International Harvester KB Series Trucks

Step back in time with the rugged charm of the International Harvester KB Series Trucks. As Berkley One Classics celebrates the big 5-0, we’re hosting an exciting virtual car show for collectors and enthusiasts alike. We’ll share our love of classic cars by spotlighting 50 cars for 50 years that have been chosen and beloved by our employees. Each will showcase the evolution of design and engineering and provide a nostalgic journey through auto and pop culture history. Read on as Amanda McComas, Vice President of Risk Management at Berkley One, tells us why she loves the International Harvester KB Series Trucks.

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The Car:

The International Harvester KB Series Trucks’ distinctive grille and rugged durability made it a reliable and stylish choice for heavy-duty trucking. These vehicles could handle heavy loads and people loved their power. I’m sure that’s why the truck that made its way to my family was originally purchased. But before it found us, it started its life as a fire truck for East Hanover Township, New Jersey. The truck was then painted yellow, fitted with a flatbed body, and served for many more years in the township’s Department of Public Works. Because it likely left town on only rare occasions, it had accumulated very few miles over four decades and was in excellent mechanical condition when we acquired it in the mid-1980s.While serving as a salt-spreader, the many winters took their toll on the front fenders which eventually were painted rust. Still, the truck was beloved by our family. Some of its other key features included 250-ci “Blue Diamond” inline-6 engine with ~99 hp/200 lb.-ft of torque, dual rear wheels, and power take-off.

The Collector:

The International Harvesters are not particularly rare. International was the largest producer of medium and heavy-duty trucks in the United States when the KB6 model was introduced in 1947. In fact, the company claimed it could produce 1,000 different types of truck configurations from its full lineup, so it’s appropriate that this one served as both a fire engine and road crew workhorse during its life. A friend of ours acquired it from the township at auction for a few hundred dollars and sold it to my dad. It was presented to my brother as a gift for his 13th or 14th birthday because he was crazy for antique trucks at the time. We took it to several shows in the New Jersey/Pennsylvania area over the next couple of years. Its grille was featured prominently in a photo spread in American Trucker Magazine’s coverage of the annual American Truck Historical Society convention in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, one year, but my brother never actually drove it more than a few feet —Dad did all the driving, given my brother’s age. My brother then sold the truck a few years later to fund the purchase of a rusty 1966 Mustang that served as his daily driver in high school and college.

The Love:

This truck represents great memories for my family. It was the reason we went together to Macungie, Pennsylvania for the antique truck show several different years, and I got to spend time with my big brother and my dad! It was displayed at some events, and allowed my brother an excellent opportunity to “tinker” and learn a bit more about how things work alongside my father, who we will always credit to being good at everything. It was also a handsome design—trucks in the 1940’s (not just Internationals) were a great combination of form and function. They were utilitarian but with a bit of Art Deco flair and streamlining.

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Contributed by Amanda McComas

Photo: XXX

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This car feature is part of our 50 Cars for 50 Years campaign in honor of Berkley One Classics celebrating 50 year of insuring collectors and their vehicles. See the other cars we love here.

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Berkley One Classics is a Berkley Company who recognizes that classic cars are unique and require insurance that’s equally distinctive. Let us help you protect your beloved vehicle so you can enjoy it for years to come. Learn more here.