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Restore or Restomod? 1952 International L-110

The seller hits it on the head when they say that this 1952 International L-110 panel truck is rare and desirable. Almost any business that makes deliveries or has a parking spot in front of their store would probably want this truck. It can be found here on eBay in Pepperell, Massachusetts and the current bid price is just over $1,000 but, of course, the reserve isn’t met yet.

I personally love this era I-H with the mustache grille. The L-series trucks were made from 1949 to 1952 before being replaced by the R-Series which included the famous Travelall.

This panel truck was originally Palomino Creme in color and I’d definitely bring it back to that color, I’m not a big Pabst Blue guy but maybe you’d keep it this color? The body looks pretty good and they mention that it has had a little rust repair and needs a bit more. The underside looks surprisingly solid but is showing heavy surface rust. They say that it was been undercoated over the years but I’m not quite sure what that means.

Yeah, with this interior I’m painting it back to its original tan color. This is it for overall cab section interior photos but I’m surprised at how good it looks. The seller says that this truck was restored many years ago and it sure looks better than most work trucks from this era do.

This is I-H’s Silver Diamond 6, according to the seller, and I believe that it’s the 240 cubic-inch version. Unfortunately, it isn’t currently running but most Barn Finds readers could get it going again, I’m pretty sure about that. A full brake job including new lines will be needed and who knows what else, but what a cool blank slate! As always, I’d go back to original spec, how would you restore this one?

Comments

  1. Avatar Ken

    Original specs. It would be criminal to do otherwise.

    Like 14
  2. bobhess bobhess Member

    Going with Ken. If it’s all there, fix the drive train, clean it, paint it, drive it.

    Like 11
  3. Avatar Jamie Palmer Staff

    Original specifications, but I’d paint it to match my future business! Nice!

    Like 6
  4. Avatar Coventrycat

    Like it as is, but a nice set of new wheels wouldn’t be the end of the world.

    Like 3
  5. Avatar Dusty Stalz

    Are those stock front seats? Don’t really look right to me.

    Like 3
  6. Avatar geomechs Member

    I’m sure that engine would be the SD 220. Good engine and it will last for many years. I might add that IH blocks are extremely hard and will take a while to seat in a set of rings. Full restoration is the only way to go. Use it for a parts hauler, or just to sleep in on occasion but otherwise keep it stock. That truck and many people will thank you for it…

    Like 9
    • Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

      Thanks for the info, Geo. I read that both engines were available and more sites than not listed the 240 but you’re probably right. I can’t tell the difference between them by looking but after working on them for decades, you’d know. And, that light blue one is to die for!

      Like 3
      • Avatar geomechs Member

        Hi Scotty. I’m a little sketchy about the earlier Binder engines myself. I’ve worked on Silver Diamonds and Black Diamonds. I understand that the SD was a 220 only. The BD that was available at this time was larger and optional in the L160. I don’t think I saw anything but an SD in anything smaller. My dad had an L160 and it had a Black Diamond. I believe it was actually a carryover from the Blue Diamond. I suspect this because the distributor was right up beside the valve cover the same way as the Blue Diamond. It was a 282. By 1956 it was enlarged to a 308. Confused yet? The SD was phased out in around ‘54 and it was all Black Diamond from there, except when you got into the heavy trucks and had to deal with a Red Diamond which dated back to prewar. Diamonds are Forever, even in Binders.

        Like 5
  7. Avatar IkeyHeyman

    Nice truck, you guys sure do a good job here at Barn Finds. I will say I’m a little steamed at not getting invited to the Barn Finds Annual Snipe Hunt – didn’t that take place in May? I spent a bunch of dough on new camping gear, which wasn’t a bad thing in and of itself, but when my wife found out how much a Yeti cooler costs, she hit the roof!

    Like 7
    • Avatar Gaspumpchas

      Fear not, Ikey– perhaps you will be invited to the first annual Concert of the barnfinds Mens choir. I heard the snipe hunt went very well, and it was followed by the viewing of the Submarine races on the banks of the Hudson river.
      Cheers
      GPC

      Like 4
    • Avatar Scotty Gilbertson Staff

      What did you ever do for us, Ikey?!.. er.. hey, wait a minute… I’m kidding, of course, thanks for all of the great tips over the years!

      Snipe was out of season when we got together but next year for sure..

      Gaspumpchas is heading up the Barn Finds barbershop quartet as we speak. Nice work on that handlebar mustache, G!

      Like 5
  8. Avatar Gaspumpchas

    One cool cornbinder-Fix that six and let er go, started a resto on a similar model pickup; had trouble finding a clutch set for it, also the throwout bearing shaft was seized; one of them one off designs where the pivot shaft goes thru the bellhousing. We quit there. Truck wasn’t near as nice as this one. Got the engine running easily-no smoke, noises or knocks- came up to temp beautifully. sweet.
    good luck to the new owner. Think we found pertronix makes a module for this one also!
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 2
    • Avatar Dickie F

      Just as I am enjoying reading the expieranced comments – somebody mentions Pertronix. So I just have to ask – anybody fitted one to a 318? In a Winnebago? With the Flamethrower coil etc. And the darn thing no longer starts and there is no spark?
      The same conversion went right into the Mustang and it fired right up, but this 318 just swings……3 weekends already..tsk tsk
      I suspect the mother in law messed with it…

      Like 1
      • Avatar Gaspumpchas

        Dickie did u ascertain that the module is bad? No spark so I answered my own question. Pertronix has a help line that is very good, did you call them? i’m sure they have a troubleshoot procedure. Sorry this happened, I’ve never seen one go bad. Good luck with it.
        Cheers
        GPC

        Like 1
      • Avatar Karl

        Would sure make a good advertising piece for a business, it’s certainly not beautiful (to me) but has tons of character! Get it running paint accordingly and get on to advertising

        Like 0
  9. Avatar Ken Carney

    If there is a barnfinds choir I’d join in a minute. Played music for 23 years and had a blast doing it. Still can play a little
    guitar despite nerve damage in my right
    arm due to a mini stroke in 2007. As for
    the truck, how about contrasting that
    Palemino cream with some Chocolate
    brown fenders. Add some nice rims,
    an old school tan and brown interior,
    get it running and fix the brakes, add some A/C and some satellite radio, then
    drive and enjoy. One thing’s for sure, it
    wouldn’t run out of uses around our house!

    Like 3
  10. HoA Rube Goldberg Member

    While it’s fun to see something like this pop up, and I’m real cautious about what I would resto-mod, this is one instance where I would say go nuts. People take offense to when I say a certain vehicle was a miserable vehicle to drive, so I’ll say,,,challenging is a better term. I’ve driven these, had a 53 R110 pickup, and any connection between these and a modern vehicle is strictly coincidental. These were meant for short city deliveries, most probably never left town, went through a bunch of drivers, one caring less about the truck than the last, and most became tool sheds out back. To see one of these with it’s parking lights intact ( not turn signals) is unusual, as most those rusted out, leaving the headlight dangling. While the drivetrain is the most stout known to man, it was adequate for the early 50’s, but not so much today. You can do what you want with the inside, but a modern drivetrain, brakes and suspension, would be the safe way to go. What a cool find, haven’t seen one in years, I wonder what the story was on this one.

    Like 6
  11. Avatar luke arnott

    I have a ’51 L112 pick up with a later 264 BD engine.Great truck over the last 28 years!

    Like 3
  12. Avatar ctmphrs

    Rube Goldberg has the right idea for this truck.

    Like 1
  13. Avatar Butchb

    IHC brake parts can be challenging to find.
    I’m with Goldberg. Drop it on a late model frame and make it a usable driver instead of trying to convince yourself driving something akin to a buck board wagon is a good time.

    Like 1
  14. Avatar karl

    It sure looks like a solid truck ,but if it spent its life here in New England I’d really want to go over it ; few if any original vehicles this old that have been on the coast aren’t patched up with Bondo or similar fixes . It seems like every car around here that was repainted blue in the 1980’s was that shade of blue ; the original color would definitely be an improvement ! creme

    Like 0

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