Classic Cabover

This 1976 International 4070B just sold online for under $18,000. Would you drive something like this? The ad said that it was a rare truck, the Transtar 4070B cabover double bunk. I’m not sure myself about its rarity. Anyone know how many were made and how common they were? When you’re buying a used semi tractor, however, I doubt many people look for a classic like this one. And I don’t see them in the semi truck buyers guide much, I doubt.

Look at the handles on the side of this thing — the three sets of bars mounted to the side to hold onto, over the tiny windows. I guess there must be a small bunk still in there if they’re using it for daily.

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Like I wrote, I’m not sure if these Internationals are rare particularly, but I have read a bit about cabovers from that era being rare in general. Apparently, because they became unpopular (because of the “first at the scene of an accident” danger of them), a lot of them were cannibalized for their powerful engines and quality parts in the 80s and beyond.

$18,000 though. What do you think of the deal? What do you look for in a used semi truck deal yourselves?

Here’s a bigger photo — the photo for the sale — it in case you want to see the details:

UPDATE: Kenneth Becker wrote that they stopped building them when de-regulation came out. The length law no longer mattered, so people bought Conventional. “I believe International sent all the tools to Brazil where they still make the CO,” according to Kenneth. 

classic cabover