The only thing this beast can’t pass is a gas station.
Driving with my buddy in L.A. this past week and I spotted this late 1960s International Harvester Travelall and couldn’t resist pulling a Nick Maggio (sans bag of iPhone-photo-app-trickery) on this monster. I couldn’t even imagine driving these back in the day when they first came out – before everyone drove an SUV.
I wonder though – with all the interest in heritage things – if in some room somewhere, someone is working on a re-release of the IH Scout and the IH Travelall? Not that a re-release would be good. I’m sure the folks in Detroit (or where ever) would just cover that fucker in plastic. I like this body style and even enjoy the wheels on this Travelall. I wouldn’t mind driving this Scout around South Florida either.
this is one of the reasons i check acl every day! that my friends is a SUV, more utilty than sport but whatever!
Love those Calif. cars. The last Travelall on the East Coast rotted out in 1980…
Travelalls are great, but I prefer the International Scout. Short, light, and powerful, they were the quintessential mountain rig.
My mom had one of those growing up in Cleveland- brown and white with five on the floor. Awesome, awesome truck.
Great to see this vehicle as I almost mentioned it a few posts back when you had the photos of the Toyota Land Cruiser. I’ve always been a big fan of the International Harverster line of trucks especially the Scout and the pickups.This truck is a nice example although I’ve seen one in the same pretty decent shape with smaller (stock) wheels and I think it looks better.
Actually was walking in Brooklyn one morning and this car drifts through a stop sign meaning I had to stop in my tracks to avoid walking into the car and as I raised my head to curse the sonovabitch out I see it’s a Travelall and gave ’em a pass. True story. Someone in my area has a mid- to late-1970s International truck with a utility body and the beefiest axles and suspension package I’ve seen on-road; I was riding my bike and stopped and talked to the guy—told me he picked up the truck from if I recall correctly the Washington State Fish & Game Division.
My Dad worked at International Harvester/Navistar in sheetmetal/skilled trades for 35 years. He wanted a Scout or Travelall as much as I did. But they were “expensive” then, in the 70’s and 80’s. A Travelall came up for sale recently (actually had been a coworker friend of his). I suggested we go in together and buy it. He just shook his head and said “They were expensive then, and even more now!” oh well, guess I’ll find a model of one and put it together!
I had one of these when I was in college – it was a beast on and off road, not like the “civilized” SUV’s made now. I got hit head-on at a stoplight by a guy in a Maxima – scratched my bumper and brush guard a bit, ripped the front end off his car – The sheriff who was first on the scene couldn’t stop laughing. It is a real shame that due to economic and other factors many fine American automobile brands (especially IH) are no longer on the market.
that’s a work of art. the tires are a little big for my taste, but damn she’s a beaut.
My dad had a International Scout when I was kid. That was a bad ass automobile!!! Miss it..
It looks mighty fine. But good friends of mine have been seduced by vintage SUV’s twice: first by a Land Rover Defender, then last winter by a perfectly restored vintage Jeep Cherokee. Three things to keep in mind: They put out more pollution than a hundred modern cars, they drink gas like a drunken sailor, and they drive like a tractor. But, again, they sure look fine.
Very nice. The tires and wheels are wrong in my opinion though. Properly tuned the 345ci V8 engine will get 14 MPG all day long. That’s not much worse than any modern day truck, and in some cases better. This is the 1/2 ton model (1100 series), I would personally look for the 3/4 ton model (1200). There is a very rare 1 ton model that was a special order only. I saw a picture of one in a book, that was used by and exploration team in Afganistan in the mid 1960’s. The one ton (1300 series) would have indestructable Dana 70 axles front and rear. problem is with 4.88:1 gears in the axles, freeway travel is not really and option.
The 3/4 and 1/2 ton models have taller gears (4.10 and 3.55) so are more freeway friendly. International trucks used the heaviest duty components on any of the truck manufacturers. The downfall was the sheetmetal rotted away prematurely except for 1963 when the bodies were galvanized at the factory.
geez. i used to work at a summer camp and one the staff members drove one of these….ahhhh, thanks for the memories…
FYI, a coffee table photo book of International trucks exists. Findable on Amazon and ebay. Many amazing photos. Also, a similar photo book on the history of Airstream Trailers in which 90% of them are being pulled by Travelalls.
good call DmC… have that Airstream book and indeed they’re being pulled by Travelalls… there’s a few Dodge Power Wagons in there as well.
Well, crap. Disregard my previous comment on the Willy post.