Type | subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America |
---|---|
Founded | 1967 |
Headquarters | Portland, Oregon, United States |
Industry | Truck Manufacturers |
Employees | ? |
Website | WesternStarsTrucks.com |
Western Star Trucks is a Redford Township, Michigan, United States based manufacturer of Class 8(USA) Commercial vehicles.
History[]
In 1970 White Trucks started the Western Star division as White Western Star from about 1970 until 1979. By 1980, White was insolvent, despite employing Semon E. "Bunkie" Knudsen, son of General Motors legend Semon Knudsen, and President of Ford Motor Company in 1969–70.
The Swedish company Volvo Trucks acquired the U.S. assets of the company, while two energy-related companies based in Calgary, Alberta, Bow Valley Resource Services and Nova, an Alberta Corp., purchased the Canadian assets, including the Kelowna, British Columbia, plant, and the Western Star nameplate (brand) and product range.
In 1990 Western Star Trucks was purchased by Australian businessman Terry Peabody, who turned around the company's fortunes over the next 10 years, and in 2000 the company was purchased by the Daimler AG truck division, Freightliner.
All Canadian production was shifted to American plants, and the Canadian company wound down. Western Star is now a US firm based in the US.
Models[]
Western Star produces a range of heavy duty trucks suited to a variety of purposes including semi-trailer, multiple trailer, heavy haulage and tipper-and-dog applications. Both aerodynamic and traditionally styled conventional models are available with the spacious Constellation Series cab, introduced in 1996. This replaced the much smaller Heritage series cab that had been used for several decades on White trucks. A range of sleepers, trim levels, gearboxes, and engines from Cummins, Caterpillar, Detroit Diesel and Mercedes allow buyers to customize their truck to suit their needs.
Current range[]
Western Star has two model families
- 6900
- 4900
The 6900 is an "Extreme Duty" model. It is available in either a single, or tandem front axle configuration.
The 4900 is available in three "bumper-to-back-of-cab" configurations (109", 123" & 132"), two front-axle positions (set-back or set-forward), with either single or tandem front axles.
Both the 6900 and the 4900 can be spec'd with driving front axles, to make a 4x4, 6x6 or 8x8 vehicle configuration.
- Stratosphere Star Light Sleepers, introduced in 1997, make use of aircraft inspired composite aluminium wall / plastic-honeycomb-core wall and floor panels to reduce weight while maintaining strength.
Former model range[]
- details required
Preservation[]
Western star is not a brand that was activly imported into the UK and few examples exist Here.
See also[]
References / sources[]
Based on wikipedia article to add UK examples to.
External links[]
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