Help on AB 120 4x4

Hi folks,
I'm new here and have of questions I hope someone can help me with.
Here goes.
I live in Melbourne but I enjoy viewing reference to trucks produced in other countries. I've noticed that, though the main cab portion of the International truck is basically identical to those produced in North America during the late 50s and early 60s, the front fenders (mudguards) and hood (bonnet) are unique to Australia. My question is, was the Dodge truck division of Chrysler affiliated with International in Australia at this time as I have some reference that clearly describes the International cab albeit with minor grille variations and Dodge badges! Or was 100 % Aussie made

The truck I'm referring too is AB 120 4x4
Thanks
Gus

The cabs and guards were made locally by a 3rd part and used independently by Dodge and International. I believe there were only minor changes between the AA, AB, C and D series ad the equivalent dodges and a lot of Panels and door swill bolt onto any of the cabs/inner guards. (of course the panel profiles changed a bit between the AA and C/D line models so they may not line up with the panel beside them but that is a seperate issue)

Thanks foe that bparo,
I've written a book about the AB 120 4x4 and needed confirmation on that.

I'm I aloud to make mention of book, or put up a link to it here. Or do need to go to other forum ?

Thanks Gus

I see no reason why you can't mention the book here.

However about the panels I would verify with another source as it is only what I have been told I have no experience with the AA, AB, C or D series Inters nor their Dodge equivalents. My Inter is a little bit older than them

You are correct that many components are interchangeable between Dodge and International. I was under the impressions that what occured was that the Dodge's are rebadged Inters (I could be wrong). The main differences lie in the trim/badework and the front grills. Certainly most of the cab are identical.

I also believe that the Australian build Inters have a 100% Aussie made cab. Who built the cab? Don't know but at a guess would be International (could be wrong no proof). Also could dependon the year of manufacture as the International plant in Dandenong started in 1952.

I also found on the web (again little proof) that early panels for early Dodges (could be cars only) were actually made by Holden! Again little proof.

I believe the cabs where produced by Richards in South Australia like the ones on my AR series. I am not sure about chassis etc but at least the motors were also different as the Dodge trucks tended to use the slant 6 and other Chrysler motors while the Inters used their own (often cast in the Geelong Tractor Plant)

As far as Holden's producing bodies for Dodge it is true before the FX (48-215 to the purists) as Holden's started out as body builders in the 1920's and 1930's at least and would produce a body on whatever chassis the customer or dealer provided. They did a lot of Chevs which is where the link with General Motors and lead to General Motors - Holden (or GMH). The current 60 year celebration is for the release of the 48-215 in 1948 by which time Holden had ceased build bodies outside the GM stable.

Makes a lot of sense Bparo. As your AR was probably one of the first to be built in the Dandenong plant I see no reason why they would change where they were building the cabs. Also when you stand back and look at the plant at Dandenong it isn't really that big. Maybe it was an assembly line only!

It could be that the dodge's were assembled at the Inter plant alongside the inters. But as you point out utilising Chrysler power train. Again no proof only guess work.

Been a while since I have seen one but comparing equivalent dodge and inter chassis etc many similarities. But as you point out engine etc is different. But cab's identical in all but trim and finish.

Would be great to find out more details of International Australia early history!

JBlair,

Why don't you talk to Peter Lynch at HCVC meeting he is the guru on Inters. Because he wrote a book on them. : :

I spoke to Peter last night.

Dodges came down a seperate assmbly line in Adelaide and had their own chassis, engines etc while Inters were assembled in Dandenong.

The cabs were built by Richards in Adelaide and either delivered to Dodge in Adelaide or railed to Dandenong in Victoria for International Harvester. They were sharing cabs fromthe mid 50's. Apparantly my AR has a cab from Adelaide, a motor cast in Geelong and guards imported from the US.

From the AA series Internationals on the guards etc were also made by Richards and most of the differences were minor such as grill and lights, dashboards etc so it appears that Inter and Dodge cabs and guards were definitely interchangeable from the 1960's on.

I hope this helps

Hi Folks,
thanks for all the above info, this is really good. Although I'm mainly interested in my AB 120 4x4. But the puzzle is getting coming together.

How can I find out more about Peter's book, since I wrote one myself, I'd like to compare notes.

Thanks
Gus

And have a nice weekend.