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
I have stumbled across some of Geomechs stories on other sites, good stories! I’d buy the book!
As for the truck, good thing I’m old and poor, if I was young and rich, I’d just travel around and gather them up!
yeah, but not today’s breakfast~
Thanks for pictures of these in their prime.
Thanks for this great photo. I had forgotten that bottling companies used these special open rack truck bodies for delivery. I don’t know when they discontinued this practice but I seem to remember seeing similar bodied trucks up into the mid 1960s. Matchbox toys sold a tiny version of these Coca Cola trucks for many years.
Paolo, your comment sparked a memory. I think that I had one of the Coke truck Matchboxes, so I Googled it for an image. Sure enough, I did. Here’s what it looks like.
Reminds me of the truck in Jeepers Creepers movie
Though it appears mostly original, I question the wood floor in the cab. This is a D series, and all the regular cabs had a steel floor. I own a 1940 regular cab D2. I can’t imagine it was hard for IH to do a steel floor on these. —But I’m not 100% sure.
OMG I’m in love. Ready to go hook up the trailer. I wonder if it has a title? Will try to contact the seller but have had little luck with marketplace sellers.
Please let us know if you work out a deal and bring it home
This thing is just so cool. It looks really solid also. I’ve never seen one before.
Would make a great car hauler and on one else would have anything close.
I believe that Elvira wanna be guy in Vegas has a Chevy that is close. I don’t think its’s a true COE.
$10,000, is that Pesos, or USD?
Interesting find and blank slate to either restore or really customize I think they are several thousands to high for the asking price but everything has gone up so.
2 extra levers on pass. side,one looks like a pto lever,other one might be overdrive
Just heard back from the seller. No title, bill of sale only.
Then that probably leaves me out. WA regs are too strict to mess with untitled vehicles, and at my age this would be a foolish project anyway. But I do know where a very neglected GMC front wheel drive motorhome is for about $2000. This cab on that chassis would make an outrageous car hauler.
As usual I got no response from the seller. I must be doing something wrong.
I want to update that I did get a response. There is no title and the seller sounded reluctant to acquire one. He answered my questions and said he has been flooded with inquiries, and may be a little flexible on price but not much. At 76 I will probably have to walk away but dang it’s tempting. In over 62 years of collecting this is the first one of these I have ever seen.
Wonderful write-up, Michelle. Absolutely loved your opening sentence and the apt word ‘soulful’. The BaT sample was stunning. Can’t imagine it not being a museum purchase. It would be excellent in the Savoy Museum in GA.
Aww, thanks! Glad you enjoyed the article, I write for all you guys, and it’s a pleasure.
Eric, is that the museum near the Tellus Science museum? We have gone to that a couple of times and I have seen a sign for a Car museum. Its an hour away from me, I need to get there soon!
The Savoy is in Cartersville, Georgia. It’s a relatively new museum. The reason it’s called the Savoy is because, when clearing land for the site, they found a 1954 Plymouth Savoy in the woods. It now sits outside the building near the parking lots in all of its rusted glory. The exhibitions change regularly and there is also a permanent collection, including a bunch of micro cars that are pretty cool. Well worth the trip. When I visit my buddy in Atlanta, also a car guy (his jones is Corvettes), we’ve gone up there a couple of times. Never disappointed.
Despite the economic depression and looming issues in Europe and Japan (today is Pearl Harbour day) it must have been an exciting time to witness the advancements in technology back then. Art Deco styling flourished and presented itself in industrial settings as well as home goods. How modern these trucks must have appeared ninety years ago.
What a great find… Definitely due for a restoration. The sheet metal looks like it would not be TOO involved to restore. The flat lever on the right looks like a PTO engagement lever. The one under the seat with a knob, I am NOT sure?? Possibly the manual shift for the two speed, but more than likely an auxiliary trans????
I think it’s for the two-speed axle.
Just a cool truck waiting for the right person to make it “hit the road” again. I’d be tempted to install the cab on a “modern” chassis for a hot rod. But also tempted to just keep it stock. I would be so conflicted that I probably wouldn’t buy it.
Having been a city delivery boy while studying in the 1960s, I might know the answer to the doors. The driver would try to find a parking spot near the delivery address or double-park on the street or stop in a no-parking zone while I rushed out to deliver the package or packages. I would think that a suicide door would allow me to hold the packages on my lap then jump out easily before the Police told us to move on. As Christmas approaches this reminds me of having to deliver armfuls of return packages back to the supplier climbing up six flights of stairs (no elevators in old buildings) to then find a sign that said “Closed for Christmas”.
Auburn Rubber Company made a huge number of D300 toys in the day, which might be seen as a good alternative for those without the resources to own/restore a real one (space topping the list), A caveat: the stake bed area is really prone to cracks.
A face only a mother could love. But I love it, too!
Really come on people this old rust bucket is not restoring crush it
Don’t know how long it’s going to be before we see another IH CO featured so I decided to post this pic, which I got this morning. I think of the featured truck and imagine what it could look like with some TLC. Sure wouldn’t kick one of these off my driveway…
As soon as I saw the logo, George Hamilton IV, Canadian Pacific started to play in my head!
I get a Jeepers Creepers vibe from this
Ok Barn finds writers. Why don’t you start putting together a “Barn Finds” stories. You can start with many listed here over the years. If you find any that need embelising, you have our emails to ask for help. Plus, you can always just ask for submissions. The pay could be in the form of subscriptions.
“SHORT CAR STORIES” (No, it’s not usually about small cars!)
“No guarantees as to a accuracy”(lol)
The best of stories and comment lines. commented on by our followers.
Written by, and for automotive aficionados, lovers and goofballs!
Perfect bathroom reader!(lol)
You mean like “The Best of…”? Great idea!
Yes! Why not?
My wife enjoys some of the stories and I was saving a few on my laptop until it broke. Possibly some preamble/background/listing to each story. And some possibly the listing and then some selected comments before each story. It would take a few tries before getting the format down to the way it works properly.
I’ll add my ‘great idea’ to that. (Tried to up vote but wouldn’t work). I’d pay good money for that. Promise.
I could get behind a book like that…