After five years of America’s manufacturing might focused on making war materiel, there was a huge demand for civilian cars and trucks that went unmet. A rare example of early post-war truck production is this 1946 International Harvester pickup truck located in East Dorset, Vermont which is up for auction at no reserve here on eBay with a current bid of $3,000 and five days to go.
The KB3 is a one-ton pickup powered by a nearly bulletproof flathead six-cylinder engine of 214 cubic inch displacement cranking out 83HP. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed transmission with a floor shifter unless the original buyer specified the unsynchronized four-speed. The seller does not specify which one it has.
Like most pickups of the era, the interior is all business with drab green vinyl upholstery and painted metal door trim. If there was ever a rubber floor mat covering the steel floor it is long gone. The interior chrome pieces look fairly nice as does most of the exterior bright trim.
If there are any serious rust issues, the seller does not state them and the photos of the outside of the old hauler show mostly surface corrosion due to scratches or paint loss. For its age, the body is surprisingly straight with only the odd dent here and there picked up over its 72-year life. There are no photos of the chassis provided.
On the plus side, the seller has installed a new set of wheels and tires, along with a new fuel tank, brake work and new glass all around. He also states that it has a “good running motor.” What do you think, preserve and drive it or restore and show it?
I like that the keys are in the ignition. Gives hope that the truck runs.
There’s enough paint loss on this one that it would need paint to live here in coastal Florida. Since I really dislike the “clear coat over patina”look, it would get a repaint. Tempting to go for less than show quality paint, and do enough mechanical work to use it as a driver.
Thats how you want to find any vintage vehicle. Looks to be a very original solid foundation. Could be a runner with some tinkering. And a steal at the current bid.
This would make a nice around town daily driver hauler, wouldn’t trust it out on the interstate but who cares. Nice find IMO.
This old soldier deserves to be spruced up a bit. Nothing over the top, or too fancy, just a nice coat of paint, and mechanical refreshing. This old gent will happily serve you for those weekend trips to the home improvement center, or running errands around town. With just a meager 83hp. hitting the interstate is a very bad idea. To the new owner: don’t “rod” it, rejuvenate it. No SBC, or Cumins conversion, just keep it running right with the original heart.
Clean it up and drive it for the time being. Eventually fix the body up and give it a driver-quality respray, in something other than green. I sometimes wonder if they ever came in something besides green. It seems like ALL truck manufacturers offered the majority of trucks in dark green. I know other colors were available; I just wonder why most chose green….
1946. Car manufacturer’s had a LOT of leftover green paint. ;-)
Trouble is the majority of new trucks were still green in ’49.
Despite their handsome design, these trucks still lag behind the value of the big brands. This one is well worth restoring, with all the little bits present.
However, “For it’s age…” is such a subjective and vague statement, it renders it worthless. Why use it?
DRIVE the effin’ thing – Just drive it. That’s what they’re for.
Yeah, something not right, here. The “KB” came out in late ’47 as a ’48, so I doubt it’s a ’46. The KB differed slightly with the grill “wings” and wraparound “3 Diamond” hood piece.( and it says “KB3 ” on the hood) The 214 “Green Diamond” engine was used, and the OHV was for bigger trucks, later available in all trucks. Great find here, to show you how things have changed, in the early 80’s, a friend bought 2 K model pickups for $200 bucks, and one ran. This truck?Not many will want this setup, probably 5:11 gears, so 52mph will have that flattie singing spirituals. Another resto-mod,,,
I agree Howard that this would be slow slow slow, I can’t help wounder if the cure isn’t an add on over drive gear box. This is going to be a real ball crusher to ride in as well so my thoughts on that are to pull one or two leafs out of the spring packs on each corner. As for paint I’d go with a lighter olive green paint job with black fenders and running boards. I’d use single stage glose paint just like they did back in its day, I don’t understand why every one wants a super shiney base clear coat paint job. To me they look over restored and it cost way more to do.
I suppose you could add an O/D, but I think it would be easier to just get a rear axle from a modern pickup, say 3:00 something, and drop that on the springs. The way the ratios are in the box, 1st was almost useless anyway.
Ford Explorer rears bolt into these quote nicely.
I always thought that the KB came out in ’47 but I wasn’t going to call them on it; it was relatively minor. With the exception of the front sheetmetal and the rear fenders this truck isn’t much different than the D15 (’37-early ’40). It will be a stump-puller but with that small engine, you’ll need every bit of power you can get. I’m thinking that an O/D might come in handy but it would only benefit you on the flat straightaway.
Howard, I noticed the discrepancy in the KB vs K, too but in this instance I thought it best to go with the seller’s description. Thanks for commenting!
I would trim off the lower nonfunctional grill part. Just looks dumb. Missing a chrome piece of the upper grill. Just for that. I’m out.
IMHO- nice truck, drop a small block anything with a ford 9 inch and have a cruiser. Leave outside as is or do a basic paint job. clean slate! love it!
Good luck to the new owner!!!
First post here, had to be for an IHC I guess. I really like this one.
These are great old trucks. If this were closer it’d be hard to resist. Everything about this one is right on. I wouldn’t change much. Gearing might be the biggest issue. It probably has 4.77 or 5.13 gears in that IHC corporate axle. Not positive on the KB series, but if it’ has the same basic axle as the later L/R/S trucks then gear sets swap between the five-lug 1/2 tons and six-lug 3/4 and 1-tons. That will get you to a 4.11 or possibly 3.73 if you can find it. Those tires are 7.50-17 from the sidewall, so somewhere around 32″-33″ tall. A 4.11 gear with those tires would be like a 3.55 with 28″ tires, so really not that bad.
I used to drive a Studebaker heavy 3/4 with a setup very similar to this KB (4.82 Timken rear, 32″ tires, T9 crashbox, 246 flathead). It drove far better than you’d expect. The brakes, even being drums, were more than adequate for the speeds it could achieve. And those old flatheads just purr away as long as you don’t flog them. Spend a few hours behind the wheel and you’ll be double-clutching like a pro.
Hopefully someone has fun and keeps this one on the road like it is. The last thing we need to see is another slammed, clearcoated, SBC/TH350/9″ cruiser with polished 20’s. How that is preferable – or less expensive – than a few well-planned upgrades makes no sense to me. Of course we all have our preferences, and to each his/her own.
Welcome aboard, AZD. Always good to have another vintage truck nut. I too wish for original, but we’re outnumbered probably 10 to one. We used these as trucks, and speed wasn’t needed. Today, it’s purely the style, and will probably never haul a pebble again, and will need to keep up with traffic, aka, resto-mod.
I’m in agreement with those who call for this truck to be restored, with new paint and no more modifications than O D don’t understand why people think everything needs a sbc, please new buyer don’t restomod
This truck is awesome! I would put a clear coat over it to preserve it and proudly drive this truck every where I went with my bibs and straw hat I would be very comfortable driving it!