It’s funny to think about today, but International’s line of pickups was seen as being dated in the era of this 1972 International 1210 Camper Special. This chunky, “square” design looks great now, but I guess design trends ebb and flow. I’m cringing just thinking about when acid-wash jeans come back into fashion, or any other things that were ridiculous when they first came out but would be considered “retro cool” today.
This I-H pickup has been wearing its original Sunburst Yellow paint for over five decades now, and you can see fading on both the paint and the woodgrain portion. There are dings and some surface rust, but I don’t see any alarming rust issues on this one. The seller says it’s a true California survivor and I believe that.
We don’t know if this 1210 (3/4-ton) Camper Special hauled a camper, but if it did, that tailgate most likely came off as it did on our Ford F-250 Camper Special. The Camper Special package had a heavy-duty cooling and electrical system, a rear sway bar, an underside-mounted spare tire, an auxiliary gas tank, a bigger alternator and battery, a sliding rear window, dual exhaust, and more. This one also has a locking rear differential as you can see in the photo above.
The interior looks nice but a little cooked from the California sun. I’m always bummed to see seats redone in velour when there are so many great era-correct fabric patterns out there, but I’m sure they’re comfortable in the hot California sun. I believe this is a Custom or Deluxe interior so it would have probably had a nice brocade seat fabric. The flooring needs help and the seats are a bit rough, but half the fun of owning an old vehicle is fixing it up as you go along, isn’t it?
The engine is International’s 392-cu.in. OHV V8, which would have had around 200 horsepower and this truck has a mere 66,800 miles on it. It sends power through a three-speed column-shifted automatic to the rear wheels and the seller says it runs great and sounds great with the factory dual exhaust. They have it listed here on eBay in Placerville, California and the current bid price is $3,372, but the reserve isn’t met. Hagerty is at $5,300 for a #4 fair-condition truck and $12,700 for a #3 good truck. Any thoughts on this I-H Camper Special?
My 1st trucking job after i got my commercial license was an International 5 ton w juice brakes. Pos 💩 so i was a bit turned off, got turned around when i got behind the wheel of a gorgeous Navy Blue International Eagle 😃
Good write up Gilbertson 🤝
Howard probably likes this truck.
Hi Stan, I do,,,,not. While I am a big fan of the IH heavy duty trucks, the Eagle was a nice truck, BTW, I never warmed up to the IH light truck line. The Scout was to me, a Jeep knockoff, and the pickups just didn’t have the zing the others had. I had mostly Ford pickups, and an IH was never even considered. Different story if I had cow crap in my shoes, as farmers loved these. Farmers were known for being brand loyal, many didn’t care for Ford/Chevy for what ever reason, and most went with Studebakers. When Studebakers left, they went with an IH, mostly because, they could get parts at the same place as the tractor. After these left, they went with Dodge, but never a Ford/Chevy.
This could be one of the last 392s, as I read, due to a shortage, AMC 401s were substituted in 1973. They were good trucks, but out of date compared to the others, still using a straight front axle, and poured all the resources into HD trucks, going great guns at the time. I don’t think a redesigned pickup was ever planned, anyone?
I hope whoever buys it doesn’t restore it. It looks too cool as it sits.
I have always been a die hard Ford man. Owned a 69 F250 and a 67 F250. Loved them both. Had a 67 and a 68 Chevy half ton, love the look of them but they were tinny and felt cheap. Still liked them anyway. Has a 76 Dodge 200, total pile of junk, 360 and zero power. Stiffest ride and cheapest build ever. A guy offered to sell me his 73 International 1210 automatic with a 392 for $500. I knew nothing about them other than I thought they were ugly. this one was white and orange with red interior. I hate orange and I hate red interior. My wife told me if I bought it she would divorce me. I bought the truck, she lie, and didn’t divorce me. I was so impressed with that truck I couldn’t believe it. The torque was incredible and it was so tight and solid. It looked like a beater so I figured it would be a rattle trap, there wasn’t a single rattle of any kind. The only noise was an exhaust leak at the collectors. Replaced the gaskets and it was silent. Still love my Fords but if I were to go back in time and needed a 3/4 ton truck the first place I would go is my local International dealer. But there ain’t no way I’d get it in orange or have red interior. I’d snatch up this truck in a heart beat and my new wife would give me her blessing!!!!!!!
So where is the gas tank? Behind the seat as typical for trucks of this era? It appears to have a filler neck/cap behind the passenger door. But… it also has what appears to be a gas cap on the lower driver’s side fender? Auxiliary fuel tank up front? If not a fuel tank, what is it? And I agree with Mimo, don’t restore it, just drive it!
Auction update: this one sold for $5,150!
I remember ‘The 3’ hada run on ‘camper specials’. It was good for us = longer WB, 6L (and +), extra springs, etc (as listed). These were rd trucks so could go to markt w/stuff for income, or bring it back for more work (& eventual income). Now many are 4WD but that’s not what’s needed back east (smaller spaces to get into). These were good vehicles and IH seemed a last pick (cheb this’n dodge that underneath). Too bad as I liked ‘em. Nice clean dash, as said square lines, that stamped grill on this gen. There’s one (cant keep em straight w/all the numbers but it seems like this1210) local as bigasa freight engine w/double cab and ladder to get in (sic, not quite). It’s street legal but man, is it huge…