1953 International Truck

Description

This 1953 International is the kind of truck that'll have people doing double-takes all day. One, most folks have probably never seen one, and two, it manages to keep its trucky personality while getting a nice dose of comfort and convenience features, not to mention a great-running Chevy V8.

International gave their trucks a distinctive look that fans will recognize instantly. The low, wide grille would endure for almost two decades, setting these trucks apart from their more common competitors. International Harvesters were built as tools, but someone found the beauty in the design and covered it in burgundy metallic paint that makes it look far more upscale than its original price tag would indicate. Most of the trim was painted to match the body, including the grille and bumpers, but almost all the original components are still in place, right down to the cool release handles on either side of the unusual lift-off hood. The dramatic wood bed features a built-in tool box that hides a fuel cell inside, plus a matching tailgate with a big International emblem on it, leaving no doubt as to what kind of pickup this is. Other trick details include the split rear window, a rear roll pan, and tri-bar fog lamps up front, just ahead of the mesh grille. There's not a lot of bright trim, but the stuff it carries, like the IH emblem on the grille, the side mirrors, running board step plates, and the door handles are all in surprisingly good shape after all these years.

No factory International Harvester in history was as comfortable and luxurious as the cab in this awesome pickup. With a pair of handsome gray buckets from a late-model, a fabricated center console, and carpets on the floors, it's plush and quiet instead of crude and workmanlike as it was originally. The original dash and steering wheel are in place, and that long shifter lever was probably part of the package when it was new, but is now cleverly adapted to a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission. White-faced Auto Meter gauges are set into a genuine wood instrument panel that matches the bed, and there are custom enclosures under the dash for both the Vintage Air A/C system and the AM/FM/CD stereo head unit. A custom center console features a padded arm rest and a pair of cup holders, and getting behind the wheel of this truck actually feels quite modern, not ancient.

Lift off the hood and you'll find a nicely-dressed 350 cubic inch Chevy V8 for motive power. Nothing exotic, just reliable horsepower that's easy to service and with plentiful parts everywhere you go. An Edelbrock 4-barrel carb and intake live up top, along with chrome valve covers and air cleaner, plus a big aluminum radiator up front. A custom front clip from Fatman Fabrication offers power rack-and-pinion steering, a coil-over suspension, and disc brakes so it tracks straight and true on the highway and feels very polished at speed. Out back there's a Chevy 10-bolt rear end hanging on what might be the original leaf springs, and a custom dual exhaust system was fabbed up to give it a muscular soundtrack. Classic steel wheels with International hubcaps and trim rings, plus fat Goodyear radials, give it an understated yet undeniably muscular stance.

An unusual pickup that becomes something altogether unique with a few tasteful upgrades. We know International fans love their trucks, so this is a rare opportunity to get a well-built machine that you won't see at every show. Call today!