International Fame: Terry Lowe’s 1965 International R190

Original photography from the ACT archive

Terry Lowe now owns his childhood dream truck, the 1965 International R190 once owned by Mick and Faye Gardiner.

There are some great examples of trucks which have set the benchmark of customisation, trucks of yesteryear which were years ahead of their time and today still stand the test of time. What impresses me most is the preservation of these vehicles by people with a passion for beauty. Terry Lowe is one of these people, and he is now the proud owner of this 1965 International R190.

It’s fair to say he fell in love with this rig when he was a boy and when the opportunity to buy it came along…well he had no choice but to purchase it. We caught up with Terry in Gatton where the beautiful R190 is housed in the Queensland Transport Museum. Terry is from Victoria and that is where he purchased the R190.

The truck has a long history and Terry is quick to put the onus of its immaculate condition squarely as a result of its previous owners. If this truck looks familiar well it’s been in at least two magazines that we know of including the Australian based Custom Vans & Trucks and the American Overdrive magazine, which both sit in the truck as a reminder. The R190 was on the front cover of Custom Vans & Trucks in 1975. At that time it belonged to Mick and Faye Gardiner.

Terry says Mick bought the 1965 R190 along with its Bogey Strap in 1974 for $3,900 and put it to work on the Melbourne to Sydney and Melbourne to Adelaide runs. He says Mick added a homemade sleeper cab on to it and upgraded the motor taking out the 406 and replacing it with a 430V8 Mercury motor before changing again to a 318V8 and then a GM 6V53 engine.

However in July 1976 the truck was involved in a major head on collision with a car in Keith, South Australia, and was virtually a write off.

Mick enlisted the services of Ron Stone from Pylong, VIC to bring the truck and trailer back home where he commenced a major rebuild. Mick purchased an International Loadstar chassis and lengthened it to a 173-inch wheelbase. According to Terry he then re-fitted the GM 6V53 engine. The engine is coupled to a 5-speed transmission with a 3-speed joey auxiliary.

According to the literature, this gives 30 forward with 20 usable gears teamed up with the No.4 Eaton 2-speed rear axle, which Terry says is still underneath the truck today. The cab came from an R-200 Diamond with a lengthened engine hood of 9-inches and a custom made 980 square inch radiator with 4-inch cores was also put in to accommodate for any increases in engine size and the cab itself was raised 4-inches to make it easier to maintain.

“When refitting the cab it was raised four inches and the guards and bonnet, all steel, were made to tilt,” he explains. Terry says twin air cleaners were also added with 3 1/2 inch chromed exhaust stacks. The interior used a Kenworth air ride seat. It also has twin side step tanks carrying 110 gallons (416 litres) of diesel with another 45 gallons (170 litres) under the body.

The credits for the initial rebuild go to Johnnie Sarson of Parklane Motors for the sleeper and paint work, Keith Brock of Universal Signs for the line work and signage and the mechanical work was done by Mick and Geoffrey Rae of Kilmore, VIC. Terry says the truck was then worked interstate till 1987 when Mick and Faye’s nephew Mark Reid bought it.

“In the next couple of years the truck was repainted, Mark went over all the mechanics and highly detailed the truck to its present condition,” Terry tells Australian Custom Trucks.

However after Mark had touched it up it sat in his shed for the next 20 years. After attending the American Iron Show in Echuca, VIC in 2007 Terry says Mark went straight home, blew the dust off the old girl and checked everything over to get her ready for the 2008 American Iron Show.

Terry says seeing the truck at the show brought back a flood of boyhood memories. “I was at the 2008 rally and saw the truck again, not having seen it for many years,” he recalls.

“I first took a picture of the truck in 1979 at the Wandong Music Festival when I was 10 years old and seeing Mick driving the R190 I was immediately hypnotised and the memories of seeing the truck when I was with my dad flooded back.

“Dad would often say here comes Mick in the R190, Mick would pass us and I would just drool, if anyone remembers Mick and the old 190, they would remember how well it used to go.”

For Terry it is a dream come true owning the R190.

“I can honestly say that dreams come true as I bought this truck in May 2013,” he says.

“This truck to me is a big part of transport history and a highway legend.

“I hope everybody can see this truck as I see it today, and the same way I saw it through a 10 year old boy’s eyes.”

To see the R190 and other great vehicles visit the Queensland Transport Museum which is located inside the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre.

The Lights on the Hill Memorial Wall is on the hill that overlooks the museum. If you are travelling from Brisbane, travel 90kms and take the Gatton exit off Highway A2.

When in Gatton, turn left at KFC, travel another 1km and turn left into Lake Apex Drive. From Toowoomba, travel 55km east toward Brisbane and take the Gatton exit at Helidon. Travel 15km toward Gatton. After passing Andersens carpets on your left turn right into Lake Apex Drive.

Rear Vision: where are they now?

Do you know where this truck is today, or have an update on its story? We would love to hear from its owners, drivers or anyone who helped build it.