Pick of the Day: 1973 International Travelall was a go-anywhere station wagon

Vintage sport utility vehicles have become fan favorites with the car-collecting community and thus the Pick of the Day, a 1973 International Harvester Travelall being offered on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in St. Louis, Missouri.

“International Harvester introduced the Travelall in 1953 as one of the first competitors to the forerunner of the category, the Chevrolet Suburban,” the dealer notes in the SUV’s advertisement. 

“Like the Suburban, the Travelall was a large, multi-passenger station wagon built atop a robust truck chassis, combining people carrying space with truck-like practicality. 

“To promote their light-truck offerings, International traded on their reputation in the heavy-duty and agriculture market, and they enjoyed steady enough sales for the Travelall to live through several generations. Also like its rival, the Travelall was available in multiple lengths and configurations, from two-wheel-drive to four-wheel-drive, and a range of six-cylinder and V8 options. 

“The fourth and final generation debuted in 1969 with new underpinnings based on the D-Series pickup, and styling that reflected the highly successful Scout. While the big Travelall was never quite as popular as the Scout and Scout II, International boasted very high customer satisfaction and loyalty, thanks to the robust nature of these workhorses. As early sport-utility vehicles enjoy newfound appreciation from collectors, the International Travelall is a relative rarity.”

The dealer adds that the vehicle on offer is a 1010 Custom model that is both well-optioned and highly original.

“Presented in dark metallic green with the optional Deluxe exterior package, it is a remarkably well-preserved truck that is almost untouched save for a respray in the original color. The deluxe option added such niceties as full wheel covers, additional body side moldings, and that most iconic bit of 1970s automotive Americana, woodgrain vinyl trim. 

“That this truck survived so well-preserved is a testament to the build quality of these famously robust vehicles.”

The interior, the dealer notes, is finished in “ultra-1970s” green brocade fabric, and matching green-colored dashboard. It also has a carpeted rear cargo floor.

Power is supplied by a 392cid V8 (an option and the largest engine  available for the 1973 model year) that “provides an ocean of torque, and while it won’t win many stoplight drag races in the big Travelall, it is famously robust and virtually bulletproof.”

The wagon has a 3-speed automatic transmission, power brakes and steering, air conditioning, towing package and dual fuel tanks.

“This wonderfully preserved example is brimming with character and is a delightful family-friendly classic,” the dealer adds, “ready to haul most of a little league team out for ice cream or to take the gang on an extended camping trip in distinctive style.”

The vehicle is offered for $41,500.  To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.