AUGUST 2007 OLD TIME TRUCKS
CHARLES FLEXTER’S WHITE FREIGHTLINER
By John & Shirley Sponholtz

Charles Flexter of Dawson, Illinois, purchased this neat 1963 White Freightliner COE model 8164T with almost two million miles on it and began restoring it 13 years ago. The truck has a 335 h.p. Cummins engine backed by a 4x4 Spicer transmission, 4:11 Rockwell rears and Budd wheels. Purchased new by Tri-State Motor Lines of Joplin, Missouri, the Freightliner was later sold to Noble Doak of Mattson, Illinois. After buying the truck in 1992, Charles retired and began restoring it two years later. He installed a new engine at the 2.4 million mile mark. The truck pulls a 28 foot 1977 Comet trailer that was originally owned by P.I.E. (Pacific Intermountain Express), which Charles also plans to restore. The White and Freightliner names teamed up in 1951 when Freightliner decided to let White handle the marketing, sales and service activities, while Freightliner focused on just manufacturing the trucks. The coat-hanger-shaped nameplate was created, and the partnership flourished until it was dissolved in 1977. Now owned by Daimler-Benz, Freightliner continues to thrive, producing more than 100,000 vehicles per year. For more “weird and wonderful” old trucks, be sure to visit www.oldtimetrucks.org today.