I don’t even know where to start. Literally. Do you talk about how this is a fully intact 1949 International KB 6 with its original engine? Do we start with the amazing van body that makes this thing look like nothing else we have ever seen? Maybe start with the sheer awesomeness of the fact that it is a tandem axle chassis which automatically makes it neat. I’m flabbergasted and if you love old trucks we’re guessing you are as well.
The body is not fully enclosed which is kind of a deception because from the side view you are expecting to have the whole back in closed in like a delivery van. Instead it had an open section in the center. Why? My understanding is that these trucks used to haul huge spools of wire through the oil fields and those spools would be released in a controlled manner through the back of the truck. You’ll notice that the passenger seat in the truck faces backwards towards some levers and circular handles those would have been used to control the speed of the spool we are guessing. We KNOW someone out there in BangShift land knows the deal on this so we’ll sit back and listen.
The seller of the truck seems to have a really awesome knowledge of old Internationals and he apparently has a collection of some 250 cars and trucks so you KNOW he is hardcore. The engine turns over but does not run and the seller estimates that it has something like 106,000 miles on it. These old gas engines were built like anvils and unless there was a failure in the huge and heavy valve train, we’re guessing a couple of quick oil changes to flush out the crud and some marvel mystery oil in the holes and you’ll have yourself a chugging IH engine. The transmission is a five speed (a Clark maybe?) that is backed up with a three speed auxiliary transmission as well. Top speed is still going to be well below highway cruising “temperature”.
Would you do what we’d do and have the back enclosed, the engine swapped for something cool like a Caterpillar and turn this thing into the baddest little RV you’ve ever seen? We wish!
eBay Link: 1949 International KB6 Tandem Axle Van
That old girl is pretty stylish, almost ‘art deco’ era. Obviously this would make some kind of a rocking motor home conversion or vehicle carrier
I’ll take it! (And the Ramcharger sitting next to it!)
Yes – an art deco motorhome would be the only way forward. Lose the dualies on the rear axle and stick a turbo and EFI on that original motor then use the open rear end to house a classic Harley.
$ 22k for that POS.
Another dreamer.
The perfect ramp truck starter. The price is about double what I would pay, but I sure would like that beauty in my shop!
After it\’s all finished-out, put a nice laminated walnut floor in the back, and als a canvas roll-back top on it, then you could hire it our for weddings, etc., where a party of 8 could enjoy top-down motoring. Truly, the most unique ride in town!
Brian, I imagining you pulling into Jack and Tom’s school to drop them off and scaring the Billy Geebus out of the minivan set.
I thought I posted this a few days ago but apparently not. That is called a wire line truck.
The open van body is for giant spools of wire (10 ft in diameter) modern trucks have a steel cover that folds like a tonneau… I’m sure this truck originally had a canvas top
They are used for a variety of reasons…. in Fracking they use wire line to send explosives down hole to fracture the rock before they hydro-frac it
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireline_(cabling)