This 1992 International 9700 series cab-over caught my eye for a few reasons, but the most significant of which is that you simply don’t see this era of truck anymore. True, the cabover design has more or less disappeared with the exception of any haulers still using them, but this version of the International seemed to take inspiration from what was happening in the automotive world at the time with cosmetic aerodynamic enhancements to streamline the body as it cut through the wind. The seller has listed his rig here on Facebook Marketplace for $6,995 after recently getting it running following a 10-year slumber.
I bet there’s a story behind this body stripe running down the sides of the cab, and the orange paint on the chassis. Surely, this was used by a local company as that paint scheme is way too specific; it didn’t come this way by accident. The cabover design effectively went off into the sunset once laws changed that allowed for trucks to be a longer length, which made for a smoother ride. Of course, many of us have warm memories of the COE as it’s often associated with some of the more memorable cab designs over the years. The seller notes that this 9700 is powered by a N14 Cummins diesel engine with a 9-speed transmission.
The lower body skirting is the most interesting feature on the outside, but these trucks were fairly unique inside as well. With a completely flat cab floor thanks to a design that eliminated engine intrusion into the passenger compartment, it effectively had walk-in flexibility to the sleeping quarters. Now, I’m not a truck expert nor do I have much experience spending time in a rig like this, but it looks like there’s still a hump here. Perhaps the intent was more to make it easier to walk between the cab and the sleeping areas without having to step down and back up again. I’m sure one of you who has spent time driving a 9700 series could clarify for us.
The listing notes it doesn’t have a Jake brake, which is a nice feature when trying to slow down a massive tractor trailer. As far as why this one doesn’t have this feature, it’s likely just a matter of being ordered that way from the factory, especially if this was just an in-town runner for lighter loads. Whether this International is collectible is a subjective matter, but given I’ve not seen one in the road in years, I suspect it has some level of desirability to someone with a cabover collection lacking what was likely one of the last major redesigns of a mass-produced COE. If you’ve got any memories or insights into the International 9700, we’d love to hear them.
When I first saw this. My first thought was Schneider trucking. They used to run Cabover Binders like this. ( I’m pretty sure they were Flat Tops and not Condo cabs, or maybe both). Another possibility is J.B. Hunt, they may have had orange painted frames. The Cummins N14, the 9 speed, and no Jake are also telling me this may have been a fleet owned and operated truck. ( They stick to a low price point). I never ran an N14, maybe Stan, Howard or Geo could chime in on that. But the Cummins M11 with a 9 speed wasn’t a great match. The gear ratios were a bit too spread apart and the Cummins revved down sloooooowly. So whether you were slip shifting or double clutching it took a little long to catch that next gear which could be a challenge going up a hill, but you get used to it. I always thought at least a 10 speed or up would’ve been better suited for that M11. Thank you for writing this old Cabover up Jeff!!! Can’t wait to see the comments.