If awards were given for automotive faces, surely the soulful International cab-over would win a prize. Looking like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh, this 1937 D300 is offered for sale here on facebook Marketplace for $10,000. Only a few hundred of these were made each year from 1937 to 1940, and fewer still survive. This one is sitting in Los Molinos, California, not in running condition but mostly intact, including the drivetrain. Thanks to T.J. for this great find!
The flathead engine resides under your seat (no heater needed), and it’s either a 213 cu. in. six, or the slightly beefier 80 hp 233. The 213 originated from a design by Willys; the tooling was purchased by International after Willys entered receivership in 1933, later evolving into IH’s Green Diamond series. Thanks to cramped vertical space, this engine is decked with a rare-as-hen’s-teeth side draft Zenith. A four-speed sliding-gear manual handles shifting; this big guy appears to have a two-speed axle as well. The cab-over was built for urban traffic, not for speed. With a short turning radius and terrific sight lines from the driver’s seat, deliveries were a snap. On the other hand, you know what they say about COEs: in an accident, you’re the first one on the scene.
Who’s paying attention here: what can you tell me about the doors on this cab? Read on for the answer, but in the meantime, we have a bench seat, wood floorboards, cabin air courtesy of manual vents, plenty of flat glass. These were 1 1/2 ton trucks rated at 13,300 lbs; any number of box configurations could be coupled to the cab – from an enclosed delivery to an open stake-side. We even found fire trucks built around the D300.
Now, about those doors. The passenger side opens suicide-fashion for easy ingress, but the driver’s side is conventional, so the occupant could maneuver around the steering wheel. These headlights were likely the bullet-style from the C-series, simply embedded into the truck’s “face”.
The sheet metal is surprisingly straight and minimally rusty. Vestiges of paint remain. Anything goes here – the new owner can install a box – or not; paint it – or not. This example, sold in 2022 for $42k, illustrates what’s possible. What do you think is the right price for this king of trucks?
The right price? Whatever it means to the right buyer with the wherewithal to bring this cool old beast back to life, and maybe spin it this way-
https://oldinternationaltrucks.com/photo-archives/d-line-fire-truck/
Another well done and interesting find-nicely done, TJ and as always excellent research/follow up on your part, Michelle.
Whew,,,finally. It’s worth slogging,,,well, not slogging,,,um, browsing through the usual fare here to eventually see something like this. Timbers be shivered again, kid, ( Ms. Rand) I thought I knew a lot about vintage trucks, but never noticed the doors. ( No one gets out alive!) You can bet I was right on that, and several IH sites confirm, inconclusive. Some D300s had suicide doors on both sides, and never saw 1 of each. Perhaps someone here knows why. Some suggest the truck was used for all kinds of city applications, trash hauling, etc. for easy getting in, or removed altogether.
The mid 30s was the introduction of cabovers across the board. All the truck makers built them, not just for turning, but I believe length laws existed even for straight trucks, and in true cabover fashion, moving the cab ahead got more cargo space. Cabovers flourished into the 80s, their heyday was the 70s, until trucking was deregulated( 1980?) and overall length laws abolished, cabovers fell out of favor,,and good riddance, I say.
This is an unbelievable find, and on the fence what to do. For ANY kind of use, it has to be updated, but on the other hand,,it’s so unique, I’m sure Geo will agree, and might even have some pics of an original, it should be restored. Normally,in the past, I’d have said some trucking company that got their start with Grandpas IH cabover, would be on this, biut with trucking companies failing at an alarming rate, and general lack of “roots”interest, I’m not sure what will happen to this.
2 different doors, shaking head, thanks for the lesson.
Always great to see your comments, Howard, I’m pleased I could find something that tickles your fancy. I agree, it would be great if this big old guy were restored to original.
I have to say this old International is really unique. I’m with all the above, I never noticed the flip flopped doors. I also believe this should be restoted to stock, and I truly hope someone saves this old workhorse. Another fantastic write up Michelle, thank you. And of course to T.J. for the find. It’s great!!! Keep em coming!!!
Yes, these are almost as rare as the winning Powerball ticket. I’ve always wondered about the wisdom in using a suicide door on one side and a conventional on the other. I’ve heard of some with conventional on both sides but never saw any, except for the really heavy duty ones.
Yes, the engine is an HD, which is the predecessor of the Green Diamond that was used from 1940 1/2 to 1949. I won’t go into any details of the differences in that one at this time, as we’ve been into them in other features. All I will say is that the internal parts from the GRD will work on an HD.
I would bet that the transmission is a BorgWarner H41 which morphed into the T-9, which is a straight-cut, tight-geared crashbox that was used by International, Diamond-T, Studebaker, Ford, Mack, Michigan, White, REO, and half the industrial companies in the world. It howled behind a six but shrieked like a banshee or a P/O’d mother-in-law behind a flathead V8. I cut my teeth shifting a T-9 in a ’49 Ford F-3, back when I was 10. Still wonder what I’m doing from time to time…
Good write-up, Michelle. These old trucks can really get in your blood…
This is one of the huge reasons I enjoy looking in on here every day. Its not just the great finds and write ups, but also the great comments too. I always enjoy reading your comments and learning from you and your personal experiences Geomechs ( and Howard and many others as well). Heck, if you ever write a book, I WANT to read it!!! I can’t even remember what I had for breakfast this morning, and a gentleman like Geomechs can remember something he took apart years ago like it was yesterday. I, unfortunately was not blessed with a brain like that.
-Dave