Here are the references we at the Custom Clinic have found to this great car. If you know of other references, please let us know by e-mailing to: msgsl@CustomClinic.com

Car Craft	September	1964	pgs. 30-31
Popular Customs	Fall	1965	pgs. 70-71
Rod & Custom	July	1966	pgs.

Car Craft, September 1964, pages 30-31

There is no text, just a series of photo captions that follow a long title:

Title: "Ultra Truck  Latest Entry in the series of way-out show machined constructed in the Darryl Starbird tradition."

The photo captions were arranged like bits of text. They included the following observations:

1. Look like a '62 Chevy 1-ton cab? Well, it started out that way until some sheet metal magic and Starbird know-how go a hold of it, to turn it into the 'ultra" in dream trucks.
2. Nearly everything on and in way out cab was hand formed in Darryl's Wichita shop. A bit of chrome plated streamline tubing went into grille, license plate holder.
3. Headlights and taillights were made from a slab of Lucite plastic, as was the top which boats an all metal rear section. Hinged at the rear, it is push-button-control operated.
4. The frame is shortened '55 Chevy; front suspension set up is stock '55, though the undercarriage has been chrome plated. Rear coil spring is mounted in custom housing.
5. Mill is '56 Buick, loaded with chrome and supporting handmade air clean on 4-bbl carb.  Trans is '56 Dynaflow. Upholstered bed contains battery and gas tank.
6. Interior was entirely hand-sculptured in metal, including the dash which sports S-W gauges. Stitching was all done in pleaded white Naugahyde. Brilliant exterior finish is "Essence of Iced Tangerine." 

Popular Customs, Fall 1965, pgs. 70-71

In this article, which appeared at about the same time as the Monogram Models kit using the new stage name of "Orange Hauler," there is only a brief text and a handful of captions. Remarkably, the article references the model kit but uses the vehicle's original given name! 

Title:  Ultra Truck  Darryl Starbird presents a radical hauling concept

Article Text:

"Most of the top customizers are building special vehicles for model companies. Wichita's Darryl Starbird is no exception. The custom you see on these pages is the Ultra Truck and it was commissioned by Monogram Models.

Darryl has done a beautiful job of disguising the '62 Chevy 1-ton from which this sleek custom is derived. He dropped the body on a '55 Chevy frame which had been shortened 12 inches. 

Painted "essence of iced tangerine," the Ultra Truck features a bubble canopy with a metal rear section.  The entire assembly is hinged at the rear and has push-button electric controls. Plastic was also used for both head and taillights. Moldings are constructed of small square tubing.

To complete the job, a deluxe white Naugahyde interior was stitched for the Ultra." 

Photo Captions:

1. Interior is entirely handmade. Curved seat is of metal with padded Naugahyde for covering. Dash has cluster of S-W instruments mounted.
2. Top is controlled electronically.  Console is built into top portion and hinged as illustrated. 
3. Front end photo on opposite page gives close-up of handmade grille of square tube. Headlights blend right into fenders and are of Lucite. Side view shows bubble top with metal rear section. Short bed is four feet square and carries gas tank and battery. Above is bobbled tail.
4. Top view shows where top meets metal portion; note carb air scoop.
5. Metal sculpturing is evident in smooth joining of body with bed."  

Below are photos of of the "Orange Hauler" model kit.