BigLorryBlog

hi, just reading your commercial motor adverts for the 1960s, came across the fiat T693i photo, i have one of these beasts waiting to be restored to its former glory, mine is a 1968 model,with standard -- syncro box, electric gear splitter and diff engagement, air clutch and light power steering, it also has a mid mounted 8 speed gear box, and so much engine torque it can start of in top gear at engine idle, regards nigel

Will Regent Street do for a pie in the last question?

Regarding the IH Loadstars, must have been the Doncaster factory, they had two assembly facilities , one on Wheatley Hall Road and one at Carr Hill. not sure which one they built the trucks at.

Michael

Some great stuff there Brian!

The Michelotti- cabbed Scammell 4x2 was called "The Handyman".

In 1967 the maximum gross combination weight for artics was 32 tons, but that was on five axles (I think!)

Everything about the Big J was special, but the brakes were particularly so, having an effective area of 848 square inches on the four wheel tractor. They were, and still are, a very well braked lorry.

Internationals were built in Doncaster, but only for about four years. The model in the blog was a Paystar in the US, but a Loadstar in the UK; odd given that there was already a Loadstar in Britain courtesy of Austin!

It's funny you should mention Irvine too - Ive just returned from a week's work there and visit it quite regularly. It's still in North Ayrshire, rather than in England!

Is the AEC driving down Quality Street? (ouch!)

Richard Stanier:
As a Yank who used to sell Internationals, I can tell you it was definately a LOADSTAR in the USA. I suspect you got your labels mixed up since you state that Austin had a Loadstar in the UK.
It's a sad state for the once mighty and world-wide International brand that Navistar will soon build trucks for the World market under the CAT brand.

The name Loadstar was used by Austin in 1950. I acknowledge that the small International was indeed a Loadstar too (My info about it being a "Paystar" is from a book called "The illustrated encyclopedia of trucks and buses" which appears to be wrong)
Given that IHC had Paystar, Fleetstar, Transtar and Cargostar, it's still odd that their only British offering had the same name as another lorry.

Isn't the CAT/Navistar offering for an off road truck though? (i.e. a model type not offered by Navistar since they sold off the old Pay Hauler business?)

Nigel - Im very impressed that you have a FIAT 693. Any chance of some photos being posted?

The Loadstars were built at Carr Hill (Doncaster). This info is from a book "The Roar of Dust and Diesel" by Mike Teanby.
They were also going to produce a cab over Inter that looked like a TK Bedford but it didnt happen in the UK. This truck went on to become the Cargostar in the US.

I agree that the International shown was called a Loadstar everywhere it was sold as an International. Mexico and maybe other countries built similar models but they weren't called Internationals. The Paystar is quite a different beast and was often used for heavy haulage.

Regarding Navistar/International/CAT, my understanding is that Navistar is going to build special off-road models that will be badged as Caterpillars, but that they will also re-badge normal International road trucks as Caterpillars in some overseas (outside North America) countries. It will be interesting to see what engines they put in them, as I believe Caterpillar are going to stop making engines for highway trucks after 2010. Will this mean that International trucks which are made by Navistar and badged as Caterpillars will have Cummins engines. It sounds a pretty strange situation to me.

Just for your info, and please correct me if i am wrong, but the cabover version of the loadstar ceased production in this country due to Bedfords protest that it looked far too much like the TK Cab of the same era.
Also, if you are interested a very good friend of mine has the original cabover demonstrator from Doncaster currently awaiting restorationhere in the West Midlands.

Rich Brewer

Rich - It's very interesting that your mate has the demonstrator. I think it was called the CO 1700 Loadstar.Is it LHD?

Any chance you could send a photo into BLB?

Would be good to see a photo of that unit. Is it actually a Bedford cab or was it styled to look like the Bedford cab ?

Richard - You may know the individual I am on about as he also has three other vintage vehicles that he shows around the region, A Jensen, Diamond T & Diamond Reo.
I am not sure if it is LHD but I would think not as it was intended for the British market.The last time I spoke to him it was stored under cover awaiting restoration but when this is due to commence or even if he has anything concrete planned I'm not sure.
If there is anything else you would like to know I will try to find out.

Peter - The cab was styled like a Bedford cab however which one was designed first I do not know. I think that the fact Bedford had the foothold in this country at the time gave them presidence over IH.

I have also got a bit of useless info regarding the Scania LB76 that is shown on the advert. As you are all probably aware LGK 3D was the first Scania LB76 in the country having been the demonstrator for B&W Motors based in Pensnett in the West Midlands. It was then sold to Rounds Transport of Dudley who owned it until the late eighties from where Ray Hingley of A Hingley Transport of Brierley Hill West Midlands rescued it and has since superbly restored it.
On a further note the first privately owned LB76 was LFD 200E owned by J & S Hemmings (Jubilee Transport)of Pensnett,West Midlands who went on to buy Scania's until the firm finished in the early eighties they a fact known due to my Dad working there at the time.