Old Trucks From Up North: 1960 International B112 vs 1964 Ford Econoline

Old trucks never die; they just run like crap and drive you nuts trying to trace a wiring short. Oh wait, no–that’s just my old truck. Today’s old trucks both run just fine. They’re both from up north in Minnesota, but are surprisingly not rusted out.

Yesterday we looked at two cars with T-tops, and once again I was surprised by the outcome. I expected the Camaro to win, despite having sat for a while, just because of its V8 and manual transmission. The comments seemed to be in its favor as well, but in the end, the Nissan Pulsar won by a few dozen votes.

You can definitely count me on Team Pulsar here. I’ve never really warmed to the fourth-generation Camaros and Firebirds; they’re too bulbous. I like the sharp-edged third-generation ones better. Besides, I already have a car with a big V8. I don’t really need another one.

“Fixing up” an old vehicle can mean a lot of things: some cars just need a little refreshing to bring them back to life, others have some rust that needs repairing, and others need absolutely everything. I’ve never tackled a “needs everything” project, and I doubt I ever will. I like the idea of keeping a car’s patina but bringing it back to life mechanically. The sellers of these two trucks seem to have the same idea, and have kept their “just pulled out of the back forty” appearance, but gone through all the systems to get them running and driving. Let’s check them out.

1960 International-Harvester B112 – $3,000

Engine/drivetrain: 240 cubic inch OHV inline 6, four-speed manual, RWD

Location: up near Walker, MN

Odometer reading: unknown

Operational status: Runs and drives, but brakes need a little help

These days, if you want a full-size truck, you go to Chevy, GMC, Ford, or Dodge (sorry, Ram), or if you’re a little more daring, maybe Toyota or Nissan. Once upon a time, however, there was another serious player in the truck market: International-Harvester. International made a full line of trucks, from basic half-ton pickups all the way up through the big guys. This style, the B series, was only built for a couple of years, making this a pretty rare truck, even among Internationals.

International offered its Black Diamond overhead-valve inline sixes in a couple of different sizes; I’m guessing based on the horsepower rating listed on the build tag that this is the larger 240 cubic inch version. It’s backed by a four-speed manual, probably with a “granny” first gear. The seller tuned it up, replaced the fuel pump and filter, and now it runs just fine. The brake lines have been replaced too, but the system still needs some bleeding.

Cars in general were a lot more Spartan in 1960, but trucks were even more so. There’s nothing in here except the controls necessary to operate it. Someone added a tachometer–held on to the steering column with a muffler clamp, nice touch–and what I assume is either an oil pressure gauge or a temperature gauge. The bench seat is probably toast under that cover, but it’s easy enough to replace with a seat from something else.

It’s impressively rust-free for a sixty-five-year-old truck from Minnesota. Yeah, there’s some, but I would expect the bottom third of it to have the structural integrity of a lace doily by now. The left front fender and bumper are pushed in a bit, but I think that just adds character. Like a lot of old farm trucks, it has a flatbed with wooden stake sides in place of a steel bed. It makes some chores easier, and others harder, but it looks perfect on a truck like this.

1964 Ford Econoline 100 – $5,000

Engine/drivetrain: 144 or 170 cubic inch OHV inline 6, three-speed manual, RWD

Location: near Hanover, MN

Odometer reading: unknown

Operational status: Runs and drives well

The original Ford Econoline was part of the Falcon compact lineup, and designed to compete with the Volkswagen van, along with the Chevy Corvair van. While those two have their engines under the floor in the rear, the Econoline houses its inline six up front, between and just behind the front seats, a layout that would later be copied by both Chevy and Dodge for their vans.

In 1964, the Econoline was available with one of two inline sixes, and I have no idea which one this one has. I do know that it’s backed by a three-speed manual with a shifter on the column. The seller says it runs very well, and it has a new exhaust, tires, and brakes. It hasn’t been registered since 2009, though, so it’s probably worth checking everything else out before slapping plates on it and hitting the road.

It’s a panel van, so there’s nothing but sheetmetal from the seats back, and for some reason it has been painted in several different colors inside. It did live through the second half of the ’60s and the entirety of the 7’0s, though, and who knows what things it may have seen in that time? It has cool diamond-tufted seats up front, and some excellent period-correct JC Whitney doodads, including a wood-rimmed Grant steering wheel and a big chrome barefoot gas pedal. It includes lots of parts in the back, including the original steering wheel, if you prefer it.

It’s mostly in primer outside, and there is a little rust, but overall it’s solid. The seller says the frame and floors are in good shape as well, and what we can see in the photos confirms that. I love the slotted mag wheels on it. You could leave it in primer, or you could hand it over to an artist friend and let them create an epic mural on the side.

Honestly, most of the time, I couldn’t care less how a car looks. Dull paint? Dents? Rust? Don’t care. I do, however, want cars to run and drive properly, so these two appeal to me. If they really do run as well as the sellers claim, they could be fun vehicles to bomb around in. So what’ll it be: the farm truck, or the Scooby-Doo van?