Rare IH Truck May Be The Last One Left

Rare IH Truck May Be The Last One Left AG WORLD Ag World 22-6-21 Curt Fisher can't say for certain that his antique IH truck is the only one of its kind left in existence. But there's a good possibility that the 1921 IH Model 101, which still has its original Indiana license plate, is the lone survivor because the company built only 27 of them. "If there is another one somewhere, I'd certainly be happy to find out about it," says Fisher. "I had no idea it was so rare when I bought it. It's really exciting." Fisher first got interested in the truck when he saw it in an estate auction flyer in an antique machinery magazine, Engineer and Engines. The flyer included a small photo of the truck, which made it appear the 5-ton truck was much smaller than it really is. "When I went to see it in New Ross, Ind., I was surprised to find out it was so big," notes Fisher. "It's 8 ft. tall from the ground to the top of the cab." The truck had been completely restored 25 years earlier but still needed a little work. "We had to sand down and re-varnish the wood in the cab, box and wheel spokes. We also refabricated some of the sheet metal on the fenders," he says. "Mechanically, every-thing was sound." The restoration was completed in time for antique power shows last spring. Since then, the truck has been creating a sensation wherever Fisher takes it. The Model 101 was an upgrade of an older, 4-ton Model L. It featured improvements in ignition and gear ratio. It's powered by a 283 cu. in., 29 hp 4-cyl. engine and Brown-Lipe 4-speed transmission with pto. It has a 160-in. wheelbase and a thermo-siphon system for cooling the engine. It features a radiator mounted behind the engine which allowed a down-sloped cowl design. A gravity-fed carburetor fuels it. At the time, the frame was the largest in International's line-up, measuring 8 in. deep, with seven crossmembers. Top speed in high gear is 14 mph. "The most important improvement over previous models was probably in price," notes an historical account of International trucks. "Where the earlier Model L had cost as much as $4,500, the new 101 listed in the spring of 1922 at $3,600." According to company production records, only 27 of the trucks were produced between 1921 when it was first identified and 1924 when it was discontinued in favor of other models. One mystery is why the governor on the engine runs backward. "I've been told that's because the bracket is on backward," Fisher says. "But I'm really interested to know exactly why it runs backward and how to fix it." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Curt Fisher, R.R. 2, Box 272B, Mankato, Minn. 56001 (ph 507 625-4715; fax 388-3941).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.