1960 International Travelall as a multi-purpose vehicle

[blackstone]

Dec. 16, 1960: a mid-air collision of 2 airplanes over New York City occured, with 1 of the planes landing in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn.

The reason that I found this crash to be interesting are the ambulances that I highlighted in the 1960 picture. International Travelall. The same vehicle that my father bought in 1960, and used in our business for over 30 years. We did not put a cherry on top.

Whether used for transporting patients, or delivering TVs and appliances, the Travelall was a workhorse.

 

[cfz2882]

My dad used a 1956 International 4x4 pickup 1972-78 until a valve burnt and it got parked on a farm for the next 40 yrs,but a guy has bought it and got it running on all six again International light truck engines had some "big truck"features:hard,high tin blocks,oversize water pump,helical gear timing drive.Sadly lots of IHs went to the junker with lots of good life left because parts were thought to not be avalible.

 

[rp2813]

Neighbors across the street bought a Travelall new in the early '60s.  Two tone yellow and white.  They had three boys, and that thing got used.  It was the only vehicle they ever owned until they drove off to Oregon in it about 20 years later.

 

I really like the old IH pickups with the split rear window.

 

The '60s IH logo is an image from my childhood.  On lo, those countless runs to the big Wards catalog/distribution center and multilevel retail store including bargain basement in Oakland, we'd often end up on what was then SR 17, experiencing that rhythmic riding-on-waves sensation intrinsic to the Cypress structure, the double deck viaduct that pancaked in the '89 earthquake (ask me if I was surprised).  From the lower deck the IH logo could be seen poking up from the street below into an otherwise boring, cropped view out between the two decks. 

 

Sidebar laundry reference:  the view across the other side of the roadway about 1/4 mile off was a huge red neon CLOROX atop their production facility.   The IH sign/facility was gone I think by the early '80s and the CLOROX maybe ten years later.

 

 

[appnut]

Given I was in Special Education for the visually impaired the majority of my schooling, this was one of the "short bus" vehicles that was associated with bus transportation.  After moving to the new house September of 1961, my first one was probably a 1958 or 1959 model.  The following school year, the district bought a couple more of these.  And arrived sometime in the early fall of that following year.  One of those few that was bought was also the same bus that was used by the same driver I had all 3 of my Jr. High years.  Put in the 3rd seat was like riding a wild bronking buck.  

 

[wayupnorth]

IH Scouts were more seen more here until the local dealer got caught scamming IH and several financing places trying to floorplan over and over. Ooops, didnt get away with it and franchise was dropped.

 

[tolivac]

My Dad had a Travelall in the 60's car was lost in the Rapid City flood of 1972.He bought an IH pickup to replace the Travelall.The pickup is still in use by my brother.That car was given to him when my Dad starting living in the retirement home after he sold his house.Yes,the Travelall was a good car-but at the time us kids thought it was ugly-hence our name" Uglyall"When you think of it could this car be the orig SUV?And soccer Mom car?Was also used to haul us kids for school activities and for Dad taking us hunting.Could haul harvested Deer with no problems-esp the Black Hills "Muleies" which were larger than East Coast deer.

 

[blackstone]

Great for appliance delivery

The Travelall had a very low tailgate, making it very easy to load appliances, even refrigerators. We never had the 3rd seat; as kids, we would just sit on the rear wheel well inside. When my father got the Travelall, I was 5, so I had enough headroom to walk around inside it.

Of course, the reason for the low tailgate was due to the fact that the gas tank was up front, underneath the 2nd seat. Probably not the safest place to have it.

 

[arbilab]

Buddy and I managed to get his Scout hopelessly stuck, twice.  Oh, and once forgot to lock the hubs before putting it in low-low and twisted the axle off.  All in good fun, back in those days.