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Bringing an International Tow Pig Back to Life

Unfortunately, you’re not going to get a tow truck as cool as this one to respond to your next AAA roadside assistance call. Perhaps its owner, Raymond Palmer of Marshfield, Missouri, can help you out in a pickle if you happen to be in his area. Be sure to keep his number on speed dial if you have it. But seriously, when’s the last time you saw a 1952 International L-130 outfitted for towing duties? This may be the first for a lot of us in the crowd, but this truck is Raymond’s pride and joy, as his occupation lies in the field of heavy recovery towing. The man loves his work and the tools of his trade, and we are here to admire the latest addition to his fleet.

“I wanted to make a trade with a guy named Alan I know from Marshfield for the dump bed that was on the truck,” Raymond says. “He told me not to leave the rest of the truck, so we towed the whole thing to my place, and I eventually decided to build it as-is.” Raymond’s overall plan was to keep the end result well within reach. What he had in mind was to simply get the truck running reliably while having some fun with it along the way.

The International already had the look that appealed to Raymond. It was rusty and crusty and had some amazing patina on the paint that he found out was applied by brush by one of the truck’s previous owners. All Raymond really wanted to do was add 1950s-era police lights on top of the cab, set up the tilt front clip, and slap on a few strategically placed stickers before calling it a day on the exterior styling. He did add new glass and seals, which is always a good call when cracks and wear from decades past are present. While this was just the first stage of the project, Raymond already had the rest of the build lined up in his head.

Turning the International into a reliable running work truck was paramount, so Raymond began his search for a capable power plant, which he found in a 1995 Isuzu NPR cab-over commercial truck. The 3.9L 4BD2 engine wasn’t the only component Raymond plucked for his International, however. He also grabbed the NPR’s 5-speed transmission, as well as the entire chassis, to make the swap as straightforward as possible.

The engine was built by Northeast Diesel in Springfield, Missouri, where it was outfitted with a 5.9 Cummins turbo and 6-inch exhaust stacks that throw flames high into the sky. That is always a sight to behold. Raymond was then able to scavenge a 75-gallon aluminum fuel tank from a local Peterbilt salvage yard, along with Great Dane 53-foot semi landing gear for outriggers; a 20,000-lb electric winch with 24,000-lb nylon rope from a local towing company; and a sling from a 2006 Jerr-Dan wrecker. Oh, and don’t forget the 6V fire engine siren that Raymond may or may not use to cut through rush hour traffic jams.

This International had good enough bones for Raymond to get straight to work on and have a running, reliable rig for just $4,500 in out-of-pocket expenses. Considering Raymond’s excitement level with his truck and its impact on spectators whenever it pulls into a show, that is money very well spent.

Although Raymond can hop in and cruise in his wrecker anytime, his favorite part about the build process has been being able to connect with the community. “Hearing stories about International trucks from the older generation who have owned them in the past is amazing,” he states. “I would’ve never experienced this if I didn’t save the old truck.”