This handsome 1949 International KB2 stake truck is a nicely preserved example with a long history of careful owners and a gentle lifestyle of moving hay bales before retiring to different collections. The seller notes that it needs some work to be a reliable runner once again, but the description reads of that of a truck that is very close to being a finished product – or, at least, a very nice specimen you can drive reliably every day. The mechanical components have been extensively gone through, but some wiring mistakes have left it a non-runner at the moment. The seller is offering this International as a Barn Finds Auction and it is located in Mason, Ohio.
We want to thank Barn Finds reader Lynn F. for listing his truck with us, which sports a lovely green paint job with matching stake bed body, steel wheels, and closely-coordinated interior. The truck belonged to an elderly friend, who purchased it from a thoroughbred horse farm that supposedly never registered the International for road use, instead of using it solely as a farm truck. The seller lists mileage as being a tick under 9,000, which certainly seems believable considering the condition of the paint and body. The horse farm was located in Virginia, which is certainly a favorable location for keeping rust and salty roads to a minimum. I can’t remember the last time I saw such a clean stake body bed.
The drivetrain is the biggest quandary for the next owner, but the issues seem very straightforward. The seller notes that he purchased the truck as a running example from his longtime friend, but due to the brakes being seized, he could not reliably drive it. Therefore, after beating out three other potential buyers to own this specimen, he shipped the truck to a friend’s shop to rejuvenate the braking system, which included all new cylinders, hoses, and shoes. At the same time, any typical wear items on the engine like points, coil, plugs, wires, and hoses were also inspected and replaced as needed.
Unfortunately, shortly after picking the International up with its engine humming, the seller drove it home, turned it off, and then was unable to start it back up. Even the starter motor won’t kick over. The seller is unsure what the mechanic might have mixed up on the electronics, but the prior elderly owner had installed an electric fuel pump which added an on/off switch under the dash. The mechanic had also been asked to replace the ignition switch because the key had been lost. Clearly, he got something miswired in what is actually a pretty simple six-volt, positive ground electrical system with floor-mounted starter button but was just too prideful to admit it. Since it was running great when the owner drove it home, it seems likely it’s a fairly simple wiring issue.
The seller has not been able to work on the International due to losing his storage arrangement and having his hands full with other projects, so he has decided to move it along. The interior is as beautiful as the outside, and if the wiring issues can be sorted out, this seems like a vintage workhorse that is very close to being a runner without any messy bodywork or extensive mechanical sorting left to do. And as a bonus, the seller is including four new and correct International hub caps. Get in touch with the seller by leaving a comment below if you wish to check the International out in person. And be sure to bid!
- Location: Mason, Ohio
- Mileage: 8,815
- VIN: 81,242
- Engine: Green Diamond 214
- Transmission: Manual
- Title Status: Clean
Bid On This Auction
Wildmanbill bid $7,800.00 2020-10-22 09:19:06
enafzige bid $7,700.00 2020-10-20 15:34:19- Wildmanbill bid $6,100.00 2020-10-20 06:42:24
Mwesner451 bid $6,000.00 2020-10-19 15:03:25- Wildmanbill bid $5,100.00 2020-10-19 07:14:49
- Mwesner451 bid $5,000.00 2020-10-18 15:24:24
- Wildmanbill bid $3,100.00 2020-10-18 13:37:11
- Mwesner451 bid $3,000.00 2020-10-18 06:19:25
- Wildmanbill bid $2,500.00 2020-10-17 17:22:44
- Mwesner451 bid $2,000.00 2020-10-17 16:07:58
- Wildmanbill bid $1,500.00 2020-10-17 14:32:18
migral23bfa bid $1,300.00 2020-10-17 11:59:00- Wildmanbill bid $1,000.00 2020-10-17 11:06:22
Cnewolf bid $900.00 2020-10-17 09:21:33- Wildmanbill bid $800.00 2020-10-17 06:36:57
- Cnewolf bid $700.00 2020-10-16 22:22:33
Nas4me16 bid $600.00 2020-10-16 21:10:18- Cnewolf bid $500.00 2020-10-16 20:54:22
Dwarack68 bid $400.00 2020-10-16 20:21:25- Wildmanbill bid $300.00 2020-10-16 19:28:52
Busboy1 bid $200.00 2020-10-16 19:02:50- Wildmanbill bid $100.00 2020-10-16 18:04:00
Geomechs? Howard? We’re waiting.
Nice move Gregg! Take care!
Hi O&O. I can’t say anything about Howard but I’ve been out of the loop, spending time with grandkids in Central WI. Can you believe that at 67 years old I actually put on a pair of roller skates—and skated? I used muscles I haven’t used in 30 years, and they’re showing me the errors of my ways.
Now for this truck. It would look a lot better at my place. That said, I tend to frown on electric fuel pumps. So many of them are wired in wrong and end up flattening the battery to the similarity of whiz on a plate. If you feel you need to run an electric pump you need to wire in an oil pressure safety switch. For me there is a good fuel pump rebuild kit available. It isn’t cheap but it does the job. One thing that might be a problem could be the contacts on the starter motor. When you step on the starter you manually push the drive gear into the flywheel. It only goes in so far at which time it runs out of travel before it can close the contacts. Typical of ordinary wear and tear. I’ve modified some contact buttons and/or linkages in the past to allow it to engage the motor just as the bendix engages. As for the rest of it the electrical system is complete simplicity…
Can you provide info on that fuel pump rebuild kit or person who does please? I prefer stock and if it does not sell in auction, I will keep somehow and work on it in the spring somehow.
Without being self-serving, oldinternationaltrucks.com is a good place to start. Be sure to closely examine your fuel pump; they can either be a six or a seven screw type. There’s a specific kit for each…
Zzzzz, huh, what? Somehow I missed this one, been spending too much time on a FB group called “Old School Trucking” ( with the typical FB lunkheads).
I’m simply appalled, no wait, too harsh,,, disappointed, a neat truck like this only has a $700 bid so far? And BF’s gets out to a lot of people, has interest finally gone ka-put? I don’t know, or care if it’s restored, it’s in simply unbelievable condition, so hard to find, and $700 bucks? The problems mentioned, a 4th grader could solve, well, a 4th grader 30 years ago. Biggest problem here, it’s not I-94 compliant, and no power ports( I still call them cig lighters) and if this doesn’t slap you in the face, and an insult, I feel, to the seller, that interest is fading, nothing will.
My advice, Lynn, keep the old Cornbinder and sell something else, if you can, it’s their loss!
And now on to Naturipe Strawberries website to complain about the crappy strawberries they ship,,I love retirement,,:)
Don’t worry Howard, I will bid on this till I get it. It will make a nice addition to my two 48 KB-2s.
Thanks. Frankly it is mostly the wife that wants me to reduce my toy collection. If it doesn’t bring a good bid, I will reluctantly (smile) keep and fix her when I find a new space!
I live in Pittsburgh, can we drive out to see the truck and give you an offer?
I just recently made the decision to part with her and then Barnfinds took longer than expected to get the auction started so unfortunately now the timing is pretty bad because I am leaving Tuesday morning to visit my son in Georgia for a week. I can be around on Sunday the 18th and Monday the 19th if you want to take a look at her then. Just let me know.
The front fenders have been repainted and are not Adarondac Green which is the correct color for this for cornbinder. Also the wheels look too light for this three quarter ton truck. I think it should have 700-16 tires on it
Front fenders definitely were repainted. I do not know about the wheels.
I live in Columbus. Can we come and see the truck? Great year!
I am leaving Tuesday morning for a week away visiting my son. If you can come on Sunday or Monday, that would be fine. Let me know.
How far from Cincy is the truck located ? TKS
Smitty , in Lexington, KY.
23 miles north of downtown Cincinnati
Fixing the wiring on this is a piece of cake for me, I have owned a 48 KB-2 for the last 48 years.
I don’t believe this is an original truck, It’s been restored. Looking at the closeup photo of the serial number plate on the firewall, I can see remnants of rust pitting under the paint. [Probably sand blasted, then primed, but no effort to fill in the rust pitting.] These trucks never came from the factory with prior rust under the paint!
Cannot day as I do not know. I have only owned since 2017.
A very nice old truck. Most likely, this one will be “work-horsing” long after some of this modern junk has been turned into rebar.
Not the original bed.That looks to be an all wood home made stake bed.
I am absolutely certain the bed has been reconstructed after 71 years.
By the way, included in the auction are four beautiful, brand new, (still wrapped and boxed) International Harvester reproduction hubcaps worth $400 I purchased from Restoration Specialties in Windber, PA
FWIW, I’ve seen this truck listed before, a couple of years ago.
I have owned since 2017 and it has never been for sale. I have posted pics on various International sites because she is beautiful. The elderly friend from WV I purchased from owned for many years and to the best of my knowledge never offered it for sale prior to 2017. You are mistaken, sir.