International Harvester’s first light truck was not an International at all. It was a rebadged Willys-Overland C113. How did this happen? The Great Depression made bedfellows of IH and Willys, as both were suffering the financial effects of a major economic downturn. Willys was selling its C113, a half-ton pickup – and that market niche was flourishing despite the bleak economy. The company had also developed a 213 cu. in. six-cylinder engine, but shelved it as funds ran out. These two items caught the eye of International Harvester’s management, and an agreement was struck: Willys would sell to International its C113 trucks for rebranding, as well as the rights to its new motor. International installed the new motor in the Willys truck and sold it starting in 1932 as the D-1. The motor was the basis for IH’s Green Diamond line, which it sold for six decades. In short order, International spurned its partner, and began making its own light truck from the ground up: the C-line. By the mid-1930s, styling had shifted to favor streamlining, and that, finally, is when our subject truck was born – the second of the D-series, this one called the D-2. Research shows these were produced beginning in 1937; our seller has what he believes is a late 1936 International D-2 for sale here on eBay, bid to $6600 with no reserve. The truck is located in Great Bend, Kansas.
The history of this particular pickup reminds me of why I love old trucks. This D-2 was owned by a farming family for decades. In the 1980s, the farmer restored it, used it lightly, and parked it for another 40 years. Despite that long slumber, the current owner was able to make its Green Diamond six run with a new battery, new plugs, and fresh gas! Try that with an Alfa Romeo. The seller does note that the carburetor could use a rebuild, and while the brakes work (!), best to go through the whole she-bang. Output of about 78 hp is transmitted to the wheels via a three-speed manual.
These trucks came along before anyone was thinking about making the cabin comfortable for you, sorry. That said, the new D-2 had a larger greenhouse and more generous interior dimensions. I love the tidy, Art-Deco-ish combo-gauge. The seller notes that the passenger window is broken but he includes a brand new one. Have to hand it to this seller – he’s taken the time to make the truck run, cleaned it up, and purchased a new part to replace a broken one. Reducing the pain points – I like it!
Yes, the buyer is in for bodywork, light mechanical refreshment, and maybe paint. But the D-2 is a rare find these days – so rare that a nice one will cost around $40k. The seller of this project wants $7900, and it doesn’t run. Based on these numbers, I’d say this truck is underbid at the moment, and will likely bring more.
Some serious respect and appreciation by the owner(s) for this old dude to keep him up this nicely for this long.
One of the best true survivors to appear here I believe.
The bottom cushion being redone in what appears to be burlap is a nice touch!
Not many of these left anymore, at least not in this condition, love to have it. A lot of memories in the old International’s, quite a few roamed the farm I grew up on. Parts can be hard to come by, and pricey, hopefully someone can give it the proper treatment
Great write up Michelle! Taught me more about these trucks than I could ask! $6,600 is the bid with 3 days to go. If this truck sells for under $10k, someone is getting heck of a good deal!
I own a 1940 D2. There is a charm about these rugged D2s that no Ford or Chevy can match. The ’37 has a unique tailgate. This one is in incredible condition. That grill trim is worth $2K alone. The windshield frame apears to be in very good shape as well. Missing the horn, and the spare is curiously mounted on the driver side. These are definitely $40K trucks if restored with reasonable accuracy. If I didn’t already have so much into mine I would be all over this one. This one should sell for mid teens simply based on completeness. Easy restoration.
I ran the VIN from the data plate provided in the pics and the truck is a 1940.
It has a 1940 grill, parking lights and fenders.The 1936 IH pickup front end is completely different
It makes a difference to check this out on the computer instead of my cellphone. You are correct; it’s a ’40. This pic is a ’36 model…
On further review of the pics, I’d have to really look at data plate to determine year. It is wearing one year only 1940 front fenders with the turn signals mounted on them.
I had the successor truck-K series but loved the styling of the D series. Parts can be tough to find but this truck looks to be really solid. Just having a tailgate is a plus. They always seem to be missing. Very tough little trucks but be prepared to drive 40mph tops.
Field ( truck) of dreams. 44 years as a heavy truck mechanic 20 with IH I would be very proud to own and drive this beauty. Make it safe and dependable, drive it in the summer and tinker with the little things, when I’m gone someone will have a classic ready for paint.
I think the 37 – 40 IH pickups were the best looking pickups ever made. I have a 38 Chevy truck, runs a close second but I’d still have to put the Internationals above it.
My dad was a technician at an IH truck and tractor implement (they also sold Chrysler and Plymouth) from the late 40s through 62. I remember before I was in school he’d occasionally take me along when he repaired tractors on farms. The shop’s service truck was a 37 – 40 IH one ton dually pickup with a 9 foot box. I’ve always had that image of what a heavy duty pickup should look like. Life was not necessarily simpler then, but the problems sure seemed simpler than the crazy world today!
Nah, nothing from the day surpasses the looks of a 40-41 Ford pickup
I am sorry but this one is not a 36 model but 37 or 38 I know that because I have a 36 model and it has a different shape of grill and several other item In fact the 36 models are quite diferent. Any way its a beautiful pickup
A fine specimen! I assume that opening at the bottom of the grill is for a hand-crank?
Lovely looking truck. Assuming everything is solid and there’s no rust holes to see, this looks like a fun project to either restore or restomod.
Whoever buys the truck, please DON’T resto-mod this piece of history. If parts are hard-to-find, it needs to be restored to original.
(Thank you, John.)
How do these trucks get past me? I’ve got a D-2, albeit in much worse condition than this one. Mine’s a ’38 Shortbox and my fenders are non-existant, unless you want to count the ones that some former owner fabricated out of a pair of wooden nail barrels. I managed to get enough pieces to build one an a half rear fenders.
The reason old Binders have trouble with rear fenders is that the designers wanted the owners to be able to stand on the ground and access anything in the bed. So they removed that part of the running board. Trouble was they didn’t realize how much having the running board attached to the rear fender stabilized the fender and kept it from vibrating (read: cracking and breaking–OFF). That problem migrated right into the K-models and stayed until 1949.
That’s an HD engine under the hood. The HD begat the GRD. The outside differences are the HD having rounded corners on the head, 18 mm plugs and being retained with studs and nuts. The GRD head was extremely square on the corners and was fastened with capscrews and washers. And the 14mm plugs. Internals were almost identical with the exception of the HD using shims on the rod and main bearings. Displacements were 213/214 and 232/233 CID. For something really nit-picky, the HD engine was painted black and the GRD was more of an olive green. I might add that the HD was used until halfway through 1940 when the D gave way to the K. The GRD would see use through the 40s in trucks, and into the early 50s in combines and cotton pickers.
Anyways, this truck could come to my place. I would give it a good home. And I don’t mind driving 40-50 mph. I’m in no hurry. And I cheerfully wave to those yuppies in the import SUVs…
im only about a hr from great bend…..might have to go check it out be a cool stock truck to take to the strip next to my 39 IH gasser…..sbc 327 tunnel ram fender dump headers th400…..nothing crazy just a old play toy i found in a tree row froze engine all the glass broke out pack rats filled the cab to the bottom of the seat it was ROUGH needed 3 parts trucks to put it back together…..