It’s always a gamble to list anything as the first, biggest, smallest, oldest, etc. That being said, many sources list the International Travelette as the first factory crew cab pickup. Can you think of an earlier example than the ’57 Travelette? The seller has this 1975 International Travelette 200 listed here on eBay in Driggs, Idaho and there is a $10,099 buy-it-now price or you can make an offer.
This is one long vehicle, unlike most crew cab pickups today that have a much smaller hauling area in the back. The Travelette came with either a 149″ (6.5′ box) or 166″ (8′ box) wheelbase and up to a 236.3″ overall length! You can see the Travelall resemblance, although this would be one huge Travelall with this long wheelbase. This had to have been a serious truck for serious workers who had to haul serious loads, not a commuter truck. However, not many people commuted with pickups in this era, at least compared with today.
The D-Series International Harvester came out in 1969 and they were quite a departure from the previous almost-ancient design. I really like the previous trucks but the modern pickups and Travelalls were something to behold when they came out. This is what I-H called the Bonus Load pickup box or bed, but they also made a step-side box. This truck looks nice in Glacier Blue and other than some normal rust, if there is such a thing, I don’t see any glaring issues with the exterior – however, there will be some welding to do in the cargo area.
This is a mid-trim-level Travelette with some “bright” trim on the sides and around the windshield, and the grille, The lower trim had a painted grille and the highest trim has woodgrain on the sides. The seats look positively luxurious for a pickup, both front and rear, let alone one with an agricultural heritage. For the record, International began offering a quad cab pickup in 1957 but it had only three doors, it wasn’t until the 1961 model year that they offered four doors. I believe Dodge was next with that feature in 1963. This truck needs both front and rear glass, hopefully that won’t be a huge issue for the next owner.
The engine is… uhhh.. a V8 of some size. The 304-cu.in. OHV V8 would have been standard in this model but a 345 or 392 V8 would have been optional. The seller is guessing that it’s a 392 but one of you will know by looking at it. It sends power through a column-shifted automatic to the rear wheels only and this would be a fun project if a person had a big, heated garage. Hagerty is at $5,400 for this Travelette with a 304 V8 in #4 fair condition, which is a running and driving truck, something this pickup may not currently be able to do. They give a #4 value of $5,500 with the 345 V8 and a #4 value of $5,600 with a 392 V8. There’s not much difference there, other than the seller’s asking price being almost double that. What’s your offer on this big I-H Travelette?
Nice find and write-up, Scotty. Only the RF fender and V-shaped tailgate keep me from picturing this one towing a restored Airstream. The other way I see it is jacked up on 35s, modern Suburban platform, LS, etc. Do it right and it’s $145k+. Do it meh and it’s $38k. The band of buyers on a rig like this is necked down pretty tight. I’m with you on the over-optimistic asking price. Thanks for giving us some history. Most four-door double-cabs in those days were fleet-only but IH would sell them to anyone. Good luck to seller and buyer. We’d love to hear what happens to this interesting rig.
See this one at SEMA next year at the Earl Scheib booth.
I might offer 1K for this thing….only if he delivered it.
Wut? $10,000 for a field-find. I don’t get it. Is it that rare?
These had rust problems by nature. This one needs to be looked at very closely, particularly the front driver’s side door post and rocker panel area. Looks as if you can see the ground in one place, and the sill plate appears to be just sitting on the edge of the floor mat, perhaps because there are problems with the floor in that area. A neat truck, but needs to have the rust issues clearly defined to know how to bid. (There are very few replacement sheet metal parts available for these as I recall, adding another factor into the formula.) Caveat emptor!
10K for a rot box? Good luck
I had a collection of IHC 4 doors, they’ve all sold. This one is rare and might bring the price. Has the 394, since it’s the 4 barrel carb.
My Dad had a ‘69 Travelette with the short box. Absolutely amazing how sharp it would turn. It was a good truck but was awful thirsty. Didn’t seem to matter if it was loaded or empty. I would like to find another one.
This one: I’m sure that’s a 392 as the only 345 with a 4bbl was in a Scout. You can find out everything you want to know about this truck by accessing the ‘Line-Setting information or getting a full Line-Set ticket. That’s the truck’s DNA, and you will find everything but the names of the assembly line workers (the IRS probably already knows that.) You may even be lucky enough to find the original pasted to the outside of the glove box.
Someone replaced the original Holley carb with a Thermoquad, which I don’t care for. A Holley 600 4bbl will wake this up real good. It will be running either a Holley or a Prestolite distributor. You can rejuvenate either with a Pertronix conversion or shell out the big bucks for a GM HEI distributor.
You’ll be running a Chrysler 727 transmission. Binder used a Warner Gear unit “forever,” or at least from 1954 till 1972. Very little wrong with the Warner unit other than it was getting outdated.
Body patches and floor panels are on the market, and so are replacement gas tanks.
All in all, this looks pretty good. I certainly cannot justify the price but that’s a matter of staying within my means. I’m sure there’s someone who is willing to give it a good home…
Believe it or not the international pickups and travel hauls are bring8ng the money these days. They would be what you would call the Mopar of trucks!
departed from Driggs, going to Yellowstone in January to snowmobile I can recommend that trip for a great time in an UNCROWDED park, only snow machines allowed that tie of year. Driggs is a beautiful place