From military duty to the South Dakota Department State Forestry department in the fire suppression department, this 1961 International C120 Travelette is one rugged and cool truck. The seller has it listed here on eBay in Cookeville, Tennessee and the current bid price is $7,000, but the reserve isn’t met yet which it shouldn’t be for such a nice vehicle. Let’s check out this unusual-then-but-normal-now four-door pickup.
I distinctly remember when four-door pickups were weird. Not weird in a bad way but unusual, you never saw them other than for railroad vehicles or similar industries where companies needed to haul a few workers around. Now, regular commuters drive them every day to pick up a skinny caramel oat milk latte as if it’s a normal thing. I guess it is normal now, it’s funny how things change over the decades. Or, some things.
This is one of the nicest examples that I’ve seen and it’s the earliest Travelette – International’s four-door pickup – that we’ve seen on Barn Finds. 1961 was reportedly the first year for the four-door Travelette, gaining an extra door from the 1957 through 1960 three-door models. I’m hoping that Howard and Geo and other International truck experts chime in on this one to fill in anything that I’ve missed or gotten wrrrr.. anything that I’ve gotten wrr.. wrrr.. (bad impression of The Fonz trying to say that he’s wrong).
The seller got this truck several years ago and went through it to fix or replace everything that was needed while trying to keep it looking the same. It still has the original blue paint from its military days (Air Force I’m assuming) under the bright yellow from its time in South Dakota with the Forestry Department. They replaced the seat fabric both front and rear but other than that haven’t done too much else inside. They did replace both floor pans and did a lot of other work. It looks solid underneath. The bed also looks solid and I love those chunky brand new tires.
They have done a lot of work under the hood, including rebuilding the engine which is, I believe, International’s 240 cubic-inch inline-six with around 140 horsepower. The interesting history of this truck is that it was parked in the back of a warehouse in South Dakota for three decades at which point someone bought it at an auction and subsequently stored it for another decade. Then the current owner bought it and got it going again. It sure looks great. Any thoughts on this Travelette?
This is a real temptation. A 3/4 ton 4×4 crew cab would look great at my place. Parts are fairly easy to come by although brake drums are a challenge (I believe I made that comment on another one a day or so ago. A V8 would move this truck a little faster but the six will do just fine. Looks like either a BG241 or 265. Still find it interesting that for this series of engine the Americans used the BG and added (1) CID and painted them Harvester Red. The Canadian version was the BD 240/264 and painted black. And they were otherwise the same engine. Transmission is likely a T98 Borg Warner. Transfer case is probably an NP201 which isn’t much different from the 205, just older. These are getting highly sought after and either fixed up stock or modified. Myself, I doggedly stay in the first camp. A good truck for sure!
I don’t think this is a 4×4. My dad had a ’68 Travelette 3/4 ton 4×4, and it rode much higher. That, and there’s only one shift lever and no 4wd hardware under the hood.
It’s a 4×4. Front locking hubs and front differential. The old style aka simple.. didn’t have levels inside. If you wanted to go off road. You would stop put into park get out and turn the hubs to 4×4 from 2wd. It’s was a pain in the butt especially in the winter snow and cold but it worked. Don’t forget these were government vehicles simple as possible. Have a good day. 🐻🇺🇸
You’re quite correct – I see the front driveshaft in the eBay ad. I was expecting to see it to the left of the engine, but it’s on the right. I remember Dad getting out and locking the hubs, but his ’68 had a two-speed transfer case, so there was also a lever on the floor. His truck had 16.5″ wheels, and I remember him complaining about finding tires for it. It also sat considerably higher than this example, but given I-H’s long, specialized option list, it could have had some sort of high-ride suspension. (I once hopped out of the truck on an icy hill, fell, and slid cleanly under the truck and down the hill.) One thing is for certain… riding around in a big, homely, crew-cab truck in the 1970s meant that it was impossible to fly under the radar.
I had the same thought. I had a Red one assigned to me in the Air Force (Fire). It did sit higher. But pics don’t lie. Lol.
Im sure some experts will chime in on the stance differences.
I really liked the one I had in the service.
It’s definitely a 4WD & I’m the owner of it now.
It’s a fake 4 x 4 with hubs on the front wheels
Pull the add up. You’ll see the front differential under the engine in one of the pictures. 🤦♂️
You’ll also see the instruction plate for operating the 4×4 on the dash…
I feel sorry for kids today. Back when we learned half the trucks seemed to have had a manual transmission. Everything automatic only and luxury now. Luxurie everywhere don’t always make life better.
Speaking of TV characters, Edward Byrnes of 77 Sunset Strip exuded the same sense of cool as Jimmy Dean and was the progenitor of the Fonz. Same hair, comb. (switch the motorcycle for a hot rod)
“From military duty to the South Dakota Department State Forestry department in the fire suppression department,” – and the Department of Redundancy Dept.
Ha! I can’t argue with you there, ccrvtt!
🎯 ccrvt
Very cool! One my uncles working for an IH dealer in the late 60’s and into the 70’s…drove a “round” and “slab side” Travelall. The Travelette is better looking that its contemporary Big 3 counterparts who went out of their way to extend the cab and Frankenstein a second set of front doors.
Squint and you see a bit of Jeep Gladiator.
I have a 241 in my backhoe and no way would i want to be caught going up a hill with this,these were always so ugly, but like some girls they are so ugly, they become cute! I do the the 3+3 much better, but glad this survived, may have a stump puller rear gear, Its probably never seen 70mph
Believe these trucks and Chevys were used by Security Police at the missile bases back in the day.
Is that grass under the engine?
How come we can see all the way down through the engine bay to the ground??
How are we supposed to lose any tools or fasteners if there are no dark hidden crevices for them to fall into and instead they drop straight to the ground where we can simply pick them up?
I’m skinny enough I think I could stand on the ground inside the engine bay and work on the truck. No need to lean over a the fender or radiator.
SAC crews. Probably hauling crews to their B47 or B52 or KC-135s
Nice old truck. Only change I would do is .Fix what needed .Straighten out the dents and toss the big ugly mirrors for some small ones and it would look alot better and serve the same purpose as the big mirrors. These were good trucks and alot easier to work on and check things.
friend has one on 38 inch tire. Standin beside it seems like you are next to a diesel engine (huge).
Is that grass under the engine? What’s up with all that empty space in the engine bay?! How are we supposed to lose tools and fasteners in deep dark crevices if anything we drop simply falls to the ground where we can simply pick it up?
I’m almost skinny enough to stand along side that engine and work on it from inside the engine bay. No need to lean over the fender or radiator.
Auction update: this one ended at $11,000 with no sale.