As tough as our ancestors were, this 1957 International Travelall A-120 (3/4-ton) 4×4 would be an incredible vehicle to tinker with and either make it look like new again or just keep it maintained and drive it. The seller has it listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Stevenson Ranch, California, and they’re asking $10,900. Here is the original listing, and thanks to T.J. for the tip!
This is the second painfully desirable late-1950s/early-1960s truck/SUV that we’ve seen recently. It would be a tough choice to choose between this ’57 Cornbinder 4×4 Travelall or the 1964 Dodge Town Wagon seen here on Barn Finds at the beginning of June. They’re about the same price, and both have a 4-speed manual. Both will instantly grow hair on your knuckles, and with manual steering, your forearms will make Popeye’s look like twigs in no time. This International has the benefit of being a 4×4, but it also has a straight-six rather than a V8 in the Dodge.
Both truck bodies look fairly similar, although this I-H has two doors on the passenger side compared to just one on the Dodge Town Wagon, for much easier passenger loading. Also, you can see that the gas tank access was behind the driver’s door, so adding a door there wouldn’t work. Rust-wise, both look similar, and the seller says this tough truck is an original California truck. I’m guessing that the yellow color is from “school bus” or other municipality duties?
The steering wheel is interesting. I never would have guessed this was a 1957 wheel, and I’m assuming the horn hub/button was added to an aftermarket steering wheel. Thoughts? I wish we had better photos of the dash, but the seller gives pretty nice photos and a nice range, so it’s hard to complain about photos for once. I know, a Sunday miracle! The front seats look perfect and are obviously not original, which isn’t a bad thing. We don’t get to see underneath, but I have to believe it’s solid, depending on where in California it lived for the last 69 years. We also don’t get any shots of the rear cargo area, but this photo shows a glimpse of it behind the perfect rear seats.
I’m assuming this engine is International’s 240-cu.in. OHV inline-six with around 140 or so (gross) horsepower. The 4×2 Travelall would have been available with the smaller 220-cu.in. inline-six. Backed by the manual transmission and transfer case, the engine sends power to all four wheels as needed. The seller says it “runs great, drives great, and stops great” and is a true survivor. They also mention that there has been a lot of work done and a lot of upgrades, but we don’t really know what those are. Would you go nuts and restore or restomod this Travelall 4×4, or just keep it maintained and drive it as it is now? I vote for the second option.
Nice Scotty, nice TJ, nothing like an honest down to earth mid century utility vehicle. I love the simpleness of the gauge cluster. It almost looks like an aftermarket add on.
Same. Cluster is awesome in it’s simplicity. Hard to miss your turn signal or high beams are on!
I agree. I’m betting that if these vehicles were more prolific. That gauge pod would have been a very popular hot rod piece. Brutes of vehicles, but I vote for the Dodge. It just has more style. Although I wouldn’t kick either off my driveway!
That is not the factory gauge cluster
yes that is not the original dash cluster. It looks like its been there for a long time though!
Would definitely just keep it maintained and drive it as it is, and I totaly agree with Matt D, there’s nothing like an honest down to earth mid century utility vehicle – love it!
Definitely a cool truck. Looks like the brakes have been treated to dual master cylinder so that must be one of the upgrades mentioned. I’d otherwise keep it stock.
But the next upgrade should be to lose the 2 piece wheels. Most tire shops no longer have old parts like me that know how to properly install new tires on these. PLUS these wheels will not work with radial tires!
This is just a neat, solid old Binder. I’d leave it as is. I would just work to keep any potential rust issues at bay. Otherwise, I’d have a lot of fun driving this on some nice back roads.
Cool beast! Except for sourcing a correct steering wheel because Binders of this vintage just oughta have one, I’d also leave it as is.
When I was a wee one, our family car was a ’59 4×2 version with a 6-cyl. and a 4-speed. My Pop said he didn’t want to drop the extra cash for 4×4 or the then-available V-8 (266 ci?)
My memories or riding in it are vague as Pop sold it when I was 4 years-old. For the following 15 years or so, it resided up the block a ways with family who had 8 or 9 kids. Age and the tin worm eventually took it out.
These were fairly common back in the day. Companies needed to carry full crews into some rugged territory and International was eager to survive. They had been building Travelalls since ’53 and the basic layout stayed the same until ’61 when IH added the fourth door.
The A and B series, that came out in ’59 were the same bodywise; just a few minor differences:
Single headlights for the A-series and duals for the B-models. I’ll always prefer the eggcrate grill for the Bs.
Instrument clusters were very close although the A’s used idiot lights for oil and generator. Idiots lights were introduced on the S-models of ’56 but were cancelled with the introduction of the B’s. The first Scouts (80 models) used idiot lights but went to gauges with the 800s.
This particular instrument cluster is well modified and I kind of like it, compared to what was in there before.
The engine is likely a BD240, or possibley a 264. To identify it, you need to check the machined flat spot on the block behind the generator, just under the head. The model and serial number will be STAMPED, not cast onto the flat spot.
The pic I posted is of a Travelall that was recently for sale. It’s a ’59 model, obviously. I know I’ve got pics of A-models but they must be in a different file. You might expect a modern V8 powerplant but this one’s equipped with a six cylinder and 4-spd manual. The hubs and wheels are obviously changed to 8-stud from the six-stud, with the result looking great.
I’m afraid that I break that one commandment every time I look at it. I would love to see it parked on my driveway. Ditto for an A-model…
I would basically keep it as is and slowly repair the small dings and rust problems. Then I would add a front bumper (with a winch??) to protect the front end better. Possibly it had one as a municipal work truck?? Although I do not particularly like “Municipal” yellow, if I were to paint it I would stay with it.
I have a ‘58, came from the factory as a cab/chassis and Baker put a short school bus body on it. Was used on the Navajo Indian Reservation near Gallup NM whenever the road conditions were too bad for the regular school bus. The bus body had bench seats running front to rear on each side and double doors in the rear. Dad bought it with 29k miles in ‘68 or so, to convert into his ultimate, go anywhere camper. We cut the top off of the cab, raised and extended the steel body from a 1/2 way point to over the cab and hood almost to the front bumper. All in steel tubing and 16 gauge steel skin. Then put the original cab top back on the front of the extension to streamline it again. The straight 6 was a bit weak for his purpose but he found a 327 Chevy engine (sold to him as being out of a Corvette but later proved wrong by a serial number that doesn’t match anything in anyone’s book) that he built up and installed. It was non stoppable! I replaced the 327 with a truck 350 after the 327 developed a bad ticking sound deep inside.
Steering wheel looks like genuine International, but obviously not 57, probably from a later Scout. I probably wouldn’t go overboard with a restoration, but I’d at least have to get rid of that yellow, and find a correct front bumper. This was also the first year for an International crew cab, the Travelette
Jeez, I didn’t even think of that, Kevin, good call. I bet you’re right about the steering wheel!
A yellow split rim IH SUV, just as you promised. It’d be awesome to have this AND that Dodge Town Wagon instead of buying some “cute” new little CUV LOL.
Price update: the seller reduced the price to $10,350…
yes that is not the original dash cluster. It looks like its been there for a long time though!