The “Lumberer” is how I’d refer to this early SUV from International. It’s big, heavy, and clunky looking but was an effective all-purpose hauler from that halcyon automotive year of 1958. It is said to have lived its life in California until last year when it relocated east to Felton, Pennsylvania. Not running for twenty years, this Travelall is available, here on craigslist for $7,500. A tip of the hat is due T.J. for this discovery.
Offered from 1953 through 1975, the Travelall was divided into four distinct generations, Our subject vehicle, dating to 1958 puts it in gen-2 (’58-’60). And I’m going out on a limb here, but I believe the listing for this Travelall is incorrect and that it is actually a 1958 model, not a ’57. Two things clue me in, one is the “A” model designation which was introduced in ’58 and the second is the third door (rear, passenger side), another ’58 innovation. The VIN tag, unfortunately, doesn’t denote the model year.
There’s a lot of Chevrolet Suburban similarity here with the three-door body style and barn-opening rear doors. The seller makes mention that this Travelall was a commercial vehicle, originally in service to the state of California and was painted orange during its official tour. It’s a sort of mucky brown now but does appear to have a solid body, free of serious rot and crash damage. The underside images present a frame that shows as stout.
Running off of a fuel can, the 154 gross HP, 240 CI, in-line six-cylinder “Silver Diamond” engine will start, but this SUV is not driveable as is. The odometer has rolled over so the true mileage is not known and that could have a significant impact on the remaining engine life. And that’s especially something to consider knowing that this truck was in commercial service. A three-speed manual transmission provides the hookup to the rear wheels.
Inside, I got nuthin’. There’s a dusty bench seat and a rusty ceiling – that’s about it. Basically gutted, and cosmetically, not in the best shape, the floors and cargo bed are likely OK (based on underside images). The vastness of it, along with the lack of essentially anything, makes for a blank canvas and the next owner can unleash some real what-if creativity on the cavernous interior.
Back in the day, this Travelall was, in fact, a true traveler, based on what appears to be “Turista” passes for the years 1971 and 1974 – not sure how that figures into official business but maybe it was post gubmint service. Depending on the true mechanical condition of the prime mover, this Travelall could move forward in a plethora of directions, from basically stock to slightly modified to a full-on mechanical and aesthetic redo. And if the engine isn’t up to snuff, you can always, “put an LS in it“, right?
These are my favorite IHC body styles. Not too rusty or crusty, and would be cool to put an FE big block into, and leave the rest alone. No room at the inn, or I’d take the road trip to check it out.
Why not an IHC big block 392?
Great idea. I worked at an engine shop in the late 70s and a customer had a few of those powering Paper Trucks. Inter city flatbeds delivering the latest newspapers overnight. They really got up and hustled on a deserted freeway between midnight and 3 or 4 am!
It’s actually a good swap. I’ve got a couple of customers who took that route. One runs a Holley TBI on his and it works great…
I want it to actually run.
Built 7.3 power stroke.
It is actually fascinating, the de-volution of the IH Light series. The A trucks…were, really, for the times, high-styled with wraparound windshields, chrome…and let’s not forget, the modern-for-the-times instrument cluster. With idiot lights for GEN and and TEMP, as Howard schooled me a few days ago.. Notice the styled tail lights…if those are parts-bin sourced, I have no idea what parts bin.
The B series went back to full-gauges. The C series, while gaining a fourth door and lowering the step height, went with a Stewart-Warner centerfold for instrumentation. And generic round tail lights…from the trucks, probably from the NAPA catalogue.
Nice example. I’d love to have it, but no-can-do.
Not exactly sure where you’re coming from, but all pickups had wraparound windshields, chrome, and idiot lights at this time. International instrument panels were as utilarian as it gets, utilarian to the point of boring. But those nice big round taillights weren’t generic, they were Internationals own.
Degrees.
IH was supposed to be the serious machinery maker. Man-on-the-tractor logo. Yes, the wraparound windshield was nearly universal (Willys and Studebaker passed on it) but it was still PURE…STYLE.
And quickly it was obsolete.
IH was always all-gauges. Howard schooled me, a few days ago…the last S-models had, for the first time, idiot lights. And the A series. The B series abandoned them, and they were gone forever from International’s truck offerings.
Only later did they take it to the opposite end…using out-of-the-catalog Stewart-Warner instrumentation, completely generic. THAT ended with the Light Line in 1970.
My 58 Chevy truck didn’t have any idiot lights, all analog for temp,oil and battery, so not all trucks had them ,don’t know about ford or dodge,or HI, but I know chev. y didn’t
I did? Did you know, the “A” in A series stood for anniversary?( 50th) Me either. Cool old hack. As a kid in Milwaukee, they used Travelalls as police ambulances before paramedics. Survival was iffy, at best. I remember the C series ones. This was a bit too early for the SUV crowd, and more than likely, a contractor of some sort had this, or judging by the hitch and brake control, pulled a camper at one time, slowly. While I certainly don’t recommend the LS route, any number of PLAUSIBLE motors could work.
BTW, I did some research, in ’58, the speedo had no white digit for tenths, but the far right is a tenth, so who knows? What is that in front of the shift lever?
Was it you, or another Corn-Binder guy?
Someone showed me my errors. I did a bit of research, and learned.
Howard looks like a section of flex radiator hose standing on the end with its wires coming out?
Actually a couple of flaws in the presentation here. The A-series was introduced in 1957, first, in the form of the Golden Anniversary edition (to coincide with IH’s 50th anniversary of truck production), which was followed by the regular assembly line becoming the A-line (our A-160 was a ’57 model, built between January 1, ’57 and November 1–the VIN sort of hints that it was toward the early part of the year). Kind of reminiscent of the ’47 and ’55 GM trucks. Idiot lights were used in the S and A-series trucks then went back to the gauges in ’59 with the introduction of the B-series.
They call this engine a Silver Diamond. It’s actually a BD which is also referred to as the Black Diamond; the SD was discontinued in ’56 and called the “B-220/240.” Actually there wasn’t much change other than the color they painted it (black). 1957 saw the “Tilt Valve” engine which tilted the valves over (duh!) at an angle to improve scavenging. The main visible difference is the wider valve cover. Funny thing, starting in the early 60s you would see a BD240 and a BG241, plus a BD264 and a BG265. The only difference between them was the BD engines were painted black and the BGs were red. And, the BDs were for Canadian production while the BGs remained in the states. That practice was discontinued in the later 60s because engineers had to re-learn their ABCs.
Now there’s going to be others who will contradict me because the real TRUE Black Diamond engine was in the larger trucks in 282/308 CID. Those were formerly Blue Diamonds. But most people are satisfied that Black Diamond covers all of the above. And that’s OK with me.
The Third Door: I saw a lot of Travelalls in my day and I don’t think I ever saw a Two-Door in this body style unless it was a panel; all I’ve ever seen was the Three-door. And again, I could stand corrected…
This would make for a nice Resto mod IMHO as lame as an LS would be a diesel might be even worse. As for the tail lamps I would hope that they came from a parts bin or they could be difficult to find. The left bezel must have been mounted upside down. Solid is the key that makes it worth doing something with.
International did the 1st and 2nd series thing like Chevrolet and Dodge. This body style of International appeared in midyear 57, and through 58, so this Travelall could very well be a 57. A “late 57”, as they were referred to.
Notice that even as International was more utilitatian in nature that they put a back door on the right side and GM didn’t do that until the late 60’s.
A very rare discovery! I’ve only seen maybe 1-2 Travellall’s of this generation. I forgot they had 3 doors!
The 240 engine was a Black Diamond.IHC also did a 264 version.
Brings back memories of being a little kid with a neighbor with an earlier Travelall ( no rear door) in salmon pink. I think I mentioned him before.
He had the opera singer Lily Pon’s Packard limo, a very early firetruck and lived in a modernist (late forties) house, up a long driveway on what seemed to a little kid , a mountain. He was quite a character . Well known radio voice. Did the Alka Seltzer commercials and many other things that were everywhere in the fifties and sixties.
This would be a fairly utilitarian and somewhat useless vehicle to have today unless you just wanted a very slow enclosed hauler.
Memory being what it is, geomechs must be correct vis a vis the third door. Probably as a six year old I just didnt notice it….or as a (cough) (cough) year old , I’ve forgotten ;)
Having an A-series pickup myself, this would be a great family-hauling alternative. Mine is tagged as a 1959 and the story is that IH titled vehicles in the year sold, not necessarily by model year manufactured. This could have been an early production sold in 1957.
As far as modding, mine is slated for a later IH 264ci inline 6 that I’m plumbing for a turbocharger, adapting a T-5, and installing a Ford 8″ rear. Sure wouldn’t mind switching out for this solid wagon to drop my goodies in!!
Give it a wash. SBC or LS swap and go cruising!
While i have always hated( yes strong word) this body style and thought they looked a lot like cow poop. I think i did see one done up with a lift and 4wd and big tires and it was appealing.
International to me was always the black sheep, As my old man ran the big 3 and one day had one of these. And it was odd.
I got a BG 240 or 241 ( I forget) out of a 68, 1100, and while chevy ran a more squared( but not yet squarebody) the 68 1100 pickup was bloby like this.
I pulled the 240 bg or 241( I forget) to put in place of the D-282 in the 3800 hoe. There was also a 263 gas for , As well as Red Diamond ect that was a whole different, Big truck animal.
I think the 69 Travelall was restyled and , it looked good, I loved it, Was almost as Sharp as the Squarebody chevy.
Maybe it could have come with a 392??? Maybe a clark 5 speed ( the school bus tranny) and maybe not. Point is the 69 travelall was a looker.
This particular rig was probably fine compared to others, i dont know( 1950s)
But today it would be a big old slug, probably terrible on the highway, on a positive note, probably great around town, no CEL.
Well here’s a fun fact just for you. International wasn’t always the black sheep, for many years they were #3 in pickup sales, well ahead of Dodge. It wasn’t until the early 60s when Dodge finally surpassed International
I agree…horrible on the highway. All of my improvements are just to make this more driveable, but it just won’t be until suspension and steering are upgraded. A$$ puckering is how I’d describe driving an IH of this vintage.
Brings back memories I learned to drive a 1963 International Travelall like this on the farm back in the 70s. Took it camping and fishing all the time with my buddies. Tough as a tank. I’ve seen some restored models command crazy prices. Good find
This for an International is really cool looking. It has lines and style I’ve nevervreally seen on an International before. I’d probably keep the 6bif ran, or maybe find a IH 345 V8, to keep it in the family…
The 1963 International Travelall had rounder lines than this 58. It had 4 doors on sides not 3, simple round headlights and tail lights. Alot like a Falcon. It also had an inline 6 with a 3 speed manual trans. I’m assuming it was the 240. I wasn’t as familiar with IHC engine sizes as with Ford or GM. My family was both friends and customers with the local IHC dealer and bought tractors and farm vehicles from him for years. For such a humble looking vehicle, I got in plenty of trouble in it.
“but I believe the listing for this Travelall is incorrect and that it is actually a 1958 model, not a ’57. Two things clue me in, one is the “A” model designation which was introduced in ’58 and the second is the third door (rear, passenger side), another ’58 innovation.”
wrong and wrong
the A series started in 1957 and continued thru 58 and they all had 3 doors
59 started the B series
Do you have any documented proof? Here’s mine:
https://tractors.fandom.com/wiki/International_Harvester_Travelall#First_generation_(1953-1957)
I’m not saying that you’re wrong but I can’t just accept your statements because you state them as so.
JO
Thanks for that link. I had never heard of the Wagonmaster
JIm, I’ve found that some people on this site had rather argue endlessly, about what they’re looking at in these posts, other than just enjoy what they’re looking at. Nitpicking to the extreme. I’ve always thought that you do a great job describing the posts that you do.
Thx HC!
JO