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…
Once again, you’re the human AI of I-H, Geo! A walking encyclopedia of all things International. I laughed out loud at your spot-on and colorful description of the various T-9 transmission sounds, or lack thereof, when used in flathead V8 Ford applications.
I owned a 1950 L-170 for a couple years, but sold it before I got it refurbished for my plan to use it as a hay hauler. We got hit with a tornado that wiped out the building the truck was stored in…
If memory is correct, the 1950 cabs had internal door hinges (mine did), and the ’51-’52 had external hinges. The subject truck has external hinges, so maybe a late ’50 production truck? I also vaguely remember that the actual year of manufacture might not actually match what’s on the title, as the title would reflect the year of initial sale.
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
Grand Junction is a very large community, at least when I lived there in the late 80s and early 90s there was over 100,000 people in the Grand Valley. Now it’s more like 250,000. Nice truck, nice price.
My dad grew up in Grand Junction in the 1940’s when the population was 12,000+, we visited my grandparents there a few times in the early to mid-1970’s when the population was in the mid-20,000’s. Wikipedia says 2024 the population is 70,554 with 162,000 for the metropolitan area. Thats not an insignificant number but not a lot of people if trying to pull top dollar. It’s been listed for 14 days, so far, if potential buyers thought it was a good deal it would have already found a buyer.
Steve R
Someone needs to put a 350 in it.
5.3 LS lol
5.3 LS lol the what was it 106 hp isn’t much
Wow, what a gem! With that drivetrain, it would take you straight back to 1950 every time you drove it. I love old trucks with vintage character. I disagree that it needs a 350. There are lots of old square body Chevys out there for folks who are itching to put a 350 in something.
Amen to that! “Keep it original!” That’s my motto.
Forget the mouse, rat or LS motor, use some imagination and put something unique (American only) in it. There are some really cool motors from Chrysler, Jeep, AMC, Buick, Olds, Pontiac, Ford & Lincoln plus others. Get creative for Pete’s sake.
How about Bt4 Cummings I believe a 12v would freight the front end or even the 258 6cyl be a nice Lil setup
Keep that original engine in it!!! If you want to do an engine swap, please us a more common later model truck..
“Runs good”.
Enough said.
If something needs fixing, fix it then leave it alone and enjoy it for what it is.
At 14 or 15, I really wanted my Grandpa’s 1949 Ford F4 Stake Truck, but Grandpa said it had sentimental value and it reminded him of the farm, so it sat, until it was hauled away for scrap. 😔 I like this little International. I’d keep it as original as possible. I do wish it still had the old wheels on it. The 6 cycle is just fine, too.
I’ve got a good solid 1948 or 49 Ford F-4 here in Montana. I haven’t quite decided to sell that one yet but I have been letting more of my truck collection go so who knows in the short future. We had it all running nice but the gas tank needs cleaned out.
Geo knows his onions, I read no L-120 came with 5 lug wheels, so someone swapped them for 5 lugs, presumably so to have tubeless tires, as the 6 lug were 16″ widow makers. Seems like a lot of work to get that, tube tires worked fine for many years. The “L”, correctly stated late ’49-’51 ( later in text incorrectly stated “late 40”) was the KB replacement, and that cab was made by a company called Chicago Manufacturing Co. What an account and while exact numbers aren’t available, estimates of tens of thousands were made. You can bet some trucker had a “steady Freddie” from Chicago to Springfield, OH. with loads of cabs for a variety of applications, well into the 60s.
The SD 220 I had in my ’53 R 110, column shift, and we had a contest to see how low the motor would idle without dying. Torque up the ying yang, but not a lot of power, but shouldn’t need it really, as my pickup did 55, with some hesitation, who knows what gears were replaced here.
Again, great find, and not for barreling down I-70, strictly a city ride, and I’d love to have one again.
The wheel swap to me is a great thing. It took a fair amount of effort to find someone to touch the split rims on on my other truck to change out the old jenky tires, and those were newer (’69).
This looks like a good deal to me. Surprised it is still there but I guess it isn’t a Ford or Chevy so…
These trucks look beautiful in red. I think the ’50s was by far the best era for pickups.
This is a neat little truck. With those dinky little wheels on it make me wonder what all modifications were made to get them there????? On a side note the Comp-fo-vision cab was the combined effort of the I-H and Diamond T design engineers, who were close personal friends. The ones Diamond T used, they bought the raw stampings and assembled them in the DT assembly line. As Scotty said these cabs were introduced for the 1950 model year and continued to be used by many independent truck makers into the mid 1960’s.
If it was closer to me. To me it looks as though the clutch pedal is on the floor. Could be my eyes though.
If it was closer to me. To me it looks as though the clutch pedal is on the floor. Could be my eyes though.
If it was closer to me. To me it looks as though the clutch pedal is on the floor. Could be my eyes though.