OT: Old Truck Affliction

My main deer hunting buddy knows about my affliction--er, affection--for old International trucks. He called me last night and told me that a close neighbor of his is "down on his luck" and needs some cash...and owns a '70-something International "bigger than a pickup" with a 345 gas V8 and working 4x4...for which he'll take $600!

Haven't seen he truck, haven't heard it run, but my guess is it's either a 1500 series,or it's a Loadstar...in which case the 4x4 front axle itself,in good working condition, should be worth more than $600. Problem is, I'm also a bit "down on my luck," and $600 might be hard to scratch up.

So...my moral dilemma is...should I even go look at the truck, knowing I'd have to scramble to raise the $600? Or should I go look anyway just to satisfy my curiosity, making sure not to lead the guy on about my intentions/flat wallet syndrome? I might be able to match the guy up with a buyer if I can't buy it. For background, I already have a '51 and a '52 International pickup, both in various stages of repair/restoration, and the wife might decide to take my own hide and tack it to the garage if I come home with another Binder unannounced and undiscussed...no matter if it runs and drives or not.

I'd love to have an International pickup....
If I was in your boat, I'd look at the truck and, if it was in good shape (you should know if you're redoing them already), unload the two I've got taking up space and recoup the money I'd spend on the newer prolly more practical (???) one.
There'll be no charge for that advice.

Dave

Well........you could always buy it and give it to your wife for Christmas.

Seriously, I"d at least go look at it. I"ve got a "51 Binder and my only complaint about it is that I wish it had been a 4X4 the last couple of days. (Digging out from about 15 inches of snow and high winds)

Wild horses couldn't keep me from at least looking at it. As an aside, in my youth (1950's) our little town of 700 souls had four new vehicle dealerships: International truck, Ford, Chevy and Chrysler. Hard to believe today.

only cost in looking is your time and gas, as for buying cross that bridge when you come to it

if it were up to me id go look at that truck , its worth a look since you havent actually seen just what it is, if its a decent runner or could be made to be for a reasonable price id try and get it and sell something else of yours to recoup the money, especially if it would take say a 12 foot flatbed, for my personal thinking if i had that, put on my 12 foot flatbed with dump, that rig would replace 3 other trucks i have i wouldnt need but the one , for frosting, swap out the 345 for a 5'9 cummins if possible, so the fuel ecomony would make it less expensive to operate

I have been in that situation a bunch of times. I would go look. If it is not very appealing, it will be easier to say no thanks knowing you don't have the 600 lying around anyway. If it is one of those "gotta have it's" you will be amazed how creative your mind will become figuring out a way to get that 600. You can think of assets you can turn into cash now etc that you wouldn't have thunk of without the new desire to own the truck.....just my experience...I love IH trucks too..

Shoot for that type of money I would sell you 3 IH trucks. I have 3 of them just sitting down by the creek and when parked at least one of them would still run and drive. 1 is a cab over type and the other 2 are tandem axle gas burner twin sticks

Only trying to be helpful but to take the other side - if your not prepared to buy it on the spot best to move on. This is from a guy who kept an excellent original 1955 F350 around for 25 years but finally passed it on.

If you are like me and you go look at it with money in your pocket, you know you will buy it.

I just went through a similar thing as you are going through now. I am more of an old tractor collector but I have always kind of wanted to own a neat old truck. A couple of months ago one of my hay customers was picking up some hay and just in conversation he mentioned his old international pickup (1951). I asked if he would sell it thinking he would not turn loose of it until the end of his time on earth, but he supprised me and said, yes I would. He said, I need $1000 today and that is what I would take for it. He described it and we left it at that, with me telling him I would come look at it. He said to hurry because he needed $ and it would soon show up in the classifieds. I researched it a little and found out that if it was like he described it that it would be worth much more than $1000. I decided this must be my chance so I checked out the $ from the bank, went to look at the truck, fell in love with it, bought it, and picked it up the next day. I now am the proud owner and I do not have a single regret. Hopefully in about a year it will be a little beauty that will make my friends take a second look when I drive it around town. Life is too short. If you like that truck, go get it. You can find a way.