The International Loadstar was a series of medium-duty trucks built by International Harvester from 1962 to 1978. The company’s first purpose-built medium-duty truck, it became the backbone of local delivery, construction, farming and school bus work, and it changed very little over sixteen years.
International Loadstar at a glance
| Maker | International Harvester |
|---|---|
| Production | 1962–1978 |
| Type | medium-duty conventional truck, mainly as a straight truck |
| Position | between the light pickups and the heavy R series; later below the Fleetstar and Transtar |
| Models | Binder, 1600, 1700, 1750, 1800, F1800, 1850 and F1850 |
| Drivelines | 4×2 standard; 4×4, 6×4 and 6×6 also built; crew cab available |
| Petrol engines | V304, V345 and V392 V8s of 193, 197 and 236 hp |
| Diesels | International V8s up to 200 hp, Detroit Diesel 6V53 at 195 hp, Perkins sixes up to 130 hp |
| Loadstar CO | cab-over version of the 1600, 1700 and 1800 built from 1963 to 1970 |
| Cargostar | the CO renamed for 1971 and built until 1986 |
| Hood | squared-off one-piece fibreglass tilting hood from 1972 |
Based on one source (English Wikipedia).
History of the International Loadstar
A new medium-duty truck
International introduced the Loadstar in 1962 as its first purpose-built medium-duty truck. It was slotted between the light-duty pickups, then the C series and later the D series, and the heavy-duty R series; after the R series was discontinued it became the smallest International conventional, below the Fleetstar and Transtar. It was built mainly as a straight truck for local delivery, construction and agriculture, and it was also used for fire engines and as the Schoolmaster cowled school bus chassis. The Loadstar was a conservative design that changed little during its sixteen-year run. Early trucks had a grey grille, curved fenders and a butterfly hood; from model year 1972 a squared-off one-piece fibreglass tilting hood was added.
Models and chassis
Most Loadstars had a medium-duty 4×2 chassis, but 4×4, 6×4 and 6×6 versions were also built, and a four-door crew cab was available. The cab, used as well on the early Fleetstar, had first appeared on the A series in 1957. The models were the Binder, 1600, 1700, 1750, 1800, F1800, 1850 and F1850, the numbers showing size and weight rating. The 1750 and 1850 had mid-range diesels, the 1600 and 1700 could be ordered with four-wheel drive, and the F1800 and F1850 had tandem rear axles. Loaded weights ran from 18,200 to 30,200 lb, or up to 50,000 lb with trailers. Vacuum-assisted hydraulic drum brakes were standard, with air-over-hydraulic and full air brakes available.
Engines and the CO
The V304, V345 and V392 petrol V8s of 193, 197 and 236 horsepower were the main engines from 1962 to 1973, with a CNG version of the V345; in 1962 the V304 was standard on the 1600 and 1700 and the V345 on the 1800, and from 1974 the V345 was standard on the 1600. The 404 cubic inch MV404 V8 of 210 horsepower arrived in 1974 and became standard on the 1700 and 1800. Straight-six petrol engines were the BD264, BD282 and BD308, and buyers could also choose mid-range diesels. The Loadstar CO 1600, 1700 and 1800 were forward-control versions built from 1963 to 1970 with loaded weights from 19,500 to 27,500 lb; for 1971 the CO became the Cargostar with a wider cab and a larger grille, and it stayed in production until 1986. The Schoolmaster 1603, 1703, 1803 and 1853 were cowl-chassis models for school bus bodies. In 1978 the medium-duty S series consolidated the Loadstar and Fleetstar into one family. A 2012 plan to revive the Loadstar name for a low-slung stainless-steel cab-over waste truck never reached production.
Design and features
- Purpose-built: International’s first truck designed from the start as a medium-duty model.
- Many models: from the 1600 to the F1850, with four-wheel drive and tandem axles available.
- V8 power: the V304, V345 and V392 petrol engines, plus mid-range diesels.
- Tilting hood: a squared-off one-piece fibreglass hood from 1972 made servicing easier.
- Schoolmaster: a cowl chassis for school buses, and stripped chassis for transit-style buses.
International Loadstar versions
- 1600 and 1700: the lighter models, available with four-wheel drive.
- 1750 and 1850: mid-range diesel versions.
- 1800, F1800 and F1850: heavier models, the F versions with tandem rear axles.
- Loadstar CO (1963–1970): cab-over version of the 1600, 1700 and 1800.
- Cargostar (1971–1986): the CO with a wider cab and larger grille.
- Schoolmaster: cowl-chassis school bus model.
The Loadstar was replaced by the International S series and sat above the C series pickups; its heavy-duty relative was the Fleetstar. More trucks are in the International collection.
Sources
- International Loadstar, English Wikipedia: models, chassis, engines, CO and Schoolmaster
