The new-for-1969 D-Series light-duty trucks from International Harvester Company were crisp and clean, something this example doesn’t exactly exude in its current condition. You could do worse at a local Cars & Coffee event than showing up in this 1969 International Travelette 1200D, even as it looks now, or maybe this look would draw even more people. The seller has this interesting truck listed here on eBay in Stonewall, Oklahoma and they’re asking $4,500 or best offer.
I have half a mind (hey, watch it) to buy this, get everything working perfectly, and leave the exterior exactly like this. 99% of the time, I’m a restore to original specs guy, but I think this would be a show-stopper in this crazy chameleon condition. This one appears to have originally been School Bus Yellow as the engine compartment is that color. It must have been too much for a previous owner so they added the brown and white scheme. I’d bring it right back to the original yellow after getting everything working perfectly and driving it for a while. This is what International called a “Bonus Load” bed with straight sides as opposed to their version of the step side or fender side bed, and it appears to be a Standard Trim level with painted grille and other basic features. Two additional trim levels were also available: Exterior Trim Package No. 1, and Exterior Trim Package No. 2.
The D-Series Light Line pickups came out for the 1969 model year and they were quite a change from the rounded C-Series trucks. Resembling the popular Scout series, the Light Line D-Series trucks came in many models and versions, including, of course, the famous Travelall, pickups with short and long beds, and a four-door version as seen here. This is a 3/4-ton short bed, according to the seller, so that means a 149-inch wheelbase. A 164-inch wheelbase would have also been available for folks who required an eight-foot box rather than the 6.5-foot one here. You can see the condition of the bed here.
As expected, the interior looks a little rough around the edges, with a fair amount of rust showing up on the dash, and you can see the condition of the dash top. A cracked steering wheel and missing horn button are the least of your worries inside, but anything is fixable and I think this truck is worth the effort if the structural and body rust isn’t too bad. The seller has included a lot of photos showing the rocker panel areas and it looks pretty solid. The rear seating area looks really nice, other than standing water on the floor, that’s rarely good. But, the seats look perfect.
The engine should be International’s… something… Sorry, but the seller didn’t say what engine this is and didn’t show or list a VIN or data plate or anything. The company’s standard V8 for the 1200D in 1969 was their 266-cu.in. OHV V8 with 155 horsepower and 227 lb-ft of torque. There were also three other V8s available, a 304, 345, and a 392. This one turns by hand but doesn’t run. When it did run, it sent power through a manual transmission to the rear wheels only and this would be a fun project. I wish I could take it on but I have my hands full with too many oddball motorcycles. How would you bring this Travelette back to life?
Unless I missed it, the truck clearly was a municipal truck, city dept. probably. Crew cabs rarely made it into regular folks driveways, until these were auctioned off anyway. The motor is a noodle scratcher. IH used AMC 401 V8s around this time, due to a shortage of 392s. It looks like an AMC motor. I thought the thermostat housing was the giveaway, but I have to bring out the big guns on that one( Geo) I see about as much appeal for this today as a Benny Goodman album. Try as I might, I just can’t find many pluses about this truck. For 1969, it was about the most outdated truck available, and sorely needed retooling to compete. IH foolishly decided to sink all the eggs into HD trucking, going great guns at the time. The Transtars replacement, the 9670 cabover was remarkably successful. Too bad they never counted on a certain 5 letter word, that at the time, was merely a division of White/GMC, and of no real concern,,,
Obviously a IHC engine. There were no AMC engines used in 69. This didn’t occur until the end of production of these models, late 74-75. Any 4 door is rare and desirable, this one will find a good home.
And, the AMC V8’s distributor sat at an angle, unlike the upright stance of the IHC.
Indeed, I was issued a new “Volvo” high cabover in 91. Was badged White/GMC.Actually a well designed tractor, but all the spot welds came apart after only 15 months and about 170k. I was grateful for a new 9760 condo set forward steer, fantastic power unit!
Hi Howard. Definitely not a 401 AMC. My guess is it’s either a 266 or 304. You would have to read the ID tag in the rear part of the LH door to confirm that, or better yet, look on the right front corner of the block, just under the head where you’ll find a machined flat that has the ID stamped onto it.
I didn’t see any 401 engines until much later, like around ’74. And I don’t think I saw them in anything but Travelalls. International had such a high demand for its 392 that it needed to source engines elsewhere. That’s why the 401. Some also say that about the AMC 232/258 but that was a different situation all together. For the latter, the EPA killed the 264 and it was much more economical to buy the six cylinder engines from AMC than to try to adapt the 264 or design a new engine…
Of course IH in the early 70’s never could have envisioned how trucks would eventually dominate the US market, spawning segments like luxury SUV’s, and how they drive corporate profits for certain automakers. I’ve sometimes wondered where they might be today if they had had the wherewithal to stay in these segments. Maybe, a Range Rover competitor?
Good write-up Scotty.
Hi Bob. There were a number of factors that contributed to IH quitting the light truck line. The expanding farms actually shrunk the number of dealers and thus the number of light trucks sold through those outlets. Then the truck dealers themselves wanted to deal with the large trucks and not “waste their time” on smaller ones. There was another factor that I only heard a couple of years ago from a former dealer outside of Chicago.
Chrysler and IH had a meeting in which Chrysler offered to quit building larger trucks if IH would respond and quit its light line. The Scout was exempt because Chrysler didn’t offer a smaller SUV at the time. However when Chrysler started to negotiate purchasing AMC/Jeep, the Scout was put on the chopping block from IH.
I think that if cooler minds prevailed, IH would’ve profited handsomely if it resisted and continued its light line. Here’s a pic of what could’ve been…
My dad had one similar to this in ’69. He special-ordered it fairly loaded, with custom trim and as much chrome as they came with back then. Dad loved bucket seats so he got those as well. His was a shortbox and was painted the “one year only” Plum Metallic. Went like “Jack, the Bear” with the 392 which definitely liked copious amounts of gas.
Dad sold it in the fall of ’70 and bought a new Ford F-250 conventional cab. A vet, near the mountains, bought it and put at least a hundred thousand miles on it before he put it out in the hedgerow in the back. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was still there. Probably a good thing I don’t drive past the place because I might try to buy it…
I, really like this truck. I’m not disagreeing with Howard, but I think I see wood applique ( fancy word eh?) On the dash. I dont think a base model ordered by a town or county road dept would have that. I could be wrong ( ask my family I usually am) If money was not an issue, I’d restore this truck for sure. International trucks were trucks, very well built, at least from the ones I’ve experienced with my fathers friends who owned them.
I’d say that was a public works truck at some point, good be very well maintained,not sure the overall length, definitely not a grocery getter,it would look beautiful completely restored to the right person
Cool but I have never been a fan of 4 door pick up trucks so I wouldn’t even tackle this project.
Probably a Highway Dept. truck. Likely a 304 or 345. Pretty sure the 266 was discontinued by the time the D series came out. But who knows what’s happened in 55 years! Looks like a different upper hose housing than the Scouts had and none of my Scouts had the breather on the right side. Think this was a V-3xxE. IIRC the E was for emissions and only in trucks and T-alls.
I’d power wash and sand this back down to that yellow and see what was there. Looks fairly straight and solid.
Howard, these were really stylistically years ahead of Ford and Dodge trucks in ‘69. The GMs were undoubtably the nicest looking trucks of the era. But these IHs had a clean uncluttered look that has aged better than the others.
Jasper, this is where I got the 266-cu.in. V8 from. It lists the 266 as the standard V8 in the 1969 1200D so I’m guessing that’s pretty accurate since it’s an actual I-H brochure. Unless I read it wrong, and that’s a real possibility, too.
https://www.auto-brochures.com/makes/International/International_US%201200D_1969.pdf
IHC guys just know that they would never use the 266 in such a big truck. It’s probably a 345 or 392. It’s like the base engine for many vehicles is a ridiculously small one, but everyone ordered the bigger engine.
Hi Scotty. I think ’69 was the last year the 266 was offered. The base V-8 from then on was the 304…