A Classic Cruiser with a Family Twist!

Tony Leal Continues to Bring the Heat

If the name Tony Leal isn’t familiar to you yet (a quick Google search should help remedy that!) then keep on reading. He’s built some insane custom classic trucks that somehow keep making their way onto our covers, as we just can’t help but fall in love with each and every custom creation Tony puts his hands on.

This time around, Tony knew he wanted to break away completely from the crowd and do something a bit different—quite a bit different, in fact. His only main criteria this time focused on building a four-door classic so he could fit his whole family and cruise to the Pomona Swap Meet and Donut Derelicts in style. Tony was on the hunt for a patina’d four-door classic truck, but NOT a C10 or Ford this time around. He put the word out to a few close friends, and eventually Dan from Pure Metal Works came across something he wanted Tony to see for himself. Dan called Tony up and told him about this neat International a buddy of his had, and it was EXACTLY what Tony was looking for. After a quick look and some back and forth, a deal was struck and the work began.

If you are familiar with any of Tony’s past cover-gracing builds, then you already know the recipe drips with both style and originality. A slammed stance is a must, and the perfect wheel/tire combo is something Tony is well known for at this point. But this time around, not only would it be a much different style truck, but Tony also wanted his son’s help and input. His boy Anthony would get his hands dirty on this one, and father and son would combine talents and ideas to turn this International into one of the coolest classic cruisers these pages have seen!

To preserve the beautifully aged style, the grille and original bumpers all boast some patina of their own with only slight custom touches to include custom wheel covers and a custom crafted pine wood bed floor.

The slammed stance comes courtesy of an Air Lift Performance and FLO Airride combo, paired with a full custom chassis featuring a one-off IFS and rear 4-link with Panhard bar. The Air Lift 3H air management system was custom mounted, along with a pair of VIAIR compressors and Wilwood disc brakes at all four corners. Naturally, the custom powdercoated chassis sits on the ground tucking the gorgeous 20×8.5 and 20×11 Avant Garde SR10 wheels with brushed finish and gloss liquid bronze centers wrapped with Nitto NT555 G2 255/35ZR20 fronts and 315/30ZR20 rears to finish off the mind blowing stance. This setup ensured this would be the world’s first International Harvester built to these specifications.

Having Tony’s son involved in the build was truly a rewarding process for the both of them. They both agreed that keeping the finely weathered patina was the perfect look for the exterior as it was near perfection in its imperfection. To preserve the beautifully aged style, the grille and original bumpers all boast some patina of their own with only slight custom touches to include custom wheel covers and a custom crafted pine wood bed floor. The only modern amenities to the exterior of the truck include the United Pacific headlights and taillights along with the killer Sweet Patina roof rack that finishes off the outside beautifully with that perfect SoCal flare.

The interior brings the same exquisite styling as the rest of the truck, with the perfect blend of both old and new. Fresh additions include the custom Dakota Digital gauges, an Ididit steering column, a MOMO California wood steering wheel and a Lokar shifter that are all well balanced in both style and performance. A custom audio system by Define Concepts includes a Musway DSP, Rockford Fosgate amplifiers, Hertz 6.5-inch speakers, and JL Audio 10-inch subwoofers for a respectable audio experience when cruising PCH windows down with the family. A custom mounted Air Lift 3H controller and Restomod Air climate control provide the modern creature comforts necessary for the road trips.

Once again, Tony Leal created something truly special, but this time around it was a family affair. He’s excited to enjoy this build with his family in tow, but per usual, we know he’s got more tricks up his sleeve and are sure we’ll be seeing more custom creations coming out the Slammed64s garage here in the near future, so stay tuned!

…father and son would combine talents and ideas to turn this International into one of the coolest classic cruisers these pages have seen!

TRUCK SPECS

Owner 

Tony Leal
Orange, CA
Slammed64s
1968 International Harvester Travelette

Chassis & Suspension

• Full custom chassis
• Custom IFS and custom rear four-link with panhard bar
• Slam Specialties SS-7 ‘bags front
• Air Lift sleeve ‘bags rear
• Air Lift 3H air management system
• FLO Airride billet air tank
• VIAIR compressors
• Ridetech shocks
• CPP C7 Corvette spindles
• Wilwood disc brakes

Wheel & Tires

• 20×8.5 and 20×11 Avant Garde SR10 with brushed finish and gloss liquid bronze centers
• Nitto NT555 G2 255/35ZR20 fronts and 315/30ZR20 rears

Engine & Drivetrain

• 2018 Chevy 5.3L LT V8
• PSI engine management
• Chevy 6L80-E transmission
• Strange Engineering 9-inch rearend w/ Eaton Truetrac LSD and Dutchman axles
• K&N air filter
• Mattson’s custom radiator
• Spal brushless electric fans
• Speed Engineering headers
• Custom stainless-steel exhaust with Borla mufflers

Exterior & Paint

• Patina – no fake patina here, mother nature true weathered exterior
• Kept mostly stock exterior for original look
• Custom wheel covers
• Custom pine wood bed floor
• United Pacific headlights and taillights
• Sweet Patina roof rack

Interior & Stereo 

• Dakota Digital gauges
• Ididit steering column
• Restomod Air climate control
• MOMO California wood steering wheel
• Lokar Shifter
• Custom audio by Define Concepts
• Carpet and vinyl interior by MST Upholstery
• Musway DSP
• Rockford Fosgate amplifiers
• Hertz 6.5-inch speakers
• JL Audio 10-inch subwoofers
• Custom mounted Air Lift 3H controller

Special Thanks 

“Air Lift Performance, FLO Airride, Mike Alexander, Restomod Air, Customs by Sergio, Dan at Pure Metal Works, AG Wheels, Classic Instruments, Borla exhaust, my family and everyone who continues to help support my builds.”

Photo Credit: SOLOMON LUNGER