I’m traveling to the Midwest again this week, and as usual the first thing I did once I was checked in was to check out the local classics for sale. Today one of them was an International Travelall that from this angle looks extremely solid and intact! I found it in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, listed for sale here on craigslist for $6,500.
However, there’s another angle you need to examine. Apparently someone had a literal fender bender. I guess that’s not that unusual after 120,000 miles, but darn.
The seller suggests sectioning the fender. I think I’d at least try to see what happened with some pounding first.
With four wheel drive and a four-speed manual transmission, I think that tow hitch is quite legitimate. I’d sure use it as a tow vehicle! I love the upright greenhouse and all the glass of this generation of Travelall. I understand those rear side windows are hard to come by, but this one appears intact. I don’t see a lot of rust, either. Honestly, I don’t really see anything body wise to worry about except that front fender.
I can’t say the same for the inside, though. However, an inexpensive seat cover and some sort of appropriate floor covering would improve things a huge amount. I know it’s a working vehicle, but I’d rather not sit on the edges of torn upholstery. That iconic dash is there, though. The inspection stickers say Texas in 1996, after which I’m guessing the Travelall migrated north.
Here’s that 345 V8, complete with factory air conditioning–is that the compressor on the very far left top of this picture? The seller additionally says it runs well, which really has me wondering why not just repair the body damage? Maybe it’s because replacement fenders are pretty expensive, with a used one going for over $650. I just know that if I were walking out of my door and seeing that missing fender every day, I’d have to do something! What would you do?
I’d bite the bullet and get a new/used fender as that dented one doesn’t look like it will respond well to pounding as it looks like it needs to be stretched. Sharp looking vehicle but I think it might be a bit overpriced by a few thousand
Definitely would fix/replace the fender. The truck’s in too good of shape to ignore that. Looks like it needs some interior work then it will be ready for some driving and enjoying. And, Howard, those 345 motors can actually work–quite well. Just make sure the oil you use is high in zinc; the camshafts in these motors need lots of it.
Hi geomechs, I know, I’m one of the select few that don’t care for this motor, and I’m not going to argue that point anymore. I have valid ( to me) reasons why I feel that way ( that others may not have had experience with, such as “severe” duty, like dump trucks) HOWEVER, we can agree that these were just the best trucks ( I won’t even get started on the “D” series that replaced it) Milwaukee used these( not 4×4’s, which isn’t mentioned yet, that this is) as police ambulances for many years( years ago, there were no paramedics, the police transported you in these to the hospital after a quick stop at Dunkin’ Donuts, of course). These, at the time, were probably the most civilized 4×4 wagons, and made the others ( Willy’s, Ford, and GM) look more like trucks, and they were compared to these. While the pickup was quite popular, a replacement fender could indeed be getting hard to find, as most yards shredded most of these. Personally, ( oh, here we go) I’d put the AMC 6 cylinder in it, and chug along while the V-8 here is stalled with vapor lock. ( or dripping gas on the ground) :)
Howard: I had to chuckle about what you said about the police in Milwaukee using TravelAlls as ambulances. Here in West Texas, TravelAlls, Chevy Panels and Suburbans were all popular as ambulances “back in the day”. One of our local funeral homes had run two panel ambulances over the years and a private company in Odessa that came here in 1965 brought with them a ’62 TravelAll ambulance that had seen duty in the cold-country of Montana. In 1972 the volunteer standby ambulance service I worked with in Lubbock bought that TravelAll, and in 1977 was given a 1963 TravelAll ambulance that served in Amarillo for many years and was also a TV “star”. It appeared in the Roundup Herbicide TV commercials.
I like what you said about there not being paramedics back in those days. In 1973 we got the first ECA (Emergency Care Attendant) classes here in Texas, which would be followed in 1974 by the first EMT classes. My favorite story is about the time we had taken an ambulance to Abilene to work an indoor motorcycle race. My partner and I had just received our ECA certification; and in Lubbock, ambulance technicians had already been taught things like proper cervical-spine immobilization, CPR, etc., which you still didn’t see being done in a lot of places. So on this trip we had a guy injured during a practice session, and it turned out that he had a broken leg, which we properly splinted prior to transport. Our ambulance had a radio that would talk to the local sheriff dispatch, so we had them relay our info to the ER at Hendrick Hospital (now Hendrick Medical Center). So when we rolled into the ER we were met by an elderly nurse. When I attempted to give her updated vitals (something we’d been doing in Lubbock already since 1968) and updated patient assessment, she says, “Don’t tell me anything about this patient, you’re no damn doctor.” My partner Bill and I were shocked. We got the patient into the cubicle and off our gurney, leaving him immobilize on the backboard. I looked around and Bill was gone but returned momentarily with the charge nurse in tow. She asked me what seemed to be the problem, so I told her how rudely we’d been treated by the elderly nurse when we had attempted to update our patient’s stats. She said, “But you can’t do those things, you’re just ambulance attendants.”; saying “attendants” like it was a dirty word. So when I told her how we’d recently been certified and how things were being done in Lubbock and other places, I thought the gal would faint, and when I told her what the upcoming paramedics would be able to do within another couple of years (like starting IVs, etc.) she turned pale and said, “Well, I never..”. I’ve often wondered how she handled when they actually got paramedics in Abilene!
Great looking truck, the 345’s are bullet proof…….listing is already gone. The fender is not hard to come by as it is the same as a pickup but that missing chrome front bumper (that matches the rear) is rare. My 63 had one but not many do. The power steering is a great option too.
All gone….
Oh, 1 more thing, those hinges on the tailgate are not stock. I suspect some rust back there.
The model year is not given for this Travelall, but I owned a1971 in the mid 70s. Traveling one day, stopped at 7/11like store for snacks and drinks. While standing at the counter someone came in and asked whose station wagon was parked out front as smoke was coming out from under the hood. I went outside and it was our “station wagon” on fire. Opened the hood, by then the fire was out, but all of the wiring was burned. Luckily, there was an International truck dealer in the town; called them, sent a wrecker and went to the dealership. Of course, we were told the entire wiring harness had to be replaced which would take several days. Called some friends who lived nearby, they came and got us, went on to relatives for a visit.
By the way this was a Thursday around 2 p.m. The dealer called Tuesday morning saying the truck was repaired and ready to go. Went to the dealership, cost $250.00 for the repair. The mechanic said the alternator had caused the fire. Drove back home, called my insurance agent and they paid for the repair. Sold the vehicle soon after!
Hi Charles. Those alternators caused a lot of engine fires back in the day. GM even returned in the late 80s when the alternator’s rear bearing piled up and started a fire from flaming debris getting caught up in the hood insulation. Lucky. My boss’ truck burnt to the ground.
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