1952 International Harvester L120

1952 International L120 Flatbed

The current owner of this L120 doesn't really like new vehicles, so he prefers to to drive older ones, even as daily drivers. They're much easier and cheaper to work on, generally much cheaper to insure and easier to drive, without all the nanny bells and whistles.

He purchased this 52 L120 from a chap in Portland CT about 6 years ago, who had it for "quite a few years", according to the current owner. The truck originally came up from South Carolina.

The truck has been painted multiple times and the current color is matte black. The interior is blue with a black vinyl bench seat.

He was looking for a truck to haul stuff in, whether it was metal to the scrapyard, used furniture, feed for the animals, building materials, etc. and it has a tow hitch so a trailer can be added for additional haulage space.

As his needs have changed, he doesn't need a truck as large or with a 3/ ton load rating, he's decided to sell this one and is looking for a similar era Jeep pick up.

While this one looks a little rough, it has no rot through and only usual surface rust on the lower side for a truck built over 70 years ago. The Portland owner reportedly had the engine rebuilt but provided no documentation, however, the engine is clean and starts right up and runs like a tank. The odometer shows 83,800 miles but true mileage is unknown.

The L120 is the long wheel base, 3/4 ton offering from International and this one was fitted a wooden flat bed at some point before even the Portland owner had it, the main structure is fine, there are a couple of floor panels that could use attention/replacement.

As mentioned, the exterior is solid but shows it's fair share of work truck use (both front signal light housings do have some rust issues) dents, dings, but this is solid real steal.

The interior has a black vinyl bench seat in good condition and the previous owner installed a tach and after market gauges to monitor oil pressure, temp and volts. They all work correctly, the original speedometer works, but the other original gauges do not.

The headlights work and the driving lights work however, the blinkers do not. The wipers are vacuum operated and one needs to use the switch to manually operate them. The AAOOGA horn works, the Pioneer radio works and the heater works.

The windows roll up and down, the vent windows operate as well, although the left side vent window is cracked in several places making it difficult to open.

Turn the key, step on the gass a couple times and the truck starts right up and idles smoothly and quite quietly. At hot idle it produces about 15-20 psi oil pressure, which is better than factory recommended spec of 7-10. The clutch grabs surely and the 4 speed manual trans shifts smoothly, the grinding heard in the driving video is driver error. Brakes, 4 wheel, non-power drum, stop the big truck as they would have back in 52, the steering box unfortunately needs some work so for around town hauling it would be ok, but if you're driving more than say 15 miles it could be considered sketchy. It will need attention.

The rear tires are STA-Super Traxion bias plies 6.5x16 purchased when the current owner bought the truck in 2020. The front tires are also a bias ply Cooper Super Road Masters in the same size as the rear.
In the 6 years the current owner has had the truck he's installed new rubber brake lines, a few hard brake lines and an aluminum radiator. On a 85 degree day, the temp gauge didn't budge off 180. He's also done regular oil changes.

Overall summation - you have a great running, solid, flat bed International truck that needs a little work to make it work as a semi-daily driver work truck.

The owner would like to get $7000.


Any questions, for several hundred additional photos and video, to schedule a time to see her in person, or simply to make an offer,

please don't hesitate to contact me.
Thanks for the interest!