Not many of these International Travelettes appear at the Cohort, or elsewhere. So let’s briefly highlight this find by William Oliver; a workhorse in running condition, apparently sitting in some kind of vintage car lot. It has faded paint, a rather straight body, and a few odd mods that are bearable. Just the kind of find we cherish at CC.
As told in a previous CC, the Travelette was the ‘proto double cab pickup,’ way before that was fashionable. Introduced in 1957, the Travelette had a long first run before getting a makeover in 1969 with the rest of International’s Light Duty trucks.
Mechanically, the Travelette shared much company hardware, particularly with the Travelall, International’s proto SUV. Engine-wise, choices were a 238 CID 6-cyl., and an option of a 304 CID, 345 CID, or 392 CID V-8. Power ranged from 136 hp to 178 hp in the V-8s. The model would remain in production with minor updates until 1975.
International’s production had been wavering throughout the ’60s, and the ’70s would be the final decade for its line of light-duty trucks. It’s been almost 50 years since that date, and I still see a few of International’s old products working to this day. A testament to their quality and straightforward nature? Or the work of devoted owners?
Further reading:
CC Capsule: 1964 International Travelette – The Proto Double-Cab Pickup
Curbside Classic: 1965 International Travelall 4×4 – The Suburban Of Its Day
Nice find, this would be a 1969 or 1970 based on the grille and 1200 badge. For 1971 they changed the grille to a bright aluminum unit, separated the model badge from the marker light and changed the designation on said badge from 1200 to 1210 for the “3/4 ton” models.
The only modification this one has is the front bumper. The rear bumper is the optional checker plate step unit, the mirrors are the optional Jr West Coast mirrors. The use of the standard pickup tail lights and side marker lights in simple sheet metal brackets were how IH did it on the step side beds from the factory.
Beautiful honest truck and a lovely example.Been seeing a few of these in New Jersey lately. Almost as odd as the Sterling Bullet from 10 years or so ago.
I saw and even photographed a stepside IH pickup curbside yesterday, that old CC Effect, but it was two generations older, not a Travellete, and while it was nicely restored, I far prefer the working look of this red one in Canada (?).
Love my Binders. Only International would label a truck this size a “…ette!” I like going to the “light line” catalog to find parts for my 1 ton.
Flxible’s “Flxette” bus was even larger. Basically looked like a standard intercity transit bus with the section aft of the center/rear side door chopped off.
The Air Force bought hundreds of these “crew cab” IH trucks for a multitude of uses. IH benefited from the Cold War as a typical SAC base with both bombers and ICBMs like had 100 of these trucks for alert crews and missile field use. We had them in Security Police for crew change vehicles (anywhere from 15 to 20 crews) at 5 Minuteman ICBM bases and some Titan bases as well. They dated from 1964 to the late 1970s when IH ceased production of them. They were also used by flightline and missile field maintenance crews as well. They were still in use in 1978 when I was stationed at Grand Forks AFB, ND.
As a little boy I had a book about the IH pickup factory, with punch-out 3d IH pickup models. I don’t know if it was a promotional thing or a regular bookstore book. If it was promotional I have no idea where I would have gotten it, as, my family was distinctly not the pickup driving type, with out Saab 95 2 stroke wagon.
I love this. I cannot see any possible way something like that could be a part of my life, but I love it anyway. I always found that final series of International pickups to be quite handsome. This example is amazingly well preserved.
International must have just been kicking itself in the ’80s and ’90s, watching as the light truck and SUV market exploded just after they abandoned it.
Speaking of Air Force trucks, the US Government used to have sealed bid auctions on surplus vehicles and equipment.
In the early 1970’s, my Dad bought two 1965 Ford F100 short bed stepsides through those auctions…..former US Air Force trucks.
One did not run….turned out that all it needed was a carburetor rebuild…..He drove one for several years, then took it off the road and used it as a parts source for the second truck.
We had a ’72 version in the early and mid 90s, a 1 ton with the long smooth side bed, in a weird yellow-green metallic color. It pulled a horse trailer well with it’s 345 V8, but rode so hard you could tell a filter from non-filter butt if you rolled over one, and was a bear to park due to the extreme length. Had it repainted in that odd color, and some years later after trading it for a 3/4 ton Dodge saw it still at work for a landscaper, you couldn’t kill those things!