I’ve always had a soft spot for the Toyota Stout, which was one size larger than the more common Hi-Lux range. Sort of a foreshadowing of their T-100 two decades later. And it looked quite different than the Hi-Lux. It always reminded me of something, but couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Then I was looking at some old International C-Series truck ads, and came across pictures of the fairly rare ’61 – ’62 version, with the concave grille and quad headlights. Yes; that’s what it’s been wanting to tell me.
The answer to my headline question is obviously not, as this generation Stout appeared two years after the C-Series. More like little brother, with a strong familial resemblance. More: the International C-Series also came in a 900/Compact version, with a six foot bed, a wheelbase one inch shorter than the Toyota, and 93 hp four cylinder (from the Scout), a real Toyota preview of coming attractions:
Oddly, it seems that the US-built 900 only came in a flareside bed. And it was a poor seller, so it was ditched after its second year. Just in time for the Japanese pickup onslaught.
But the Canada-built version, called Compact, came with a sweptline bed. An it came out in ’61, while the US 900 arrived in ’63.
I’d totally forgotten about the four-cylinder 900. Nothing like hanging out with some serious ‘binder lovers to refresh the memory banks.
Naturally, the American truck looks bulkier.
The early 80s Buick LeSabre and Dodge St. Regis could also just as easily have been the same car.
Yep, there is a 900 in Dallas OR I used to see regularly. Always liked the idea of it.
Dont recall seeing any small IH trucks but Toyota Stouts were still around in Southern Tassie while I was there.
The IH are not that small, likewise I don’t think you would have seen these with less than an 8-10′ flat bed tray, pickup bodies weren’t popular for this size vehicle. There were (actually, still are!) lots of them on farms and even as rural fire service trucks.
My uncle has a Stout like the one above, my (imperfect) memory tells me they were 1-ton rated and the very rare Hilux 1.5 or 2 ton – still with a sub-2L petrol engine so its got to be a short slow trip.
Something that looks a bit closer to the more rounded IH C series is the Isuzu Wasp, which is similart to the Studebaker Champ in that it used the front half of a sedan body for the cab. As with all 1960’s Isuzu’s there aren’t a lot of them around.
only ever seen a wasp once and I was sure it was a cut down Bellet
Bryce, I think we’re the only two guys on here who know what a Bellet is. Never imported into the US, only tiny numbers imported to Canada. My Aunt had one. Would be a good CC target if I could ever find one…
Ah yes, the Canadian IH pickup. Another soft spot for me, since my dear Ma D used to work at IH’s massive and long gone Hamilton operation.
I’ve read that these trucks were made in Hamilton, but I suspect that they were made at the Chatham plant (formerly Navistar and now gone as well). Any cornbinder experts know for sure??
Seems like the serial number tag on Canadian ones says Hamilton (head office) but the assembly line was Chatham.
Also love that 93.4 horsepower rating on the 4 cyl motor. You’re really grasping at straws when you need that .4 horsepower!
Great picture Doug. I love vintage assembly line photos.
That IH. painted in a nice forest green, seems just the thing for saturday morning errands like a run to fetch warm bagels, trip to the nursery for the wife’s garden or a quick trip to the supermarket — well, not really quick, but deliberate and totally satisfying.
I would totally love one of those!
If the four cylinder sucked gas like the IH scout I drove, I don’t see it as that economical. BTW, my hats off to you. I liked the cornbinders. Drive one now (sort of – it’s a tractor) and I never heard of either of these.
My father had a 1964 International 900 pickup. It was pale yellow with the gray interior that iirc was the only interior color available on that series. I drove it quite a bit when it was almost new and got pretty familiar with it. It wasn’t as buzzy as a Scout (but NOTHING is as buzzy as a Scout) and got down the road fairly well. I remember razzing him about the huge, heavy four-banger, suggesting that a small-block Chevy would easily fit in there and weigh less. I remember having a problem with it – on starting it in the morning it would be difficult to shift into first or reverse without grinding the gears. I took it back to the dealer – they pulled the transmission, took off the top cover, and there was clearly nothing wrong in there. Incidentally I was surprised at how small the tranny was – about as big as a two-slice toaster. I finally decided that the clutch slave cylinder was leaking a little bit – sure enough if I pumped the clutch pedal a couple of times in the morning, no problem. The truck gave Pop good service – it lasted into the 130,000-mile range under his “if it will move itself, don’t mess with it” maintenance policy (which in fairness to him just meant that maintenance money went first to the bulldozers, backhoes, and dump trucks that were making money for him.)
Found this video of a 900… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0ciQxVdjPY
I love the kid and dog in the bed of the truck. I used to ride in the back of Grandpa’s ’53 Chevy pickup, but his dogs was always rode in the cab. Both human and unrestrained canine cargo are now unlawful in California.