'56 Transtar with strange rear wheelwells

[StudeRich]

What is going on with the Bed of this truck?

It looks every bit original factory, in quite good shape inside the Bed, original looking paint and all and professionally done inner wheel wells, and really looks factory.

But as most of you know unlike other makes, no Studebaker Trucks had any intrusion in the beds allowing a 4 X 8 sheet of plywood to drop in.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290688822532&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:MOTORS:1123

Is this some special order Truck built like the famous Sand cars and Trucks for the Saudi Arabian Desert sand that had really big wheels and tires, or what?

It appears to be just a 1/2 Ton 8 ft. bed so not a 1 Ton or even a 3/4 Ton that could be converted to Dual wheels, just makes no sense!
This is a lot better Truck me thinks, than it appears though, with spotty paint etc.

[Roscomacaw]

Nicely done. Gotta genuine Transtar radio too!

[63t-cab]

I say someone reworked it after the fact.

[DEEPNHOCK]

Don't count out a dual rear wheel conversion.....

[Dwain G.]

Looks like the rear axle assembly might be out of something else, and is just a little narrow.

[Chris_Dresbach]

Would be intersting to see the build sheet for that one...
That looks to perfect and planed out than to be somebodys back yard modifications. The paint is also even and appears to be old.

[TDITS]

Wouldn't mind having that bed; those wheel tubs look very nicely done. I'm with DEEPNHOCK, I bet they were done to run duals.

[52-fan]

Nicely done a number of years back. I would think if the factory had intended such a mod the corners would have been more rounded, but a one off might have been done by an outside vendor. Might be for duals or for a narrower rear end. The build sheet would tell if it was factory authorized.

[Ray Stewart]

I have a 51 1/2 ton with the same tubs. The truck has 56 or 57 doors and hood I am told...who knows what else has been changed. I will know more when I start restoration this fall.

[kmac530]

An early remodel work job would have likely been painted with the same type of paint as the factory, and would deteriorate at a similar rate, so it is hard to say if it was a factory installed option for some specific application, like a Saudi use, or if it were someones modification for their own needs.

[Alan]

It's missing the battery hold down, take a few bucks off for that one.