January 2013 is your last opportunity to see the “Pick ‘Em Up Trucks” display at the San Diego Auto Museum. Commencing February 1st, a new show will feature “Low Rider Legends.” For those of you who wish to see a preview of coming attractions, a Low Rider display will be offered at the San Diego International Auto Show at the San Diego Convention Center from December 27-30th. SDAM Board Member Carlos C. de Baca was of great assistance in gathering the cars together for this show.
New to the pickup truck display is a very rare 1991 VW Tristar Synchro Vanagon all-wheel-drive truck owned by board member Bob Poggi. This vehicle was offered worldwide except in the US. Bob’s truck is one of 19 that was offered for sale in Canada. Only 500 of the Tristar four-wheel-drive trucks were produced worldwide, while 1,000 of the two-wheel-drive models were built. The Tristar featured top-of-the-line equipment. The truck bed has fold down sides so you can convert your pick up into a flat bed. It has four doors, power windows, cruise control, cup holders, full carpeting inside, as well as a luxurious plush cloth interior. All four doors are equipped with adjustable arm rests, power windows, rear window defroster, cruise control, and the driver’s seat is heated. The opposed four-cylinder engine displaces 2,109CC, is water-cooled, and produces 90HP. The truck is equipped with a four-speed manual transaxle driving all four wheels with dual differential locks. The truck weighs in at 3,814 pounds and sold at a hefty $18,760. Still, the versatility offered by the vehicle in all kinds of terrain, plus the comfortable amenities, make this an attractive package. The display vehicle is all original with very few miles and little use. It truly looks brand new.
Another new and unusual truck is a restored 1957 Studebaker Transtar Deluxe, 3E Series pickup in red and white. This is a very modern-looking truck with a huge fiberglass grill opening that allows cool air to flow through the radiator. The downside of the pretty, yet manly, front end is how easy it is to break it when the front end contacts something hard. The truck is powered by a 259CID OHV V-8 that pumps out 170HP running through a three-speed column shifting transmission with overdrive for utility and economy. Only 1,978 of these pickups were built in 1957. Weighing in at 2,875 pounds, the V-8 offered good performance and reasonable mileage with the overdrive. The vehicle sold new for $1,758. Studebaker started building horse-drawn wagons in 1852. By the 1870s, Studebaker was the largest horse-drawn wagon maker in the world.
Going back in time a bit further, we see a dark green and black 1938 American Bantam pickup with a flathead, inline, four-cylinder engine displacing 45.6CI and sporting 20HP at 3,900 RPM. The American Bantam is tiny in contrast to the regular American pickups. This truck only weighs 1,200 pounds, with a top speed of 60MPH, while allegedly delivering 60MPG. Origins for the vehicle stemmed from England, where the Austin Motor Company of Birmingham started building cars under license from Germany. In 1929, the American Austin Company built cars under license from English Austin. American Austin failed as a result of the Depression of 1929 and filed for bankruptcy in 1934. Bantam salesman Ray Evans bought the company in 1934 but did not have financial resources to resume construction until 1938. The subject truck offered reasonable performance and excellent economy but could only carry a small load, and by American standards, the truck was greatly underpowered.
In contrast to the small-engined ’38 American Bantam is a 1934 Ford hot rod pickup. The Ford is powered by a built-up 1967 Corvette V-8 big block motor displacing 427CI and producing 550 HP. The car has a huge Holley four-barrel carburetor, headers, and runs through a Muncie 4-speed manual transmission with quick change rear end. The body is painted flat black with red pin stripes. The interior has been updated with red bucket seats. With a tiny pickup bed in the back, one can still load it with a cooler and small BBQ for a picnic or beach outing, something that one cannot do with a 1934 Ford coupe.
The museum’s “Christmas-equipped” truck is their 1909 International Harvester Auto Wagon powered by a two-cylinder, air-cooled, 195CI, 15HP motor. The truck weighs 1,900 pounds. The 1909 Auto Wagon sold new for $850. The truck is equipped with Christmas greenery and colorfully wrapped presents ready for Santa to deliver.
The Automotive Museum shared the “December Nights” Celebration on Friday and Saturday evenings, December 7th and 8th with the rest of the Balboa Park museums. On Friday evening, 14 December, auto museum staff hosted Volunteer Appreciation Night on the museum floor. A catered Mexican dinner was served, and volunteers and board members were recognized by Executive Director Paula Brandes. Every attendee received a recognition award. SDR member Dee House was recognized as the “classiest member to arrive in a Porsche.” If the Tonight Show needs a replacement, Paula could fill in with her dry wit, comfortable delivery, and charming presentation.
The December board meeting was held in the “all new” Hall of Champions upstairs. With funding partially provided by the Tuesday Club, new floors, upholstery, painted surfaces, and (yet to be installed) window treatments make a wonderful environment for meetings. Maybe the Porsche club will want to hold a board meeting there soon. A major topic of conversation has been fundraising. The museum seeks vehicles for display and/or sale, and cash gifts to help restore the museum and improve the facilities. Executive Director Paula Brandes hopes to upgrade the exterior of the building to replicate its appearance at the time of the 1935 Exposition. Suggestions were made to replace the original large murals outside the main entrance with new ones, to add flood lights and two large flag poles directly above the roof at the front entrance, and to replace the two large California Golden Bears on each corner of the building. The cost was deemed to be nominal, based on the historic look and improvement to the physical appearance. A number of significant donors are honored by brass license plate style plaques that greet visitors above the entry area next to the ticket sales area and museum store. For more information on financial support and levels of membership, please go to www.sdautomotivemuseum.org/donate. Your Museum Representative would be happy to personally show any Porsche club member around the museum without charge, in hopes of showing you the advantages of annual membership. Please contact me at AUTOMUSEUM@PCASDR.ORG if you are interested. See you next month with the Low Riders.
Story and photos by Michael Harris
