Unlock the Secrets of the International AR162
- 18 July 2017
In the 1950s local New Zealand drivers needed a truck that could keep up with the new roads and rough weather conditions of the great South. Enter: Bill Richardson Transport World’s 1955 International AR162. The International AR162 was a sturdy work truck built by the International Harvester Company in Australia. They were seen on farms and roads all over Australia and New Zealand. They were a great truck for the South.
1954 International AR162 at Bill Richardson Transport World
Australian Internationals
International Harvester began building their Australian line of trucks at Dandenong, Victoria in 1952. The ‘A’ in their model name marked them as Australian-built. The AR series was a modified version of the R series which was built between 1953 and 1956. In the 1950s Australia was going through a post-war economic boom, so sturdy Australian-built trucks quickly left the sales yard to greener pastures. Southland needed sturdier trucks than European imports often supplied, so Australian Internationals became the truck of choice for many truck drivers and farmers.
The Dandenong factory, where Bill Richardson Transport World's 1955 International AR162 was manufactured
Transport World’s 1955 International AR162
Bill Richardson Transport World's polished International AR162 is was one of those sturdy Australian trucks.
This truck has been a Southlander since the beginning. It was first bought by William P. Hogan of Makarewa in 1955. He used it as a general carrier, where it was seen on the roads of Southland for ten years. Coincidentally, Bill Richardson purchased W.P. Hogan's business in 1968 from Jack Hogan who had inherited the business. Included in the sale were three other trucks (three Bedfords and a Commer) which were incorporated into Bill’s transport business Southern Transport. This International truck was not one of them, but Bill Richardson
Transport World still ended up with it down the track! This International was sold by the Hogans before Bill bought their business. It went through five more owners all around Western Southland, from Alan Moore in Aparima to Mayfield Farm in Five Rivers. For those who don’t know Southland, those are rural locations. I think it is safe to say this truck earned its keep!
Bill Richardson bought it from the local wrecker Jim Robertson in April 1989. As you can see from the picture below, it had been sitting for a wee while.
The 1955 International AR162 covered in just a bit of dust in Jim Robertson’s shed.
But Bill and his team restored to its original status, as a W.P. Hogan, carriers of Makarewa truck.
W. P. Hogan on the side of the 1974 International AR162
Specifications
Engine model: International Harvester Australian Silver Diamond 240
Engine type: Overhead Valve
Cylinders: 6
Bore: 3 9/16”
Stroke: 3 11/16”
Capacity: 240.30 cu in
HP: 30.4
Max BHP: 108 @ 3600
Compression ratio: 6.5
GVW: 8392kgs
Gearbox: 4 speed with synchromesh on 2nd, 3rd and top gears
Rear Axle: Eaton 1360 2 speed with electric shift
Page from the International Truck Service Manual in Bill Richardson Transport World’s library
Gallery
This truck speaks best for itself, so here are photos of our beautiful 1955 International AR162.
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