According to the WisconsinHistory.org International Truck Specifications website, this 1966 International Travelette pickup is a foot shorter than my old Lincoln was at 17′-4″ long. That’s hard to believe but hey, the internet doesn’t lie! This cool people and stuff hauler is listed on eBay with an unmet opening bid of $3,900 and even at that the reserve won’t be met. It’s located in Sierra Madre, California – which of course reminds me of a top-three movie: Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Let’s check out this treasure truck.
That’s one long truck. I can’t believe that this is less than 18-feet long, though. According to legend, the I-H Travelette was the first six-passenger four-door pickup. Which, of course, will put several few of you into action trying to track down a case of an earlier six-passenger four-door pickup. I-H also made a short-box version which may have better proportions but this is a serious work truck so who cares about such silly things as proportions? I mean, other than myself. This is a rear-wheel drive Travelette and there were also 4×4 versions which would really be a find.
The seller says that this truck is “Almost entirely rust free! Only place that I can find is the front fenders that have some easily repairable rust holes and the floor boards could be replaced. I’ve already stripped the fenders to start welding. Body is incredibly strait [sic]! Fenders, doors, cab are almost perfect. Only minor dents are on the passenger side of the truck and above the rear bumper.” I’m surprised to see a padded dash top but the Travelette was an off-shoot of the Travelall, a somewhat “luxurious” vehicle, at least for International-Harvester. There are two interior photos and no engine photos but I believe that it would be I-H’s Silver Diamond 240 cubic-inch inline-six with around 140 hp. “Runs! Rebuilt Carb! New Water Pump! Fuel Pump! All new wheel cylinders! This truck drives up and down the street but needs work to be a daily driver. Should be towed if you’re going to buy. Steering is tight! Completely original and unmolested. Needs new fuel tank, and I would re arc the leaf springs” Have any of you seen an International Travelette in person, or better yet, owned one?
Very cool old IH, with tons of character. I like the factory pancaked hood.
I told myself I would never buy another vehicle with the aftermarket turn signal switch. It indicates electrical problems. Never again.
It’s funny you mention that particular thing. My first vehicle was a 63 IHC truck exactly like this although single cab. It had those darned JC Whitney turn signals held on to the steering column with a hose clamp. If you tapped too hard they’d go drooping, pointing at the floor. 13 years old and drove it to junior high and through a bunch of high school. Teachers were convinced that I would kill the six or seven buddies that were always riding in the back of the thing. It is only by the grace of God that I didn’t but it makes me wonder what the heck my folks were thinking, letting me drive?
I have this on a 1963 Plymouth Savoy. They could have fixed the factory turn signals but they didn’t.
I had to hook up the rear turn signal light to where the center reflector would be in the tail lights so I could have functioning turn signals.
I bought a different steering column that will go in the car when I switch it from three on the tree to an automatic, so I will have real turn signals again, but that system is a sign there have been electrical problems with the car and that is a big no thanks from me, and I don’t care what car it is.
Rodney, good story. Sounds like my Dad letting me drive our 69 Delta 88 at 13 while he was in the bar getting sh**faced. We all had to learn anyway. Somebody had to drive him home. I was successful each and every time.
Restored and upgraded to 4×4 would make this would be one badass ride. I’m not sure what to think about the fuel fillers on the front fenders. I wonder where the fuel tanks are located?
‘Travelette’, I thought, seems a very odd name for a big, long, decidedly very manly work truck so, out of pure curiosity, I felt obliged to look up that suffix, ‘ette’.
Here’s what I found, “Ette: ……….as an English suffix, -ette, forms diminutives
(kitchenette; novelette; sermonette), distinctively feminine nouns ( majorette; usherette), and names of imitation products ( leatherette)”. None of these seem particularly appropriate for a manly work truck so I can only deduce that someone in the truck naming department was having someone in senior management on, or else had simply run out of ideas. Lest anyone should get the wrong idea, perhaps any new owner ought to consider re-naming it something like, Big Manly Work Truck or some such thing.
IH had the ignition key location figured out
I get quite a chuckle how, in 1966, the last thing thing IH thought about, was this type of truck would be the #1 selling vehicle today. These were used mainly for construction crews, or municipal duty,( or for chain gangs) and rarely, if ever, seen in public. A 4 door pickup, what, are you nuts?( or a prisoner?) Not sure if others had 4 door pickups then, but if IH only could have seen the future, they’d have made a killing. Other than that,, good trucks,,, but no interest.