IH, Ford, Pete, KW, or FL. I ran that truck over 3 years, and made money because it always got me there and back. I'm not sure one could do that today, but I did it and was the best, yet most demanding job I ever had. I miss that old gal,,,oh, had a kick aXX stereo too!!