Try to find a new single cab, two-door pickup truck these days. I know Ford and Ram still build their respective versions but you don’t see them out and about often. Most pickups today are four-door crew cab configurations. But before that became the default arrangement, International was on it with their Wagonmaster, essentially a Travelall station wagon with the rear section of the roof removed and a pickup bed installed where the Travelall’s cargo section had resided. Today’s find is a ’73 Wagonmaster that is located in San Antonio, Texas and is available, here on Facebook Marketplace for $7,000. Thanks to Bruce J for this rare find!
Rare is one way to describe the Wagonmaster, it was only offered in ’73 and ’74 and total production is claimed to be “a couple of thousand” according to a 2013 Motor Trend article. The description for this Wagonmaster is typical FB Marketplace light and it’s not stated if this is a half or three-quarter-ton model. Based on the wheels, I’d suggest that it’s a half. The body doesn’t show signs of rot but it looks like it was painted primer gray with a brush or a roller. Some of the trim is missing and the rear bumper is stoved in. The surface-rusty diamond-plate cargo bed looks like it has seen a lot of heavy action over the years – note the welded-on step – this was a work truck! No telling where the tailgate is.
A V8 engine is in place, one wearing a new Edelbrock carburetor, but it’s not stated if it’s a 304, 345, or 392 CI International powerplant. Guessing, I’d say it’s a 345 or 392 – perhaps one of our informed readers who knows International engines can comment. The listing has a toss-off line of, “Was running, just needs some love“. Just running, when? This month, year, decade, century…? The mystery engine is connected to an automatic transmission.
The interior shows about how one would expect. I’m not certain what the vertical shaft extending downwards from the ceiling is – it looks like part of a periscope. The seating upholstery is dirty and worn but at least it’s not shredded or ripped. Curiously, the headliner or sound deadener only seems to cover the front seat area and not the rear.
Well, at least it’s mostly intact and I suppose with “some love” it could be coaxed into running but all-in-all, it’s not hard to imagine that this old International is going to need a whole lot of attention. And then there’s the price to consider, $7,000. What do you think, priced right or not quite?
This actually could be something cool and different if restored. No need to get it perfect, but bring it back to respectability.
I always get a chuckle out of the instrument cluster and interior trim on these Internationals. I know it is apples and oranges, but compare the effort put into this compared to say a 1964 Thunderbird interior. It’s like International had no interest in interior design or styling, or perhaps no money to spend on it, so the task was assigned to Bill down in Engineering. So what was the result? Very efficient, but very non-stylish, rectangles.
Thanks Jim.
I’ve all ways thought the dash was great. So plain’n simple, straight’n true. Most of the lght truck line had that so I look for it. A fav detail for me.
When I see this truck, I’m sad, let down, really. Why? To go out on a twig, I may have driven more IH trucks than most here( except for another truck driver), and I can say, without reservation, they were simply the best heavy-duty trucks made. Companies had FLEETS of them, so it was hard NOT to drive one. While not a cabover fan, the Transtar 4070B was my favorite one. The same engineering went into their light-truck line, none better portrayed than the pickup/Travelall/Scout line. The thing that really upsets me, is they discontinued the light trucks, and this vehicle became the absolute STANDARD in pickup trucks today. Many, I read, are of poor quality. With that experience, I don’t ever recall a bad IH truck.
If this truck was in better condition, it would sell quick, not because it’s an IH, but a 4 door pickup. Got to be some IH exec who helped pull the plug, surely spinning in their grave. I’d have to say the blunder of the century,,,this truck isn’t going anywhere, as is.
Back when I had a serious Travelall jones, I saw very few of these for sale. Read somewhere that IH was going after the emerging 5th wheel trailer market with this model. Very cool.
Just speculating, but I doubt the IH execs had any knowledge of 5th wheel recreational vehicles in the 70’s. This truck was made specifically for maintenance, or construction crews and fire fighters and are still used today for that purpose. Unlike today, 4 door pickups were almost unheard of then, a contradiction of terms, and most of these were special order for those needs.
Good point Howard. I vaguely remember seeing these back in the day, usually road construction crews, usually Internationals. And to think International was ***right there*** with where the pickup and SUV market was headed. Can you imagine if they had stayed with it? Today, they might still be players, perhaps in a niche but lucrative segment (think Range Rover).
Look again Howard, this is a Wagonmaster not a Travellette. It was designed for the RV/5th wheel market. The Travellette was for the construction/commercial market, because it was actually a pickup with a separate bed. I remember magazine test back when they came out by an RV Mag, their only problem was that the bed was a little too short for most 5th wheels made back then.
Thanks CB, I guess I went off on a bender about the 4 door pickup in general, I didn’t know there was a difference. I suppose we can’t be too critical of IH, nobody has a crystal ball to know what “fad” will be the “next big thing”. Look at Toronado. While the majority of 4 door pickups had “crews” in mind, fact is I read the Travelette was called a “crew cab” along with other truck makers, a few people in the “private” sector bought these, 2wd mostly, to pull their campers. For a family, it held 6( or more) and unlike a wagon, it still did pickup chores. With the poor car choices, it’s no wonder they are such a hit today.
@misterlou – it may have been an article in Collectible Automobile about the Travelall. It touched on the Wagonmaster and indicated that it was targeted at the 5th wheel trailer market. Those guys are usually spot on with their info.
It didn’t sell because it turned out to really not be suited for that role, there wasn’t enough room to put the 5th wheel over the rear axle and having it in the rear overhang just isn’t as effective.
”If” its always been a Texas truck rust won’t be an issue…In the right hands this truck can be fabulous….
In 1974, my dad bought a 4-door IH pickup. 3/4 ton, two wheel drive with step side bed. It allegedly had been sold to a railroad company, but somehow the old man bought it new. No A/C, no radio, but held our family of 7 nicely and served as primary transportation for years.
It had a tiny gas tank, so we refueled constantly when taking long, hot road trips.
I loved “the idea” of everything about that truck…the unique gearshift knob (4-speed, 392 engine). The horizontal speedo and vertical blinkers.
I sold it on eBay after if had set for years and my father had passed away. Dumb move, but the guy who bought it was overjoyed to get a chance to restore it.
Still love IH trucks of all ages, sizes and configurations.
Showing my age here , but I’m the late sixties, early seventies every place I worked used IH.
Howard A you are spot on that they where the best truck on the road, and IH offered all the various models to satisfy market needs.
Every construction company I worked for had travelettes. Only ever remember one of these, at a horse farm used to pull horse trailers.
Someone at IH really messed up when they dropped light trucks.
Thanks pal, but I was just doing my job, and IH happened to be a big part of it. I think there were better trucks for certain applications, like Mack for off road and Pete/KW for road trucks, Volvos for immigrants( bound to ruffle a feather there,,,just kidding,Volvos are okay)but IH was the best universal truck for all applications. Just try and find one today. They are highly sought after.
And lest we shall forget, most IHs at the time were DEtroit powered, some of my 1st experiences with those “boat anchors”,,,
This is a rare one! I don’t recall ever seeing one of these.
just my op. , but looks like the steering wheel has an flange adapter, and the mystery shaft appears to align up. Rear steer??
IH was a phenomenally successful company with a dealer/repair network unsurpassed, even now.
But like all entities, the bureaucracy became unmovable, and they were unable to make the necessary changes when needed.