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| Bald Eagle's 1977 International Transtar II This truck has one of the more interesting histories behind it. Thanks goes to Terry Tombaugh for providing and verifying the backstory on this truck. Owned by Ft. Wayne Leasing of Ft. Wayne, IN, the truck and trailer was part of an identical fleet for Magnavox, a US manufacturer of TV's and consumer electronics. Ft. Wayne leasing loaned the factory fresh truck to the production company for use in driving scenes, but under no circumstances was it to be damaged. The truck was supposed to have an identical stunt double built up for the "Alverez, TX" crash scenes (that were filmed in Estancia, NM). Much of the Bald Eagle's romp through town, including destroying a car dealership, was left on the cutting room floor. Nonetheless, suffice it to say that there was not second "stunt" truck built and the Magnavox truck returned to Ft. Wayne Leasing with extensive damage. According to Neil Shanebeck who was with Ft. Wayne Leasing at the time, the heavily damaged truck was accompanied by a hefty check for its replacement. Despite the audio you hear when the truck pulls out behind Spider Mike when they join the convoy, the truck was powered by a NTC290 Cummins and had a Fuller Roadranger 10 speed. The pre-'77 Transtar's in Magnavox's leased fleet had 250 Cummins engines. According to Fred Crismon's authoritative International truck guide, the NTC 290 was the standard engine in the Transtar II cabover. |
