BF Auction: 1959 International Harvester A-100
- Seller: Sylvan K
- Location: Dayton, Washington
- Mileage: 0 Shown
- Chassis #: A100SA120242
- Title Status: Clean
Some project candidates offer a world of possibilities if an enthusiast lets their imagination off the leash. Such is the case with this 1959 International Harvester A-100 Series Pickup. Its solid and relatively complete nature marks it as a prime candidate for a faithful restoration. However, pursuing the custom, ratrod, or restomod path could be equally tempting. There is little doubt that whichever option the winning bidder chooses, the finished product could turn heads wherever it goes. The owner is clearing an estate, electing to list this classic with us at Barn Finds Auctions. It’s located in Dayton, Washington, and will need to be picked up by mid to late October.
The owner located this Pickup in a dry barn in Walla Walla, Washington. It had occupied that spot for decades and has only recently seen the light of day again. The storage conditions must have been virtually ideal because this classic hasn’t suffered unduly from the experience. The tow truck operator who dragged the vehicle to its current location remarked on how solid this Pickup is, with any corrosion limited to the surface variety. There is no known steel penetration, meaning the buyer can leave their grinder and welder safely tucked away in their cupboard for this build. Pursuing a frame-off approach would seem worthwhile to ensure the Inter stays solid for decades, and I won’t be surprised if that is the path the winning bidder follows. What impresses me most is the lack of physical wear and tear in the supplied photos. The panels are remarkably straight, but the bed could be the highlight. It shows none of the significant bumps or bruises typically seen on vehicles of this type. The Pickup is missing its driver’s door glass, but the remaining pieces look free from problems. A thief helped themselves to the badges while the Inter was in storage, but locating replacements shouldn’t be challenging.
The owner confirms that this Pickup was driven into storage, but many years have passed since. Its engine bay houses a six-cylinder powerplant, although it is unknown which of the three variants offered by International in 1959 it is. The entry-level motor was a 221ci, producing 112hp, while the 240ci and 264ci engines delivered 141 and 154hp respectively. Shifting duties fall to a three-speed manual transmission, with International also offering an overdrive and an automatic as options. The condition of this six is unknown. However, the buyer may be able to coax it back to life if it turns freely. It is missing its air cleaner, radiator, and battery. Otherwise, it seems complete. This is also where potential bidders could broaden their options because slipping a V8 into the cavernous engine bay as part of a custom build would be straightforward. That would unleash significant performance improvements, and some may find the prospect irresistible. Preserving the exterior and following that path could make this an affordable ratrod candidate.
The same person who liberated this Pickup’s badges also helped themselves to the instrument cluster. That is disappointing, but at least they had the good grace to remove the screws and unplug everything rather than levering it out and cutting the wires. Reproduction replacement clusters are available via several suppliers, although I had no trouble locating some excellent originals via the usual auction sites for under $200. The rest of the interior is complete, and returning it to its former glory would be a straightforward and satisfying task for the new owner to undertake in a home workshop. It is worth considering if you’ve never performed an interior restoration because it is a proud moment when you step back to admire your handiwork.
Locating an affordable candidate for a project build, especially a classic Pickup, can be challenging. The ongoing popularity of these vehicles means that potential buyers will often clamor to park one in their workshop. Some of those Pickups require major metal surgery to achieve a rust-free status, but that isn’t the case with this 1959 International Harvester A-100 Series Pickup. It is the type of vehicle that would be ideal for a restoration rookie or someone preferring the DIY approach. If you have been hunting for the right Pickup, your search may be over. Achieving the dream could be a bid away.
Bid On This Auction
David Hefleybid $2,100.00 2023-10-03 09:57:47
SDL1950 bid $2,000.00 2023-10-03 09:57:17- David Hefley bid $1,700.00 2023-10-03 09:55:16
- SDL1950bid $1,600.00 2023-10-03 09:50:38
- David Hefley bid $1,400.00 2023-10-03 09:48:55
- SDL1950 bid $1,300.00 2023-10-03 09:15:33
- David Hefleybid $1,200.00 2023-09-27 11:13:46
vince bid $250.00 2023-09-25 11:57:40
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Comments
Nice D&H classics in Oklahoma may have the cluster to get this back on the road
Glad to see it up on all fours! The gauge cluster is a concern, and may be indicative of further wiring gremlins on this clean, solid hunka steel.
There’s not a whole lot of wiring on these trucks.
I have a 1960 B170, which is virtually the same truck, only bigger.
One would look around farming country for parts as pretty much everything except running gear will fit from the larger trucks.
Even the newer Loadstar series have many parts such as glass, doors, etc. that will fit.
if only she was 3/4 ton. the boss and i are on the hunt for a truck from his grandfathers’ day to make a service truck out of.
all in all she looks like a very good staring point.
Sorry, can’t be a ’59, as the B series with dual stacked headlights came out in fall of ’58. For time, I read, the A series, essentially a one year design, were built during the same time in ’58. The “A” stood for “Anniversary”, as it was IHs 50th year. I suppose it’s possible some leftover ’58s were titled as ’59s, standard practice, but I doubt it. It’s not like IH had trucks sitting around at years end. They probably sold everyone that was built. That makes this truck extremely rare. I believe this is the tried and true BD220 motor, about 110 hp, and adequate for the time. The gauges are no biggie, even aftermarket, but and update in power is clearly needed. No need to go “American” on it, and a small stock V8 could work, but again, and again, it wasn’t designed for it and better off dropping the body on a newer truck and be done with it.
I rechecked – the title lists this as year 1959.
Well, I’d have to bring out the big gun here, Geomechs, but I’m quite sure the A model was replaced by the B with stacked headlights in late 1958. Unless the history is known, it’s entirely possible the title was lost at some point, and DMV not being what it is today, could have called it a 1959. The A replaced the 1956 S series, also one year design, in late ’57. Sorry, can’t be a ’59.
Hi guys. I wanted to join the party earlier but my attention was required elsewhere. Anyways, International, during the 50s, was a mixed bag. Officially this would be either a mid-to-late ’57 or a ’58. The “A-Series” was so designated to coincide with the 50th anniversary of being in the truck business. Many of you will remember the Golden Jubilee A-100 that came out in ’57. That marked the first one of the A trucks to move down the assembly line. But here’s where the confusion comes in; Binder was still producing the S-Series in the early part of ’57; I guess it had lots of parts left over and needed to use them up.
This is a very good project to take on, even if it’s minus some trim. You can find trim. There are a number of pages on Facebook that have upwards of 10K members who have parts for these trucks. Driveline parts are fairly easy to find. Brake drums, at least the 11-inch size as this one would have, are a bit of a riddle so if you need to replace them be prepared to take your new drums to the machine shop for some minor reconstruction; the replacements will likely have a 5.5 inch stud pattern and you will need to modify them into a 4.5 inch–no big deal, lots of meat available for new holes. For the engine, pistons are the hardest to find; companies such as Ross Pistons should be able to help you in that department.
Instrument clusters? Yes there are lots of salvage units out there and lots of places that rebuild them. Just make sure that you source out a set that uses idiot lights because the full gauge setup came out in ’59 with the B-series. International slipped and used idiot lights in the S and A-Series trucks. Lots of customer backlash convinced them to revert back to gauges.
I’ve been wanting to restore an A-series but I’ve got my eyes on a ’58 Deluxe model that was essentially the same as the Golden Jubilee only not exclusive to the gold paint scheme. I’ve known about said Deluxe model since it was new but the original owner’s daughter isn’t very interested in letting it go. Maybe one day, before I get old and decrepit…
These were really good trucks. I drove a duplicate for years and it was tough as nails. The six is actually a better engine than the subsequent V-8’s. If the engine turns over, it will still run today and provide good service. Even a small overhaul wouldn’t be difficult and would perform great.
Report this pm from one of the guys on the tow/extraction team is that he was able to hand turn the engine.
Since when are we capitalizing the word pickup?
Pickups are so easy to restomod. That’s what I’d do with this one. Too bad it on the wrong side of the country.
The title out of eastern Oregon shows the year of this IH to be 1959, that’s the information used to identity this pickup. We don’t have information to identify the motor.
Even though it is technically an A-series 1957-1958 model year truck, it could have been titled as a 1959 model. Mine is definitely A-series (1958 A-112) but was bought and titled in 1959. Not an uncommon thing to happen with Internationals. Mine probably weighs half as much as this one for all the rust!! Love to get this one in my driveway….
“Its fairly easy to find the id stamp on the IH sixes. Its stamped into a flat surface at the right front corner of the block just below the head and exhaust manifold. Might take a little work with a wire brush and a trouble light to see it but I have it on all of mine.”
Originally posted by Ralph Goff and edited by Jim Hadfield. OldIHC.com