1977 International Loadstar scrapes the pavement on its way to stance nation

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Design/Style

The "stance movement" refers to an automotive style that looks at vehicles and thinks they need to be sitting lower... a lot lower. If there was a way to push the frame rails through the ground, someone in stance nation would do it. The style of these "stanced" cars and trucks is hit or miss, some look low and lovely while others just look broken. We thought this style was only popular amongst the standard daily-driven machines populating our roadways, but we were wrong. We've just learned that in a very big (yet still low) way thanks to one individual's slammed 1977 International Loadstar.

This is more than just a cut-down big-rig, content to crush the pavement beneath it. This truck has received major attention, and the fabrication work is quite impressive. All the seams on the body have been welded to give the cab a clean look. The wheels have been milled down to wear Falken rubber. Running under the cab and out the back, the frame has been sealed so air can pass through it, allowing it to serve as a 25-gallon tank used to operate the air-bag suspension system. No small task, considering the truck weighs over 10,000-pounds.

Under the hood, this International is powered by a 7.3-liter Ford diesel engine pulled from a 1991 E-350. It's been upgraded with the turbocharger from a 2002 Powerstroke, and the intercooler courtesy of a Dodge vehicle. Put it all together and it's one impressive piece of machinery. We'd love to see it sitting a few inches higher than zero, but we'll gladly give a thumbs up if we ever get to see it rumbling by.

Head over to StanceIsEverything.com for more information and some excellent photographs of the customized rig.

1977 International Loadstar scrapes the pavement on its way to stance nation originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 May 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Be afraid: Dragon Tank Truck from Russia

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Etc.

Two slightly bigger pics can be seen by clicking above.

The only info we have on this badass big rig is from the website where we found the pics: "I've seen a lot of photos of USA or Japan trucks looking very stylish after some big work of decorating. But this one looks different. And it can be met on roads of Russia - it's not from some art gallery." So it's Russian, it's called the Dragon Tank Truck, and it's on the road, not in some art gallery. Oh, and it's awesome. Some sort of Mad Max wannabe? A locomotive enthusiast's dream semi? A Transformer sequel star? A future Cars follow-up bad guy? An SPCA scare tactic? Your guess is as good as (actually, frequently, much better than) ours.

Whatever it is, we love it. Like some cartoon nightmare come to life. As one AB Editor put it, "[this truck] should have a bumper sticker on the back that reads 'Lightning McQueen can bite my ass'."

[Source: English Russia]

Gallery: Badass Big Rig

Be afraid: Dragon Tank Truck from Russia originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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