This International Harvester Travelall is a rare SUV and is being sold here on eBay with a low reserve. International Harvester produced the Travelall from 1952 to 1975 making this the final year of production. This example is located in El Paso, Texas which is known for its low humidity and heat. However, this SUV shows rust through in multiple body panels. With 4 days remaining in the auction, the Travelall is bid to $1,750. Did you know that International Harvester offered one of the first anti-lock braking systems as an option, starting in 1971?
The blue interior is part vinyl and part cloth. The dash is cracked and the seats show wear and are starting to come apart and revealing the foam underneath. Not much is said about options but the engine compartment indicates that it has air conditioning. The Travelall has been sitting in storage for a while and the seller has replaced the fuel filter and worked on the brakes and cleaned the fuel tank. The engine looks like it has received a new battery and upper radiator hose.
Not much is said about the engine except that it is equipped with a V8 engine. If its the original engine, this Travelall could be equipped with a 304 cubic inch V8, 345 cubic inch V8 or a 392 cubic inch V8 engine. All these motors were produced by International Harvester. In 1975, there was a supply shortage for V8 engines and International Harvester offered the AMC 401 cubic inch V8 as an option in the Travelall. The V8 engines managed only 10 to 12 miles per gallon. While a Travelall could be equipped with a manual transmission, this unit was built with an automatic transmission.
This particular Travelall is said to run and drive but it has rust through in the doors and rear hatch. The undercarriage pictures indicate that the frame and floorboards appear solid. The gray paint is probably original and is starting to disappear. Still, the Travelall has a long history and was initially introduced in 1953. It would be nice to see this one get restored.
I love this truck. I’m not sure if it even needs to be restored.
12 mpg? – For that mpg,it should have 4WD.
My 72 IH with the 392 regularly got 12 and went below 10 once the valve train wore out. But what can you expect at 194,000 miles?
Another one, images of the old man shouting expletives, pounding on the dash come to mind. He had a 1970, I think, to pull our campers. To be fair, my dad was one of those people who never maintained his vehicles, fact is, the only time I remember him changing oil, was before a trip. It really was a miserable vehicle, we liked it because of all the gas stops( single digits pulling a camper), funky automatic, crummy seats and we always held our breath after getting gas, as many times, we had to wait until it cooled down before it started. He then switched to Chevy Suburbans, that took his abuse much better. Didn’t see many IH trucks, and especially Travelalls. I read, less than 6,000 units ( pickup AND Travelall) were made in this final year( Scout made it until 1980), and of that, not many could possibly remain. Outstanding find here.
I like these, as something different and rarely seen today. I wonder if IH employed any “stylists,” maybe their “styling” was done by their engineering department. Just look at all those efficient squares and rectangles and angles, including the instrument panel. They might have even had an internal debate about whether that character line on the hood, extending through the grille, was necessary.
They were junk right off the show room floor……
You’re right; I said the same about a first generation Scout a couple days ago and arose the ire of an aficionado. Sometimes its tough to face the truth!
Still $1750 with 3 days left. At this rate, it won’t make the reserve.
I had a used ’72 with the 392 engine. It got 13 mpg. Always. Steady 70 mph on the interstates, steady 50 mph, stop-and-start city driving. 13 mpg – about what I expected from a vehicle that size with 1972 technology. With two gas tanks it held 35 gallons. So even at 13 mpg, the cruising range was huge. Stylling? Every time I see a Ford Flex, I’m reminded of my old Travelall. Smaller, but similar proportions.
I remember my shock the first test-drive I took in it: it was the most comfortable vehicle I had ever driven, and it may be the most comfortable I’ve driven since. It was quiet and smooth. With normal maintenance, I don’t recall any breakdowns in nearly 100,000 miles. ‘ Traded a ’73 Toyota Corona LEMON for it. Dealer was shocked – ‘ gave me a deal I couldn’t refuse. That was the best, and wisest trade I ever made.
‘ Just don’t understand the Travelall-bashers. Outside of the so-so but predictable gas mileage, you could not ask for more from a vehicle than this guy gave me. Even in Minnesota winters, I never gave a thought to the lack of four-wheel-drive. Fond memories…
We bought a 2yr old ’72 Travelall that was well kept and low miles. It was a work horse dragging our boat and camping gear all over the BWCA in and all over Minnesota and Wisconsin. The best riding vehicle and best built I have ever owned. The front bench seat was like our living room couch. The 392 was thirsty but that was the trade off. Now I drive an Escalade, nice ride and nice milage but all computer.
I still own my 72 but it’s down for repair. 194,000 original miles! That tired old 392 is ready for some love.
I had one, about a 70, in 72-4. 392 and auto, as was noted, about 12-3 mpg consistently. Worked on the Navajo Reservation at the time, never worried about hitting horses. Huge area for family dogs to spread out. Traded it for a new AMC hornet in 74. Better mileage, scarier horse dodging. front gas tank always leaked out on fender, so run that one out first.
“horse dodging” – that’s one I’ve never heard before.
Frank – everything you say X2! Yeah, that bench seat just stretched out forever. Once inside, everything about the car had the look and feel of a true luxury vehicle. That was so unexpected, and I was prepared to buy something quite a bit rougher in character. But so refined! That was 46 years ago and I still can’t get over it.
This Travelall is in Mexico. The owner says only 50 were produced in Mexico.
It look very original.
It looks like a great deal for 10K US.
The interior is just as nice. Also it has an inline 6 cylinder.