Forget your Suburbans, Expeditions, Navigators and ‘Slades, today’s International is all you’ll ever need. In fact, it’s Travelall you’ll ever need. Of course, we’ll have to decide if its price is all that.
The mid-‘80s Toyota pickup seems to be one of those vehicles that most everybody seems to get the lusties for. Yesterday we looked at a which was in immaculate original condition and was outfitted with all the right factory goodies. It was a sweet ride.
Unfortunately it also came with a price tag over thirteen grand, and that spoiled the potential relationship, ending up in a 72% Crack Pipe loss. That small truck may not have seemed worth its mid-teens asking, but let’s see how another, slightly higher-priced truck does, one that goes long.
International Harvester was born out of the merger of five agricultural harvesting machine making companies in 1902. The resulting company built Farmall tractors, reapers, and other heavy farming machinery, competing successfully in the farmers’ market up to WWII.
After the war they expanded their business, buying the Metropolitan Body Company and introducing the Metro line of delivery vans. That led to the creation of more consumer-friendly designs eventually culminating in the Bronco-like Scout and the larger Travelall, both of which were based on the company’s stouter than hell pickup trucks.
This comes from the fourth generation of the model, and here—in wood-panelled 4x2 form—in what is perhaps its most overtly suburban presentation. Powering those two wheels is a 197 (gross) horsepower 345-cid V8 that the ad says has been ‘professionally restored and rebuilt.’ In fact, it claims that to be the case for the tranny and rear end as well. That’s off to a pretty good start.
That transmission is a Torqueflite 3-speed automatic, which is good because what’s the fun in grinding your own gears in something this big? It may be big, but it’s not really all that heavy, weighing in at just a little over two tons, wood siding and all.
It doesn’t go light on the looks however, with paint that appears to be only about five years old and that woodgrain trim on the outside. That, along with decent chrome on the bumpers makes it look pretty sweet. The interior looks to be a nice place to be as well, and has a full three-up split front bench. Factory air makes it cool in fact and not just in looks.
The only pube in the pudding here is possibly the wheels. They are aftermarket, and, well maybe not to everyone’s taste. That’s an easy fix however and the seller says the truck comes with the factory hubcaps. There’s no mention however of the factory steelies those hubcaps would need be useful.
We can be useful, to the seller, by weighing in on his price. The asking is $14,995, which would be crazy talk if this were a ’72 Suburban, this truck’s nearest contemporary competitor. However, considering the rarity and presentation of this International, that might not be so nuts. What do you think, does this restored Travelall have all it takes to ask $14,995? Or, is this International priced to stay at home?
You decide!
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