Fast Facts

Understood to be one of just ten built by the Department of Defense in Australia, featuring a Cobb and Co rear section and International front cab

This 3.48 tonne bus is licensed to seat four passengers and can be driven on Australian roads with a standard car drivers license

Fully restored and repainted, including a refurbished interior and understood to be largely mechanically original

The Details

This incredibly charming and beautifully presented 1971 International C1300 bus has been fully restored in two-tone red and cream paintwork with a refurbished interior. It does not require a special truck license to drive in Australia and holds full New South Wales road registration.

The bus is understood to be one of ten built nationally in the 1970s by the Department of Defence, who originally used it to transport army and civilian personnel. It combines a Cobb and Co rear section with an International front cab.

Under the hood is the original 4.6-litre 6-cylinder overhead valve petrol engine (6-281), capable of 142 bhp at 3,800 rpm and 241 lb-ft of torque at 1,800rpm. This is mated to a New Process NP435 four-speed manual transmission (T17) and Rockwell-style banjo differential.

A full service was completed during the seller’s one-year custodianship, which included replacing the tail shaft centre bearing, rear brake cylinders and wheel bearings. New engine electrics, spark plugs and leads were also fit. The owner notes that the bus starts and drives well.

The bus is finished in a lovely two-tone red and cream paint job that is noted to be in excellent condition. The front sign works and rotates through various locations and wordings. The bus is also fitted with an additional retro hand indicator which can be manually operated to indicate out of the driver’s side.

Inside, the C1300 presents similarly well, boasting a restored interior fitted out in limewash timber walls and floors. An auxiliary battery has been installed to power interior lights and camping sockets.

The owner notes no known damage to the vehicle.

The bus held limited historic registration when purchased by the current owner, who then made the effort to prepare it for full New South Wales road registration which remains current. It will be sold with its current blue slip and registration paperwork. There is no logbook available.

Boasting a charming red and cream finish and including nostalgic touches like the rotating sign and hand-operated mechanical indicator, this International C1300 bus is sure to put a smile on anyone’s face. Fully NSW road registered without the requirement of a truck licence, and equipped with an auxiliary battery and plenty of space, it would make an ideal vehicle to explore the country, head out on road trips, take part in the many club runs and rallies that are held all around the country, or just enjoy the odd cars ‘n coffee run.

Appendix:

Springs F: STD
Springs R: STD
Front Axle: FA12 HD
Steering: S3
Transmission T-17
Engine: 6-281
Aux Trans
Rear Axle: RA15
& Ratio: 30
L.S.T No: 562

Descriptions and information are supplied by the seller or owner of the vehicle and are believed to be accurate and not misleading to the best of their knowledge. Prospective buyers are required to satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and independent verification is strongly recommended.

Vehicles listed on retrorides.com.au & rrauctions.com.au may have undergone cosmetic or bodywork repairs that are not visually discernible. Photographs may not precisely represent the colour or condition; therefore, buyers should directly confirm key specifications. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, it must be assumed that any vehicle registration plates are excluded from the sale of a car or motorcycle.

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for this vehicle has been verified against the Australian Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR), at the time of listing the vehicle, and no security interest or other encumbrance is recorded against the serial number. Furthermore, this vehicle has been checked via the Austroads National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System (NEVDIS), and there are no markers present within the written-off or stolen vehicle databases.

Access to and use of data provided through the PPSR is subject to the PPSR terms of use and applicable third party data conditions. 

To the extent permitted by law, all data provided through the PPSR is made available without any representation or warranty of any kind (without limitation in respect to accuracy) and the Commonwealth, and third party data providers (which includes Austroads Ltd (ABN 16 245 787 323) and any person mentioned in the third party data conditions as providing information through the PPSR), have no liability to you in respect of any loss or damage that you might suffer no matter how arising (including negligence) that is directly or indirectly related to the NEVDIS data.