BOMBSHELL

An Art Deco '37 International, Re Imagined for the New Millennium

- JOE GREEVES

AIthough everyone likes to be behind the wheel of something unique. If your goal is to attend a car show and not see another vehicle like yours however, some genuine out-of-the-box creativity is required. Adding a few bolt ons to a vintage Mustang or spraying some custom paint on a '57 Chevy might work for some but for Elvis Kerns, a car builder from Mulberry Florida, the plan was considerably more elaborate. He always builds unusual vehicles, like his previous rides, a'59 Rambler, '38 Willys, and a '49 Divco milk truck. This time, to boost the creativity bar even higher, he decided his latest creation would be diesel-powered and essentially one-of-a-kind.

He investigated several project vehicles but none made the cut until he found this 1937 International Cab Over in California, previously used as a CocaCola delivery truck. "I've always been an old school guy. When I found that cab, I said that's me and I've got to have it. I was already building the project 100% in my head before I even started so I know what the outcome would be."

Elvis traveled to California, retrieved the cab, then returned to Florida, enlisting the aid of several friends to begin the project. From the outset, the weight of the proposed diesel power plant meant that everything on the chassis had to be heavyduty. Addressing those strength issues with modern upgrades, Elvis began with a front end from a 2013 GMC 2500. The rear of the truck uses a hand built four-link to hold the 14-bolt Dana rear from the GMC.

Rigid 3X6 rectangular steel frame rails connect front and rear. To create the appropriate groundhugging profile, the truck was bagged using four Viair compressors and two reserve tanks along with standard bags up front and semi bags in the rear, all designed to handle the weight of the engine. A 75-gallon fuel tank gives bladder-challenging range.