I know we have a few International truck experts in the Barn Finds family of readers, and I hope you can help to positively identify this one. The seller has it listed as a 1965 International C1200, but from what I understand, the eggcrate grille was used on the 1963 and ’64 models. In any case, it’s listed here on eBay in Albany, Oregon, and they’re asking $2,800, or you can make an offer.
Whatever year this truck is, it’s definitely a C1200, as shown in a photo of the data tag that the seller put in a Dropbox link of photos here. Nice work, seller! There is far less information on the internet about International pickups than any other that I’ve found. This truck would be sharp as a tack in restored condition in this bright “White” color with its red interior, or the door panels are red, so I’m assuming the seat would have originally been red as well.
The unique bed design is pretty fantastic in my world. It almost has a Powell Sport Wagon look to it from the rear, as if the taillights should double as slide-out fishing pole compartments. There is a lot of surface rust on this truck, as you’ve noticed, but aside from a few dents and dings, it sure looks like it could be restored to looking like new again if the next owner cared about such things.
Here’s one for Bob_in_TN to consider on his spreadsheet of cool shift levers. This is a winner, in my opinion. The biggest V8 engine and a 4-speed manual have to be a dream for almost any vintage pickup buyer. Not that there’s anything wrong with a 3-speed on the column manual, or an automatic. I believe the 4-speed is a T-15? Geo? Howard? Dave? Stan? Anyone? I would have to think that the floors have some rust, but we don’t know for sure. There aren’t any underside photos, and there’s no mention of it, but it looks a little iffy on the passenger side. Otherwise, the interior looks pretty good. Is that the ashtray that’s missing from the rectangular hole on the left of the heater controls?
The 345-cu.in. OHV V8 would have been rated at 180 net horsepower, and this one isn’t currently running, but it turns over. When it did run, it sent the power through that 4-speed manual to the rear wheels. This looks like a fantastic project pickup, and $2,800 or offer in 2026 doesn’t seem outrageous, given what most sellers are asking for their vintage vehicles. I bet most Barn Finds fans could have this one working like new for less than $5,000 total, including the selling price. Any thoughts on this I-H pickup?
Neat old “Binder”. Unfortunately I am no expert, if I were in the same room as a gentleman like Geomechs my IQ wluld raise a few points. So he’ll have to weigh in here. Its an honest old truck, at first I thiught just leave it as is, deal with any possible mechanical issue and drive and enjoy it. But thats a great bed design and it would look good cleaned up and painted white again. ( And I’m not a white vehicle guy) I’m going to agree with Scotty. When Bob sees that long shift lever, he’ll be impressed, heck, I’m impressed. I’d love to run this through the gears. This is a terrific find Scotty and I enjoyed it. Can’t wait to see the comments on this old Workhorse.
Sorry about the Fat Thumbs. I need to start proofreading better.
Hi All. I saw this post but was off somewhere else for the better part of the day. So much fun, having a day off and doing absolutely nothing. Anyways, this truck.
Overall, a pretty sound looking piece of Binder history. Right at the transition where IH discontinued using the Delco distributor and switching up to the Holley. If you were to come across a truck like this you might want to hang onto the Delco unit because you can get nearly everything for it at the local auto parts store.
345? Okay, I won’t argue but my information tells me that the 345 wasn’t available in the light trucks until the ’68 models. Until then it was a 266 and a 304, and they all fit in the same hole. I might add that the 266 was not available on Canadian-built trucks although there’s no doubt that lots of them migrated in that direction. If you’re trying to ID the engine properly, look at the upper RH corner of the block behind the alternator. There’s a machined flat that will be stamped with the model number (eg. V345), with the engine S/N stamped right under that. If it is the original engine, it will have a corresponding S/N# on the ID plate in the driver’s door.
When he took over the dealership from his dad in ’49, the local dealer, just on the north side of the border, couldn’t get a truck contract with the Canadian Binder people unless he built a separate building. Skuttlebutt says that he called Chicago who told him to submit a financial statement, which he did. Truck contracts arrived promptly, and the guy began to prove that he could play in the same sandbox as all the others.
Parts for this truck are fairly easy to come by. Brake drums are probably the hardest to find. There’s a place in McHenry IL that refurbishes drums so all is not lost other than it being somewhat costly. Cylinders, shoes, wheel bearings and seals are close at hand. Even body parts such as floor pans are available. A windshield and all the body rubber is easy to come by. A grill, you’ll need to hunt down though. Same if you need a gear set for the diff.
Overall, a nice truck to get. You can haul lots of parts with it plus the beer for the picnic. I sure wouldn’t kick a truck like this off my property…
Well since you (SG and Dave) asked…. yes this shifter is one of my all-time favorites. Long, with several well-placed kinks. And topped with a large, no-nonsense knob. I too would enjoy running it through the gears.
I’d never upstage the master of IH, I happen to know, he can’t resist an IH post. A little research, until Geo comes along, I read, ’65 had the older grill, but some late ’65s had these, and in ’66 changed, although, this is interesting,, and perhaps Geo can confirm, apparently, I read some dealers merely switched grills on surplus ’65s to make them look like ’66s before the feds put a stop to that. Great trucks, but not in the publics eyes. IH pickups never caught on like the “others”, even though, they were every bit as good, considering their HD trucks cousins, actually were better, but Americans wanted Ford/Chevy/Dodge, and not much could change that.
RE: shift lever. While IH seemed to have the wackiest shifters, they paled in comparison to some cabover semis I drove, especially after the cab was let down on one. Great trucks.
Yes, grills were kind of a mixed bag for trucks of this vintage. The old eggcrate ran (officially) from ’63 through ’64 but I saw some ’65 models that still had the same old piece. 1965 officially brought the vertical bars all across with “International” on a horizontal plate across the center. 1966 carried on the “buck teeth” but the horizontal plate now spread across the entire width. International had a tendency to apply the year to the date the title was validated so there was often some confusion, especially 1965.
For what it’s worth, my ‘1965’ Econoline pickup is in every way a 1964: Cube heater, no bump-out for a 300 engine, 7″ rear instead of a 9″…but the title was issued by Ford in September ’64,so it was magically a ’65.
Drove me nuts trying to get parts for it until I figured it out.
My ’66 Pontiac has a ’65 rear in it. Guessing it was an early ’66 and they just used up what they had left over from ’65s.
Fix it up and use it!!!!!! I would clean up the surface rust and paint it?? This buyer will have a neat weekend workhorse..
I love it. Make reliable and use it.
This is my kind of truck…well, any kind of old truck is my kind of truck. I could go either way on this one after mechanicals fix the body or leave it!
my biggest complaint with international trucks like this now is some parts are obsolete like brake and other parts otherwise they are great trucks
JUNK
GOLD
This IH is a steal. I drove a number of these as service trucks at various trucking companies. This would be great work truck with a little effort. Years back, I dated a gal whose father had one of these. Step side too. On the weekends, us kids would go up to their family cabins on an island (Prudence Island, R.I.) and beat the snot out of it and it just kept on ticking.
I have a 1965 converted from 3 speed to 4 speed before I got it. Cut, re-welded stick shift (and bent, with heat) to keep it from hitting dash or seat, so pretty easy to get whatever you want . My Dad had taught me that on a 1961 Travelall that he bought new. His was shorter and straight.
I seriously doubt it has a 345, more than likely the 266 or 304. Reference the oil filler and other components.