This shot of a fine old Travelall from the ’60s still at work (posted by Tim Finn) really shows how different the world was in the 60s: Trucks were all trying to be as low and car-like as possible. In the case of these Internationals, a bit too much so; it looks like its been channeled a bit (lowered on the frame). It’s not, but don’t look at it too long, as it’s going to start looking odder the longer you stare at it. In a good way, of course…
A big, no nonsense hauler with superb space utilization, perfectly proportioned for the job. However, these functional, space efficient designs have never seem to be a big hit with the public. Ford tried this with the Flex a few years back, with indifferent results. Ditto the boxy Jeep Commander. I think many say they value utility and function, but when it comes time to buy they are lured in by the sexy styles of the day.
Even when these things were still occasionally seen on the road I thought the greenhouse was too tall and the beltline too low. The 1969 version fixed those visual faults, at least in my eyes. I like these but I love the later ones.
I wouldn’t say that trucks were trying to be a low and car like as possible, just some versions of them. This is the 1000 version of the Travelall with the TRW designed torsion bar IFS and a frame that was significantly shorter than used on the traditional I beam equipped 1100 versions. Between the shorter frame and IFS the 1000 sits a good 3″+ lower than the 1100 versions.
These have always seemed to have a sort of missing link to Studebaker. I guess it’s the rear wheel character line, among other cues.
This is how they’re supposed to look, too, with lots of big clear glass. I’ve seen people mod Travelalls and old Suburbans in keeping with modern SUV trends – blacked-out glass, wide tires and butched-up trim – and it destroys a lot of charm.
Wasn’t this generation of IH truck basically factory-channeled? As in, they took their existing 1958 cab (and wagon) tooling and put in a new floor that lowered it on the chassis, or maybe a new double-dip chassis?
Back in the 1960s, the only truck-based suburban-type vehicles I saw were the Chevy/GMC Suburban, International Travelall and Jeep Wagoneer.
Wonder why Ford and Dodge never marketed a suburban type vehicle.
Dodge offered the ancient Town Wagon through the mid 60s but never replaced it. I will never understand this either.
Especially when now know they offered them in other countries.
I remember driving around with my parents in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with almost everybody driving low-beltline vehicles like this one.
You could see quite a long way, right through every car in front of you! I miss that. No illegal window tint back then either.
The reason that this looks so low is that it is a rear wheel drive version. The 4 wheel drive versions sat higher.
No the reason it is so low is because it is a 1000 (1/2ton IFS) series 2wd. The 1100 (1/2 ton straight axle) series 2wd sits a good 3″ higher while the 4wd version would sit a good 6″ higher. 1200 (3/4 ton) versions would add another inch or so to those 1100 numbers.
I was kind of trying to say what you did but you clearly know your stuff.
I always liked the no nonsense, businesslike demeanor of the IH Travelalls. These were SUVs before anybody had a name for them, and way, way before they became the go-to vehicles of today`s middle class suburbanites.
These weren’t uncommon back in the day – and even later. I worked with a guy in the late ‘70’s who had this gen Travelall, and later in the ‘90’s worked with a guy who had the previous gen with the stacked quads. Plus at least two acquaintances with Scout II’s. By comparison over the next few decades at much larger companies, I recall just one colleague with an Escalade, and one with an Expedition. Not really statistically meaningful, just my own experience.
In the small farming town where I grew up it wasn’t uncommon to see combined dealerships. Not Chevrolet-Buick or Chrysler-Plymouth. That was for city dealers.
In the hinterlands it was Plymouth – Oliver or Chevrolet – Massey Ferguson. One of the weirder ones was Gambles-Buick.
International & Ford dealers had it made in these towns. A single franchise could cover the needs of their predominantly farming clientele.
Say what you will about the styling, Cornbinders like this were were considered more stylish than Ramblers or Plymouths of the early 60s.