The International Fleetstar was a line of heavy-duty trucks built by International Harvester between 1962 and 1977. It was the first truck range the company designed specifically for vocational work, slotted above the Loadstar and below the heavier Paystar and the Transtar conventionals that followed it.
International Fleetstar at a glance
| Maker | International Harvester |
|---|---|
| Production | 1962–1977 |
| Class | heavy-duty vocational truck |
| Position in range | above the Loadstar, below the Paystar and Transtar |
| Cab | conventional; ‘C’ series cab, later the ‘D’ series cab |
| Models | 1900, 2000, 2010, 2010A, 2050, 2070, 2100 |
| Gross vehicle weight | 27,500 to 60,920 lb (12,500–27,600 kg) |
| Axles | single or tandem rear axles |
| Bodies | straight truck and semi-tractor |
| Engines | International petrol and diesel, Cummins and Detroit Diesel |
| Transmission | five-speed as usual, automatic optional, up to 13 speeds with heavy diesels |
| Replaced by | International S series, from 1977 |
Written from the English Wikipedia article on the International Fleetstar, a single source. No free photographs of the model were found, so the previous cover image is kept.
History of the International Fleetstar
International Harvester built the Fleetstar for customers who bought trucks to work rather than to impress. It sat above the medium-duty Loadstar and below the severe-service Paystar and the Transtar semi-tractors, and it was the first International line designed from the start for vocational use — construction, hauling, and the many trades in between.
The truck was a conventional-cab design available as both a straight truck and a semi-tractor, with single or tandem rear axles. Models ran from the 1900 to the 2100, with gross vehicle weight ratings from 27,500 to 60,920 lb. Early trucks used the “C” series cab familiar from the Loadstar and the pickups, and later ones moved to the newer “D” series cab, with some overlap between the two.
Under the skin the Fleetstar was deliberately simple and strong. Frames were straight, with the large flanges typical of International truck frames, and frame rails and axles were larger than those of the Loadstar. Engines ranged from International’s own petrol units and a mid-range diesel to Cummins and Detroit Diesel heavy diesels, the biggest of them reserved for the 2000 and 2070 models. Most trucks had five-speed gearboxes, often with a two-speed rear axle, though a six-speed automatic was sometimes specified and heavy diesels came with vendor transmissions of up to 13 speeds.
The formula worked because the trucks were reliable and easy to fix. Many were bought as fleet vehicles — hence the name — and they usually lacked the flash and comfort of the custom Transtar. A construction package was offered for site work, though it was overshadowed by the smaller Loadstar and the larger Paystar. After a life on the road, many Fleetstars were converted to stake beds, van bodies or dump trucks, and examples with more than a million miles on the odometer are still around. In 1977 International Harvester replaced the Fleetstar with the S series, which also absorbed the Loadstar; the modern equivalent of the Fleetstar in the company’s range is the HV, formerly WorkStar.
Design and features
- Vocational design: the first International line created for work rather than general haulage.
- Straight frames: heavy flanges and larger rails and axles than the Loadstar.
- Wide engine choice: International petrol and diesel units, Cummins and Detroit Diesel.
- Simple maintenance: built to be repaired easily and cheaply.
- Long second life: many were rebuilt as dump trucks, stake beds or vans.
International Fleetstar versions
- 1900 to 2010A: lighter models of the range.
- 2050 and 2070: heavier models, with heavy-duty diesels.
- 2100: the largest of the line.
- Construction package: a site-work version.
- Semi-tractor and straight truck: both body styles on the same chassis.
The Fleetstar sat between the Loadstar and the Transtar, and it was replaced by the S series. More trucks are in the collection.
Video: International Fleetstar Running and Walk around.
Video by alecluke844 on YouTube.
Sources
- International Fleetstar, English Wikipedia: models, weights, cabs, chassis, engines, replacement
