The International Loadstar line of trucks may have been light on styling changes over the years but they were tough, rock solid workers that did could be found as flatbeds, fire trucks, dump trucks, buses, and every other truck-like role you can think of. In the case of this truck, it served on the fire department in Garland, Texas for years and came from the factory with four wheel drive, a 345ci International engine, and at some point was retrofitted with some big off road tires, giving it a unique look that we love. The big custom front bumper was there because the truck formerly has a PTO driven winch on the front of it.
We’re not familiar with the terrain of Gunter, Texas but it seems like those guys must have to do some sloggin’ to have a setup like this, right? The truck is a short wheelbase model as well so it is tough to envision what formerly rode on the back of it. Was it a small tank and pump unit? Maybe this thing was designed to respond to calls at the lakes or elsewhere. Gunter is north of Dallas and it does not look like the most densely populated place so the dept needed something that was virtually unstoppable.
This thing was on the road until 1986 and then it was apparently turned out of the fleet. The guy selling it now claims that the 345 was rebuilt about 100 miles before he got his hands on it a couple of years ago. There’s not carb or alternator and he has not tried to run the engine but the 345 is built anvil tough. Making about 200hp, it isn’t a screamer but we have seen them with blowers on before so the idea of an 8-71 poking through the hood makes us even more excited about this truck.
The gear ratio in the axles is steep, up over 6.10 and while the tall tires help some, top end charges aren’t exactly going to be the things dreams are made of. We’d fab up a nice flatbed for this truck, mount a tool box on it to store our things and then go out and absolutely hammer this thing through the mud and out into the wilderness. Paint? Surely you jest! We’d wash it, clear over all the patina and the bed floor would have to be built from old wood to get the aged look we’d want. This is a neat truck and we thank Clay Taylor for tipping us off to it.
Now, if you’ll excuse me…I need a moment. Oh, those wheels!
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So much potential. I can imagine all sorts of awesome here…cool find.
were that close enough, that would be in my fleet.