AL 110

 L110 & AL110 series International 

International introduced the L Series into America in 1949.

In 1952 International had a new assembly plant in Dandenong, Victoria, Australia.

The first trucks that were to be produced at the plant were to be the L series range. There was to be quite a few models produced but this brief writeup is only regarding the L110 / AL110.

At the time of introduction International Australia did not have enough local collateral to build a totally Australian Model.

To the best of my knowledge the first of the 110’s had all American content with the Cabs and Bodies being manufactured in Australia. These 110’s with mainly American content were badged L110.  

Later all predominately Australian manufactured trucks were badged AL110

There were 115 L110’s introduced into the New Zealand market, some of which MAY have come directly from the US. Again, to the best of my knowledge no USA built L110 truck had a coupe cab.

But all of the L110’s are more likely to have from the Dandenong plant.

There were 73 AL110’s imported into New Zealand up until 1953, so a total mix of 188 L110/AL110’s.

I have a 1952 L110 s/n 1922 currently in the final stage of a fully completed rebuild. The engine and all the running gear on the L110 are American. In 2017, the American SD220 engine was rebuilt after 65 years requiring a shaft grind to take 0.020 undersize mains – a testament to the quality of Internationals products. Another obvious feature is that the column shift is also on the right of the steering wheel. I think that the later manufactured AL110’s had the column shift to the left of the steering wheel.

There is a very good book written by Colin A. McKenzie titled ‘Inter to Iveco’ that contains excellent historical information on the Australian Company. I understand that Mr Lloyd Reeman of IH Australia and then Iveco, contributed to the information provided in the book, so Lloyd, if you are reading this at some time, you probably have access to the total production numbers of the L110 & AL110 ex Dandenong.

Kevin Cooper

 

L110 in process of rebuild by Kevin Cooper

L110 in process of rebuild by Kevin Cooper

Kevin Coopers original owners manual

History - Bill Henery

I have attached a Picture of a KB 1 Utility, this IS the Updated K-1... The K was released at the start of WW2 and Had NO Chrome or Stainless Steel trim, and were ( to my Knowledge) only available in 4 colours, Army Green, Air force Grey, Navy or Maritime Blue and Desert Sand, You could order a different colour, But had to wait for it, MY Dad ordered a Ute in 1942 and did not get it until end of 1944... When the War ended, all the bling was added to it and called a KB, then in 1949 it was replaced by the L line... There ARE a Lot of Differences between an "AL" and a "L" 110 Utility, (and I am NOT talking TRUCK), From the front to back, the "L" came Standard with Stainless Grille Bars, Chrome Bonnet Handles, the Head was drilled and threaded in two places, one was Temp Sender the other was Heater Supply, The Water Pump was also drilled and a plug fitted, Heater Return, the Wiper switch was in front of the Driver in a small Slot just behind the Glass, The Cab Light had the knob Above the Light switch, The Gear Box Never had the Park brake fitted, an Original "L-110" gear box was not drilled to take the brake brackets, Neither the Tail shaft Yolk to take the Brake "drum"... ALL 4 brake drums are different to the AL, as they Come off similar to the H series Holdens, and having the Park Brake there, there are all the links built into the brake, again, similar to the Holden set up... In 1949, Dad ordered a L-110, used it daily until he sold it in 1965, and I was lucky enough to buy it back about 14-15 years ago, has suffered a sad life, but very Fixable... Mine has not got it's Original Engine anymore as it has been fitted with an Aust, Silver Diamond, ( ASD-220), and I am looking for a Silver Diamond 220 , (SD-220 ) I have 17 Inter Utilities, one of each model, plus a few...

The first LEFT hand gear change, in the 110's was the AS series... On saying that, there MAY have been a very few Late AR's with it too... The First Column Change Utility in Aust was a K-1, Previous C & D lines were Floor shift 3 speed... First Ozzie Inter to have Indicators as Standard, In ALL series was the "AA"..

Bill Henery

KB 1 Utility