LN168 – 1984 INTERNATIONAL T2670

In its time, the venerable International T-line is one of those truck models that has spanned all corners of the industry, from linehaul to local deliveries. But it is here within the GDC fleet that we find a trooper that has spent, and continues to spend, its working days at the coal face of general contracting as a tipper.

LN168, or fleet No.1 as it’s recognised, has a special place in the GDC fleet. “The Inter spent the best part of its initial working life with Texco in Christchurch. In around 1995, I purchased it off John Townshend through Straun Syme. Back then, of course, the T-line was still running everywhere on linehaul, they were still respected as big gear. Most of your local contractors were getting around in older trucks, so here I was getting around with the arm out the window because I was the flashest contractor around with something as big as this. Actually, I did a run down to Dunedin not long after getting it, to pick up a machine, and here I was coming up the Kilmog and there’s guys waving out to you because you fitted in. There were T-lines everywhere back then,” Greg says with a laugh.

Like many other T-line stories, we hear from Greg how LN168 with its 350 Cummins, 15-speed Roadranger and 44 Rockwells, has been a solid performer. “Since I have had the truck, it has just had its regular servicing. Seriously, the engine, gearbox and diffs have never been touched. In fact, the only major item it has had is one clutch job, but really that was just maintenance as well. It has been a phenomenal truck really.”

About 18 months ago, Greg went to the Inter’s driver and informed him that he was looking to give him a new truck as the Inter was getting a little on the old side, but to Greg’s surprise, the driver did not want that. “He was quite happy with it and really wanted to keep the old jigger. All he wanted was a new cab fan and a better wireless. So that was it, we decided there and then that we would give a bumper-to-bumper rebuild. So it was into the workshop, and Rohit and my son Lane, both mechanics in the workshop, stripped it right back over 12 months, and gave it the big birthday treatment. New galvanised cab, new interior trim, new lighting, new floor in the deck and fresh paint all over. So yeah, at 40 years old, she’s really now better than brand new.”