WESTERN Star Truck Sales Inc unveiled its newest star—the “Design Our Star” show truck, built from the ground up through social media channels. The 4900EX tractor was displayed in the Western Star booth at the 2014 Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, Kentucky.
The truck was presented to Todd Spencer, executive vice-president of the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) during MATS. The truck will be used to pull the OOIDA “Spirit of the American Trucker” tour trailer to various events throughout the year.
Launched at 2013 MATS, the project asked fans and customers to select the truck model, application, engine, interior and exterior options and more through regular voting rounds on Western Star’s social media channels and microsite. More than 16,000 votes were cast to select the final truck.
Featuring classic good looks, the new 4900EX is equipped with a Detroit DD16 engine, and is decked out with a “big and bold” chrome accessory package and a custom 1970s-themed paint job. The plush and roomy Ultra High Stratosphere Sleeper’s interior is swathed with premium Maple Leaf Red Ultra leather, and includes tons of storage throughout the cab and sleeper.
“Western Star is all about creating custom and unique trucks for our customers, and our first-ever social media truck took it one step further by really engaging a global audience in its build,” said Andy Johnson, brand manager for Western Star. “This new truck really highlights some of the best features that Western Star has to offer for the demanding Owner-Operator market--all based on the direct input from our fans.”
The versatile 4900 combines power and durability with driver comfort, making it the ideal truck for the toughest of applications. Featuring a sturdy steel frame, galvannealed steel cab and aerospace aluminum sleeper, the 4900 is ready for even the most adverse conditions.
Adding production
Western Star also announced during MATS that, due to increased demand, it has started manufacturing the 4700 at the Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) Truck Manufacturing plant in Cleveland, North Carolina. The truck also is produced at the Portland (Oregon) Truck Manufacturing plant.
Introduced in 2011, the 4700 model is all Western Star. The rugged 4700 features the durability and reliability that customers expect from a Western Star, in a mid-BBC configuration.
Available in set-back and set-forward configurations, the 110-inch BBC truck or tractor includes custom features ideal for vocational and highway applications.
Powertrain options include the Detroit DD13 or Cummins ISL engines. ♦
