When I was a little kid, looking out at traffic through the rear door windows, from time to time we’d draw even with a Travelall. Never one of these, that I remember; by the time I came round it was the ’60s-’70s models. At some point during that span, IH changed from cursive to block letters for the model callout, and I misread it as Travela II, “TRAV-el-uh TWO”.
No risk of that with this ’58-’60 model, for it has no Travelall callout at all. But it does have bagloads (relatively speaking) of chrome and trim and I donno, at least fifteen pieces of flair.
There is a chrome-cursive International callout, which reminds me of the chrome callout on the doors of my ’62 Dodge Lancer. And just look at that zaggy chrome lightning bolt! It stops abruptly at the trailing edge of the hood—kinda looks like that was intentional, which is a little weird—but still, even a heavy-duty workhorse like this got some of that late-’50s stardust sprinkled on it.
Quad headlamps—the very most in 1958—stacked in not just any ol’ regular ol’ normal ol’ boring ol’ transit bus-grade bezel, but a chrome surround with an eyebrow visor and attention to detail of the front surface finish.
Not too too much chrome, though; the bumper bar is white; so are the mirrors, and I think that’s appropriate. The grille looks as though its brite-dip anodising used to be nearly as sparkly as chrome. Now it’s more like the dull than the shiny side of aluminum foil, but that suits, too.
This logo is strong, thoughtfully designed, and awesome. May the ants of a thousand picnics infest the armpits of whatever dillweed put up the vapid tossed-broken-box thing they use now. Same goes for whoever spat out the present company’s lame name. International Harvester is a fine, sturdy name; say it and you can just about smell the utility and durability of the vehicles and implements they make. Now say “Navistar”. The hell do they do, provide internet service? Collect garbage? Track consumers’ browsing and spending habits?
These white wheels are just about exactly right. The hubcaps remind me of the basic-equipment items on Dodges and Plymouths of the late ’60s: adequate and sensible. My knees object to the low placement of the gasoline filler, even though I don’t even have to fuel this beast. Good job, that; as I write this regular gas here is up to C$2.17, or US$6.38 per US gallon. Yee!
There’s another white bumper here, a sturdy one with an inbuilt step and trailer hitch. There’s also—glory be!—a full perimeter rain rail. Let’s zoom in on some more of that stardust…
…and take a gander at the taillight. Another chrome eyebrow surround like the headlamp ones up front, cool, and see how much design and styling went into that lens!
I don’t think I’d want to own one of these, but I would like a ride in one. I bet it sounds just as right as it looks.
I had two engineer colleagues who owned Travelalls, one of this gen in the ‘90’s; one of the following gen in the late ‘70’s. Both owners were about my age so in each case it was a little unusual. I’ve ridden in both but have no strong memories. The only IH I’ve driven is a Scout II.
Great cornfield Cadillac, made when International Harvester produced good stuff. Now Navistar has been acquired by Traton essentially merging two companies who failed miserably in the diesel emissions circus. Truly a sad chapter from a once proud American industrial leader.
I wonder how long the Navistar-GM hookup will last before the LS V8 finds its’ way into ever larger commercial trucks in advance of a switch to natural gas.
Been thinking that myself. Navistar is offering a ressurected Chevy Big Block running on gasoline or propane in school buses. Most of their diesels come from Cummins these days, but they do offer a U.S. manufactured MAN diesel in their larger trucks.
This is Traton’s brand new “world engine”, introduced last November, developed by Scania and MAN. Already offered by Scania, called the DC13 engine (12.7 liter displacement, SCR-only).
No doubt it will be under the hood of heavy Navistar tractors soon enough.
Yes, and they recently announced expansions to their Huntsville plant to accommodate the new engines:
https://news.navistar.com/2022-04-20-Navistar-Prepares-Huntsville-Plant-for-Powertrain-Production
Thanks for the link! Just for information, a 460 hp Scania with the new engine won a recent comparison test (vs Volvo and MAN). A typical trans-European 40 tons (88,185 lbs) semi got 8.7 mpg on average. It’s called the “1,000 points test”.
https://www.scania.com/group/en/home/newsroom/press-releases/press-release-detail-page.html/4183047-scania-super-wins-prestigious-1000-points-test
Holy mother’s day (the actual day here), you opened a rabbit hole. I had no idea what a Traton was – one might assume it was a cheap monster villain in some animated sci-fi series – but it turns out to be VW truck, including MAN and Navistar. Took me a while to work that out, you know.
As a complete digression, there’s a Christian Porsche on the Traton Board. He has a doctorate in medicine, and one in biology, so they call him “Dr. Dr. Porsche”. Turns out that when I’ve showered made-up accolades on our Editor here, “Dr. Dr.” isn’t silly or amusing at all- even though, of course, it is!
Excuse me, that would be Herr Dr.Dr. Porsche then.
This being the crew bus version (or just a panel truck with some but not the whole set of extra windows) it’s not quite as dramatic as the fully glazed Travelall which, in contrast to the blacked-out rolling light sinks that dominate the fullsize SUV segment today is nicely see-through – thin pillars, no tint and no headrests along with a relatively low ride height especially on the then-more common 2wd models meant that someone in a normal-sized car behind it could scan traffic ahead of the Travelall by looking between its’ occupants and through its’ windshield!
I agree that the fully-windowed Travelall was a well-designed vehicle, with that airy greenhouse and thin pillars. This is my favorite Travelall ad, both for the illustration, and for the prescient tagline of “Here’s the successor to the station wagon!”
Even in a brown crew-cab version, this is still a great-looking vehicle.
Our neighbor was a sales manager for the local IH dealer. They mainly sold tractors and farm implements. As the sales manager, he always had a new IH Travelall for a demo. I recall him trying to persuade my dad he should order one back about the time this one was new. While not the sexiest choice out there, it sure would have been nicer than the Rambler American he eventually bought.
BTW, those hubcaps do look like standard issue MOPAR. Wheels too.
Twist those vertical headlight stacks so they’re horizontal, et voila, you’ve created the Checker Station Wagon.
The belt line trim was typical of a dividing line for two tone paint. I really wonder if this truck was two tone when new?
This panel truck model probably wasn’t, but the windowed Travelall (and even the Travelette crew cab pickup) certainly could be.
Very nice survivor. I’d proudly drive it.
Great article and photography as usual Daniel, thank you! Great the way you focus on so many interesting details. I do hope the owner might be planning a repaint in a more cheerful period correct colour!
That zig zag side molding is evocative of a 1956 Mercury.
I believe this generation of IH light trucks was known as the ‘B’ series. The updated ‘C’ series the followed used a lot of ‘B’ sheetmetal and the greenhouse, but featured a drop-center chassis, new front clip (initially with horizontal quad headlights), and a flat floor with no step wells. Similar to what an old hot rodder would call a channelling job! Interesting IH spent the money as the ‘B’ series was not all that out of date by 1961. The result certainly made a good looking truck more contemporary, enough so that it lasted through 1968.
And all popular in NZ and Australia as the basis for ambulances.
Fond memories of the 1965 4×4 version in Air Force blue. I was stationed in Germany in the mid ’60’s and our missile shop had a brand new IH Travelall along with two Dodge Power Wagons, older and well used. The Power Wagons saw daily use between the missile storage area and the flightline, but our NCOIC kind of kept the IH close to the shop as much as he could- it being brand new and all.
I actually learned to drive in the IH. I arrived in Germany never having driven or had a license- almost un-american, and a situation that had to be corrected. A Staff Sergeant was assigned as instructor. As these vehicles were 4×4 and manual, I got the full course.
Those are the Mopar “poverty” caps on this. I have the exact oes on my 66 Sport Fury
The closer I look, the righter you are.
That low ride height was a boon to us utility company workers. And farmers too, as you could reach over into the middle of the bed. The bed being lower, was easier to load with the correspondingly lower end gate. I’m 6ft tall and stuff in the bed of my Tradesman is often out of reach. It’s taller being 4wd but find a two wheel drive truck on any lot today.
That panel truck is a distinctive look. The B and C generation are getting rare. My local Binder emporium only had D series trucks and a 1941 KB on hand although the one Travelall is definitely CC worthy with loads of options https://www.406garage.com/product-page/1969-international-harvester-1200-3-4-ton-4wd-travelall-1
A mate of mine bought one of these B series Travelalls it was the perfect addition to his fleet as he already had a AB120 flatdeck truck the Z trim isnt original neither are the wheels 16 inch with IH pressings in the hubcaps came on it when new.
International trucks are the only brand still assembled here under the Navistar badge, though the recent CAT brand from Australia was almost the exact same truck and even still used the C15 engines which are excellent.
Never seen this crew cab version before. Great find.
Great find and writeup. It’s always great to see Travelalls, and this one is just outstanding.
I think that’s one of the best insults I’ve ever read — and apt too for whomever the offending party is here. “International Harvester” was, in my opinion, one of the best brand names ever, not just for vehicles, but overall. Navistar, on the other hand, just resides in that big heap of forgettable names that’ll disappear from memory as soon as the corporate winds shift again.
Honestly, I’d rather a brand identity a company as a soulless corporation. Than living off nostalgia, and a long ago solid reputation earned by earlier incarnations of a company, that bears no relation to their current business model and/or products.
The IH logo is said to represent a stylized head-on view of a Farmall narrow-front (“tricycle”) farm tractor, most familiarly models H or M, or the earlier McCormick-Deering models of similar configuration. I believe Raymond Loewy has a hand in both the logo and the appearance of the the sheet metal of the immediate prewar and post war Farmalls, models A, B, C, H, and M and their “Supers” and the successor number series tractors. International marketed IH trucks, IH construction equipment and industrial tractors, Farmall and McCormick-Deering farm equipment, and IH home appliances. Later, the IH Cub Cadet lawn and garden line of tractors, mowers, snow blowers, etc., and the Scout and Scout II. For many years, International Harvester could provide about anything mechanical you would need in farm, industry, or commercial endeavors, and I am not aware of any product that they made that was not top-end quality. No product line like it nowadays, either domestic or foreign that comes to my mind. An unfortunate reality.
I remember a couple a mid 60’s ones rolling round town when I was a kid. The blue one seemed to be the one that ran the longest.
Can remember it riding about in the late late 70’s.
From a time when “International” in a company name meant “building it here, building it in other countries, and exporting to all the rest of Civilization”.
NOW, “International” in a company name means “We have it built in the most-reprehensible countries on Earth, and bring it back to the Free World”.
The high cost of labor will do that. The beatings will continue until moral improves.
In 1958 there was a campaign to eradicate malaria in Brazil, and more than 300 International Tavelall and Travelette came to the country to meet this purpose.
In 1966, I hitchhiked in one of those black Travelettes owned by Construtora Marna de Curitiba.
I never saw any again.
Well, somehow the action is documented in a vehicle manufacturer’s publication:
https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/ihc/id/48481/rec/7
I was idly contemplating this fine machine when I noticed the author saying he’d never been in one. A light came on, so I asked the kid to turn it back off – the environment, and all that – but it made me think that I HAVE been in one such vehicle. But when?
Ah! A teacher at my primary school gave me a lift home in his one time, and like any car-nut child, the memory of a vehicle is never totally forgotten, even when what I had for lunch today has been. Bingo.
It was loud and bouncy and ever so exciting. In reality, it was probably loud and bouncy and ever so wearying for long-day commercial drivers, but I wasn’t one of those at the time, so it was just a thrill.
That side trim is most annoying, now you point its unfortunate self out. Visually, it shortens an already rather tall and shortish body, and the fact it ran out of be-bothered to continue onto the bonnet just looks unfinished. It’s less lightning bolt than amateur scratch mark, really, though I’ll grant it its chromey being – at least it isn’t a fake vent in black plastic.
I like this panel truck .
My parents bought the passenger version in white over blue, I remember the headlamps very well .
These rode like trucks even when fully loaded with six screaming brats and canvas cottage tents, camping gear and so on .
-Nate
Nice find – it looks like a mis-sized Rootes product from some angles.
Here is a picture of the correct Travelall badge for A & B series Travelalls (1957-1960). From the factory, there was one on each rear quarter panel.