Some individuals will go to great lengths for this the right find, but Peru? Well, that’s what the intrepid owner of this 1958 International A-110 did. The seller offers, “To ship vehicles out of Peru is extremely difficult, onerous, and expensive because of permit requirements, and the vehicle, according to local law, must be shipped in a container (add to that the pandemic).” With that sort of intro, this is one truck to investigate. It is located in Oak Ridge, Tennesse and is available, here on Barn Finds Classifieds for $17,500.
We have covered the International A-110 series of trucks here in the past but this is probably the first one that was exported from the U.S. and then returned. What’s so special about an export model anyway? Communication mostly, things like a Spanish language VIN plate, metric speedometer, capacities stated in kilos, and an “Export Build Up” though I’ll admit that I don’t know what that is. This truck even comes with Peruvian license plates!
The seller claims that this truck spent its working life in an American mine being used by site engineers in the state of Arequipa. It is a high desert climate and that living environment has probably helped with body and structure preservation. There are dents, dings, contusions, and a little surface rust, but all-in-all this truck, still wearing what looks like its original red finish, is in pretty remarkable condition for a 60 plus-year-old that spent its life in hard labor. The cargo bed is well used but does not look damaged or used beyond the expected. This truck may or may not have had a rear bumper, further inquiry would need to be made.
Unfortunately, there is no included image of the engine provided, but I did find this YouTube video of it in operational mode so you can get a glimpse of it. Power is provided by a 240 CI, in-line six-cylinder engine connected to a four-speed manual transmission. The seller describes it as “The good ole binder runs, drives, steers, stops, and shifts like a 63-year-old truck and gets attention on and off the road.” The seller has compiled an extensive list of items that have been the recent recipients of attention, including a new radiator; temperature gauge; a refurbished water pump; a complete rewiring- all the lights work; a repaired windshield wiper motor; a new clutch; new gaskets; new rear axle bearings; steering box lubrication performed; new kingpins and bearings installed; new shock absorbers added; new wheels; new tires + spare; a new exhaust system; an electrical kill switch installed; the cleaning of the gas tank, fuel pump, and carburetor; new fuel lines installed; a new choke; a new battery, ballast resistor, coil, condenser, rotor, plug wires, and sparkplugs. And if that’s not enough there is a new dual-line master cylinder, vacuum-assisted brake system that has been added, including new brake shoes, and springs along with all fluid servicing.
While not stated, it appears that the front seat has been reupholstered, the entire interior, a typically ’50s spartan setting, is in great shape for a commercial work truck – it could get by with no additional attention. Note the old-fashioned International-Harvester key ring hanging from the ignition switch!
If you are looking for a unique pickup truck that really sets itself apart from others, but not for the normally associated reasons, this 1958 International A-110 is one to consider wouldn’t you agree?
Some may say the price is a bit high, but how cool is this truck, with it’s history? And with all the work that’s been done? This truck is awesome! Yeah, I know it’s overpriced, but I still want it!
I’ll take two ………
How many of these do you see? Chevys and Fords are about a dime a dozen. I would take a simple, straight forward pickup, like this, and enjoy it, just as it is.
This is the same model Pixar used for the “Tow Mater” character in the movie CARS. This is a unique vehicle to be sure!
Over-priced is a very diplomatic way of classifying the entry fee on this little gem. The current owner went to great lengths and expense to procure it… and now wants to pass it off on the next guy. Good luck.
Hi Everyone,
Pictures of the engine bay have been added to the listing showing the improved braking system (original master has been safely stored) and new ignition equipment.
A couple clarifications.
1. After looking at the Line Setting Ticket this truck left the factory without rear bumpers
2. Sadly, the Peruvian plates were taken by the Peruvian Ministry of Transport when the truck cleared customs. I’ve included images to show authenticity which can be seen by the plate number painted on the drivers side rear wheel fender (image 14).
Thanks for looking.
-Gabe
Thanks for the update, Gabe!
JO
I did however get to keep the title the truck had before I took possession and was issued a new document. (Now it has a TN title). It dates to 1986 and was signed in the Arequipa office of the Ministry of Transport which is consistent with the inspection stickers on passenger side windshield. Also, the engine and chassis numbers once again concur with line setting ticket. This is of course will go on to the next owner.
Neat truck. I hear Larry the Cable guy when I look at it. Cute front end.
I had an AA110 here in Australia had sat in a vacant block for years, fitted a new carby cleaned the fuel pump and a temporary fuel supply top radiator hose and a Bosch dizzy from a 281 and a battery and it fired on the third turn and ran like a swiss watch always amazes me
I recently imported a ’82 Toyota FJ40 from Peru. Took three tries due to Peruvian customs giving excuses left and right for not clearing. Shipping in container to Houston was about $5000. For the most part Peruvians have had difficulty maintaining their vehicles due to lack of parts, cost, or just a culture of no preventative maintenance. Cute but I would be scared of what I would find once I started rooting around.
Customs is tricky Alex, I’m sorry that happened to you. Speaking of Toyota FJ40s I’ve seen them with Nissan diesels which is sad. Unfortunately, the scarcity of parts forces these less than desirable outcomes.
I worked with Schumacher Logistics which was more expensive but it cleared the first try. I had worked for weeks to get all the permits and paperwork in order and had all documents notarized to avoid the typical hassles.
Because there weren’t parts readily available for the A-110 it just sat until I bought it. All it needed to run was fresh gas, a new battery and ignition parts. These are tough trucks and luckily for this one it wasn’t messed with like you see so often in Peru.
I had all the docs done by attorneys and used a reputable shipping agent. And I was able to keep the plates but not the title or property card.
I can vouch for the basics of the historical facts mentioned. My daughter and her family lived in Arequipa for three years, and I visited a few times. It is indeed a high desert, and a mining operation was (is?) a part of the local economy. The town was established nearly 500 years ago.
While visiting I kept an eye out for American cars. There are a few new ones and a few old ones. But the American vehicles I mostly saw were 30-50+ year old medium-duty trucks, still hard at work. Fords mostly, but I did see several Dodges. When did you last see an operating medium-duty Dodge truck?
Cool International.
There is no doubt. I visit Arequipa often and have had my eye on a GMC 5 window for a while. They do get rode hard there but not much rust.
I’ve seen a couple GMCs like yourself Alex, the problem is paperwork. So many people simply lose titles, forget to mention old trucks in their wills etc… As you know, you have to do an official property transfer through an attorney and if the paperwork isn’t there, the truck just sits.
Now as to shipping by container:
I’ve shipped dozens of vehicles all over the world, both importing and exporting to/from the USA. If you have a vehicle that is unusual, if it has a non-standard method of starting/running, or it has new parts like big expensive tires, ship it in a container. Once the vehicle is secured into place, the doors are closed and a government customs seal is placed on the locking point. No one can open the container except for the customs people at the port of importation.
Most people don’t know what happens when a vehicle is shipped by “RO-RO” [Roll on-Roll Off]. For a powerful stick shift car, or something that is a lot of fun to drive like crazy, the stevedores can’t resist having fun with your car, because if any damage occurs, it’s not their responsibility!
When arranging shipping, if they tell you the car is insured, that means if the boat goes down and is a total loss, you are covered. If you want to protect your car from damages, you need special port-to-port insurance coverage. That cost is based on the appraised value of the vehicle. ALWAYS GET THE FULL INSURANCE.
Here are a couple of examples why you get the full insurance coverage;
1. I shipped a Rolls-Royce post-war 6-cylinder limousine from Southampton to Baltimore, in June to August, in a container. The seller, not understanding the reason why it should have had anti-freeze in the cooling system, thought it’s the middle of summer, I’m not spending the money [Anti-freeze is expensive in England].
Well the ships take a northern route, with air temperatures going down into the 20s or lower [f]. Yep, both the block and head cracked in multiple areas. This was a $10,000 claim. As I had taken out the insurance in England, the insurance company went after the dealer who shipped it. Right on the shipping condition form a questioned asked if it had anti-freeze, it had been checked off “Yes”. Took about a year to get paid.
2. The First V8 Tatra I bought was delivered to the port of Bremerhaven in a running, driving condition, it was driven into the inspection lane. Shipped Ro-Ro. The condition form noted the clutch was working. On arrival and me picking up the car, the clutch was totally smoked. This is likely because the person [or people] driving the car on/off the boat didn’t know how to shift a Tatra column shift 4-speed. It’s a different pattern. Either that, or in seeing that impressive rear-engined air-cooled hemi V8, they decided to race it in the port storage area. It had to be winched onto my truck.
Plus, the brand new German 12V battery was gone, replaced with a US brand Willard battery that had a dead cell. That told me it was stolen in Baltimore. A couple of years later I did a write-up for one of the national car magazines about the Tatra. I mentioned how the battery had been switched in Baltimore, and it wasn’t long before I got a letter from the Port of Baltimore’s legal office for making such a claim, and wanting me to do a retraction. I said no, go ahead and sue me, It will be even better publicity for me! [Never heard from them again.]
3. In 1975 I shipped a 1956 Imperial sedan, the former Paris Auto Show stand example, built by Facel Metallon of Paris. Only one example made. When I insured the car, I paid an extra 300 Deutsche Marks to have Cosmolene sprayed all over the outside of the car to protect the chrome, paint, and pot metal from the salt air. They failed to do so. All the beautiful original chrome trim was destroyed, the paint was shot with surface rust all over the car.
I put in a claim. The shipping line said I had to sue them in Germany.
Well my best friend in Germany [he still is] happened to be an attorney, graduating top in his class at Heidelburg University. He contacted the shipper and said he represented me, and intended to sue in Heidelburg [where I had signed up for the shipping]. They said go ahead, and we did. I put together a list of every piece of damaged parts with current supplier part prices. We also thru in some additional items like a cracked windshield because they had not listed it as cracked.
It took us more than 3 years to be heard, and when the judge saw the photos of the car just before my trip to Bremerhaven, and what it looked like on picking it up in Norfolk, VA, plus the lack of the protective coating I paid for [he saw the receipt as well], the judge agreed they had destroyed a priceless historical automobile, and he slammed the shipping line for failure to care for property under their control combined with willful negligence. Plus failure to perform to a contractual obligation. This allowed me to ask for [and get] triple damages.
We finally were able to get paid in 1996, as the shipping company was being investigated by the German government for various illegal situations, and to settle with the government they had to pay all outstanding debts & cases, INCLUDING 18 years of interest. I split it 50/50 with my friend! The interest was more than the original claim!