A running, driving pre-war International pickup is rare enough without this one’s exotic origin: it was owned and used by Southern Pacific Railroad in Sacramento from new. When the rail company retired it, an employee who had driven it regularly purchased it. The current owner bought it from her estate. It came into his possession with copious documentation. This is a C-1, with the V-shaped grille and wing-like fenders. Just a few months after this truck was produced, International updated its styling, rounding the grille and teardropping the fenders to make the D-1. Find this prewar pickup here on Facebook Marketplace for $11,000. It’s located in Guerneville, California. Thanks to T.J. for the great tip!
Mighty spacious in here: the engine is International’s redesign of Willys’ 213 cu. in. L-head six-cylinder, good for about 78 hp. Three diamonds can be seen embossed on the block. The gearbox is a three-speed floor-shift manual, and hydraulic brakes had finally made an appearance by ’37. The seller notes that the truck needs a new battery. Though today the average driver might tear his hair out attempting to navigate our roads in a stock, pre-war truck, entering the light-duty market saved International from financial ruin wrought by the Great Depression. Its first contender was a rebadged, re-engined Willys truck, the C113, sold under the International nameplate as the D-1 in 1933. (Of course, this causes no end of confusion since International called its 1937 redesign of the C-1 by the same name – D-1.) While this cooperative approach saved International, it wasn’t enough to rescue Willys, which entered receivership in 1932. While Willys revamped its product lines, International was left with the light truck line, and the C-1 was launched.
The interior is a reminder that we’re considering a functional vehicle produced during a depression – it’s about as bare as can be. That said, this example is well-tended. This truck comes with plenty of documentation from Southern Pacific, as well as a few parts and tools.
In prewar times, bumpers, tail lights, wipers, sunvisors, and other accessories we take for granted today were largely optional, if available at all. This truck has a single taillight and no bumper. The original toolbox used during its working years is still in the bed. Considering the value of this truck leaves me wondering a couple of things: did the railroad insist that the truck be repainted when it was retired and sold? There’s not a trace of “Southern Pacific” anywhere on this truck. And is the rail provenance valuable? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Certainly a good buy for this beauty…
This is one neat old truck. And a great history too to go along with it. I didn’t kmow International redesigned the Willys 6 cylinder. This one really needs to be saved and preserved. Or if it was able to be restored to how it looked when it was new would be tremendous.
I can say without reservation, International had the most confusing model designations though the years. The C series was the last of the “old time” look, and for the 30s, was considered a modern truck. Juice brakes weren’t the 1st, the 3 speed and 4 speeds still a crash box. D series had a synchromesh 3 speed( 2nd&3rd) and simplicity was the rule. The only thing I see, is perhaps a larger fuel tank, and not sure what the RR used it for. Obviously, not for much. Like a fire dept. or forestry, I’m sure there are still some of these in sheds, but got to be getting thin. What a great find.
Plumb cool truck!!! I see its purchase is pending. With all of the stated documentation and stated originality, if it doesn’t go to a museum, I hope that it goes to a new owner who will appreciate what he/she is buying. Fantastic find!
Good write up, Michelle. Your research on these trucks is thorough. Unfortunately there is a lot of information available that isn’t accurate, which necessitates the need to make a slight tweak to the designation(s).
International wanted to get into the pickup business but it was being very cautious due to the depression. Willys already had a pickup so a deal was struck with Binder to badge the Willys as an IH. The model designation was D-1.
At the same time International took the engine and tweaked it into a larger (213 CID), calling it the HB. In about 1934 IH went to full-length water jackets and called it the HD.
I haven’t the foggiest idea about the HA or HC, or if they even existed. It makes about as much sense as going from D-1 to C-1.
Officially, the C-1 came out in ‘34, got an all-steel cab in ‘36, with the major change coming in ‘37. But this style was C-series.
Binder had a habit of attaching the year’s designation to the date the title was validated, which was still in practice into the 60s. In reality the D-series was introduced in 1937.
Now for more confusion: The light truck for the D-series was the “D-2.” International decided upon that so as not to confuse the new D-series with the old series.
Please don’t think I’m attempting to trifle with your writing. When I retired from the repair business and joined an International dealership that has a sideline specializing in old International truck parts, I found out how much I didn’t know, and got my backside handed to me by several customers.
This is a welcome sight for sore eyes. Only thing that would be better is to park it at my place, before some hack decides to ditch the rolling chassis for a Chevy S-10.
That’s a Green Diamond under the hood. It even sports the newer style water pump. Upgrading to a GRD was common practice over the years. Most of the internal engine parts are the same; the HD engine would’ve run shims on the main and rod bearings whereas the GRD does not.
Ditch that worthless chassis for an S-10 so you could drive it anywhere.