With a “Comfo-Vision” cab, the new L-Series International pickups were introduced in the fall of 1949 and they were quite an update, with optional features such as a radio, electric wipers, and a clock. This 1950 International L-120 3/4-ton pickup can be found here on craigslist south of Grand Junction, Colorado, and the seller is asking $8,000. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Mike F. for the tip!
This truck looks nice, doesn’t it? Really, really nice. I’m rarely a fan of aftermarket wheels/rims, but I don’t mind these chrome jobbies. And you can see the unusual Rambler American-like rear wheelwell/rear wheel line-up job that, from what I know about these trucks, sort of evens out once you put a load in the back of the pickup bed? The L-Series was made from late 1940 for the 1950 model year until the end of 1952.
What a great-looking truck! As a guy with a cheesy mustache, I approve of this grille. I’m not surprised at all about the $8,000 asking price, but I am surprised at how nice this truck looks for that amount of money in 2026. Unfortunately, the seller’s entire description consists of “runs nice.” I kid you not. No capitalization, no punctuation, no nothing, other than those two words. On the other hand, they do list a VIN or partial VIN, along with filling out the right side of the ad with 24,231 miles, a 6-cylinder, manual, and those things, so that’s good, right?
International’s new L-Series pickups were “New from bumper to taillight.” The new-for-1950 Comfo-Vision cab was said to be the biggest one on the market in post-war America, and it had a one-piece windshield. You can see that not only does the exterior look great overall, but the interior also looks nice. Here’s what the bed looks like on this 3/4-ton pickup, and it appears that there is no tailgate. The red paint is a bit faded and worn, but I wouldn’t change one thing about this truck, other than putting my name on the title.
The seller included not just one, but FOUR engine photos! Four. Engine. Photos. On a craigslist ad. Well done, sir or ma’am. This should be International’s Silver Diamond 220-cu.in. OHV inline-six with 101 horsepower, backed by a 4-speed manual (T9, or possibly an optional T98), sending power to the rear wheels. If this truck runs as great as it looks, this seems like a reasonable price, especially given Hagerty’s valuation of $8,900 at the low end. Any thoughts on this I-H L-120?
What a nice, solid, honest red International pickup. And I agree with Scotty, I wouldn’t change a thing on this one. I think that’s a great price too.
What can I say about this beast that hasn’t already been said? Very nice shape compared to what a lot of my customers run past me but their dedication often brings some wonderful results.
Someone has likely changed the axles because this truck would have six stud wheels, and the rear axle would be centered in the fender opening. IH’s 3/4 ton and 1-ton truck wheels would interchange. You could get either the conventional rim or the Budd wheels. I preferred the Budds with the (unobtainium) hubcaps; they just gave those old trucks come personality.
Unless someone’s changed the transmission, the shift pattern decal on the left of the dash says that this old truck is running a Warner T-9 straightcut crashbox. They howled like a banshee in this application but for some reason, if they were in a Ford behind a flathead V8, they sounded like a session of Congress, or a bunch of university students at Berkeley, or one of the farmers in the coffee shop when he opened up his tax assessment. You could always tell when one of those was coming up the street.
Binder used that T-9 until early ’55, which was long after anyone else quit using it. The T-98 (which became available in ’51) offered synchromesh shifting for 2nd, 3rd and 4th, plus helical-cut gears to cut down on the mother-in-law ranting from below the floorboards.
A lot of those trucks ran a T-87 heavy duty 3-speed which was synchro between 2nd and 3rd. That transmission was every bit as heavy as a 4 speed. I worked on my fair share of them and I think they could handle twice the power that SD engine had.
If this truck came my way (I’m actually considering a similar unit with the Budd wheels that was recently offered as I speak), I would get the axles sorted out, then I’d find myself some Budd wheels. The T-9, I can put up with.
Add a little class to my collection…
Nice, but how in demand are early-1950’s International pickups? It seems pricey, especially for an area area that isn’t highly populated.
Steve R
Someone needs to put a 350 in it.