Vehicle Description
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1974 International Wagonmaster �-ton 4�4 Pickup
Long term ownership between two Oklahoma International
collectors
One of the last Wagonmasters (6/74) built before model ceased
production in 1974
Factory-built four-door pick-up based on the more familiar
wagon-style Travelall
Very limited production made during the 1973 and 1974 model years
(extremely few produced in'74)
4�4 Wagonmaster, most were produced in 2WD and marketed as a tow
rig
Comanche 392 CID V-8 engine with a four-barrel carburetor
Borg-Warner four-speed manual transmission
Dana 44 front axle with a full-float Dana 60 rear axle with
two-speed New Process transfer case
8 lug hubs and wheels
Dark Green exterior with russet plaid interior from an
International Scout Traveler
Power steering and power brakes
60" bed on 119-inch wheelbase and 7,700 GVWR
Quiet ride with Dynamat in the floor and headliner
Debuting almost 30 years before Chevrolet's Avalanche,
International-Harvester employees "accidentally" created a
four-door pickup truck in the early to mid-1970s. MotoeXotica is
proud to present this true unicorn from the International Binder
world, a 1974 International Wagonmaster �-ton 4�4 Pickup. Only
2,000 or less of these were produced in 1973 and 1974 and less than
500 in 1974 alone and some Binder fans and other people initially
mistake the Wagonmaster for a Travelette.
The 1974 Wagonmaster is extremely sought after by collectors
because it is one of the rarest production International trucks
ever produced! In fact, this Wagonmaster comes from Oklahoma where
it was owned long term by two International collectors (Previous
owner is the president of the SouthWest Scouts of Oklahoma Club).
Less than 500 were produced in 1974 but very few of those 500 were
optioned with the factory 4�4, 4 speed manual transmission and a
392 V8 such as this particular truck.
According to John Glancy of Scout Light Line and Super Scout
Specialists, the Wagonmaster was an idea that came from line
workers at the Springfield factory. International's August 21, 1972
announcement read, "The Wagonmaster combines automobile-type
styling and comfort with the durability and trailering capabilities
of International's popular Travelall wagon. Its design features a
five-foot pickup-type bed behind the roomy six-person passenger
compartment."
As on of the last Wagonmaster Pickups built in International's
Springfield, Ohio factory on June 11, 1974, this Wagonmaster has a
dark green exterior that is in overall very good order with only
minor blemishes visible at close range. Its bodywork is straight
and has the hard to find emblems intact, the engine bay is
extremely tidy, the battery appears new and the bumpers are in
great condition. In addition, Dynamat has been installed in the
floorboards, within the doors and in the headliner; the truck is
reportedly very quiet during highway driving.
This Wagonmaster wears 265/75R16 tires at all four corners. Each
tire surrounds a 8 lug chrome, vented wheel. All tires and wheels
are in very good order.
Under the forward-hinged hood is a Comanche 392 CID V-8 engine with
a four-barrel carburetor mated to a Borg-Warner four-speed manual
transmission. This is a Wagonmaster 4�4 pickup truck with a
two-speed New Process transfer case with a Dana 44 front axle and a
full-float Dana 60 fear axle complete the four-wheel drive setup
underneath. Driver convenience features include power steering and
power brakes.
Inside, the interior is upgraded with russet plaid interior from an
International Scout Traveler and it really makes this truck very
handsome. The seats are in great condition, while the deluxe black
carpet is in great condition. The headliner and the original
three-spoke steering wheel are also in good shape. The tan
instrument panel with a full array of gauges and the inner door
panels are in good original order. In addition, Dynamat has been
installed in the floorboards, within the doors and in the
headliner; the Wagonmaster for being a large vintage truck, drives
pretty quietly in the cab during highway driving.
It came with standard, Deluxe or Custom interior and exterior trim
levels. The Deluxe and Custom interiors shared the same color-coded
nylon or vinyl seats, tinted glass, padded door trim and headliner
and some miscellaneous bric-a-brac. Custom added full carpeting,
extra interior lighting, dual horns and a few other goodies. A/C
was optional. Outside, both the Deluxe and Custom trims shared
bright trim and chrome bumpers. Deluxe came with bright hubcaps
while Custom gave you full wheel covers and woodgrain side panels.
Two-tone paint was optional.
On the surface, it was a good notion and pitched directly to the
sales department and passed for production without much engineering
review. During the long lead presentations to the auto press, the
Wagonmaster's fifth-wheel prowess was touted, but they soon found
there wasn't enough space to place a fifth-wheel hitch directly
above the rear axle. One had to mount the hitch farther aft, making
for an ungainly fifth-wheel tow rig.
An in-house marketing memo titled, "Wagonmaster Publicity
Situation," discussed the methods used to counter bad press from
that error after the motoring press had latched onto the issue. In
normal circumstances, most historians think the Wagonmaster would
have survived the embarrassment. Unfortunately, by the early to
mid-1970s, International's light trucks weren't selling; the
Wagonmaster did not last through the 1974 model year and the rest
of I-H's pickups were discontinued in 1975.
Competition to this Wagonmaster in 1974 included Chevrolet's
K-series Blazer, pickups and Suburbans, Ford's F-series and Bronco,
Dodge's D-series and GMC's K-series Jimmy, pickups and
Suburbans.
If you're on the hunt for a rare and very collectible International
that most other collectors will not have, you need to look no
further than this unicorn of a truck, our 1974 4�4 I-H Wagonmaster.
With so few produced, it's highly unlikely you'd ever see another
opportunity to buy one.
Vehicle is located in Missouri, USA. Bidder/Buyer is responsible
for pickup or shipping from this location to wherever they want it
shipped to.
