International L series


The International L series was introduced by International Harvester in fall 1949 as the replacement for the KB series and were available as everything from light pickup trucks and delivery vehicles to full-size tractor-trailers. Electric wipers, a radio, and a clock were optional. International would continue to produce the line until 1953 when it was replaced by the R series.

Development

Heavier versions such as the L-150 to L-180 models had taller bodywork to accommodate a bigger engine, beefier chassis, and larger wheels. To hide this in appearance, they receive an extra, full-width chrome grille bar underneath the other two and the headlights. The L-185-L210 models had a longer, narrower hood and taller grille than all the smaller models, surrounded by oversized fenders. These trucks were a different look although they have the same cab as the smaller trucks.
Of the pickup-type bodies, these were available in 6 ft and 8 ft lengths. On L-130 models, a 9-1/2 ft long pickup bed of same design was available and accommodated dual rear wheels. Two different styles of IH factory flatbeds with removable sides were also available for sizes up to L-180. Other bodies were designed around the basic truck chassis of each series, such as the "Metro" LM120-122 and LM150-152, the "bread trucks" used by bakeries or laundries for example. They hardly resembled the L-Line. The LB-140 Milk Delivery truck was also an oddity with its looks and revolutionary semi-automatic clutch, however it had the L-line face. The LC160-162 and LC180-182 cab-over trucks, or cab-forwards" as they were then called, were another oddity of their own.
The L series was also built in Australia, where it was called the AL series.

The first of the marketing names

  • The "Schoolmaster" : L-153, L-163, L-173, L-183, and L-193. The L-193 bus had the same nose style as the L190-up trucks.
  • The "Loadstar" : First introduced in the L-Line, as the L-164, L-174, L-184, L-194, and L-204. It was the model with the heaviest capacity within each series. The "4's" were the only ones to have the "Loadstar" decal on the dash.
  • The "Roadliner" : First introduced in the L-Line, assigned to the L-165, L-175, L-185, L-195, and L-205. The Roadliner was IH's specific "premier" tractor truck model "loaded" with comforts and work-ready, which means not all tractors are the "5's." It was common to see basic L-190 tractors or L-183 tractors, for example. The customer typically ordered the cab & chassis package they wanted and had a body or 5th-wheel installed elsewhere.

Mining, construction, and industrial

To further bolster its presence alongside IH's own massive line of heavy construction equipment and meet highway weight limits, the LF-170, LF-190, and LF-210 series was built. These were tandem-axle 6x4 drivetrain trucks for hauling heavier loads than their 4x2 counterparts. For example, the GVW of a L-194 is 25,500 vs the 38,000 of the LF-194.

Engines

The lighter-duty versions were equipped with the all-new OHV "Silver Diamond" engines in two different sizes, while the medium-duty versions retained the older 269 ci "Blue Diamond", also an OHV engine, although it was now called the "Super Blue Diamond" after some detail improvements. The BD-269 has the same peak power as the smallest, but offers more torque, at versus for the Silver Diamond 240.
;L-series specs
  • Engine
  • * Silver Diamond 220 OHV inline-six, and
  • * Silver Diamond 240 OHV inline-six, and
  • * Super Blue Diamond BD-269 OHV inline-six, and
  • * Red Diamond 372 OHV inline-six
  • * Red Diamond 406 OHV inline-six
  • * Red Diamond 450 OHV inline-six
  • Transmission
  • * Three speeds forward, one reverse, synchromesh column mounted
  • * Four speeds forward, one reverse, non-synchromesh floor mounted, Model T9
  • * Four speeds forward, one reverse, synchromesh floor mounted, model T98
  • * Five speeds forward, one reverse, non-synchromesh floor mounted
  • * Overdrive Five speeds forward, one reverse, non-synchromesh floor mounted
  • * Electric 2-speed rear axle
  • * HD Five speeds forward, one reverse, synchromesh floor mounted
  • * Manual 3-speed Auxiliary transmission
ModelGVWR Cargo Capacity
L-1104,2001,600
L-1114,5001,900
L-1124,8002,200
L-1205,2002,400
L-1215,7002,800
L-1226,2003,200
L-1306,8003,700
L-131Early: 7,400 Late: 7,700Early: 4,200 Late: 4,500
L-132Early: 8,000 Late: 8,600Early: 4,700 Late: 5,300
LB-1409,000
L-1509,000
L-15110,750
L-15212,500
L-16014,000
L-16115,000
L-16216,000
L-16416,5008,000
L-16516,000 / 29,000 w/semitrailerdepends on trailer weight
L-17016,000
LF-170 6x422,000
L-17117,000
LF-171 6x424,000
L-17218,000
LF-172 6x426,000
L-17418,50010,000
LF-174 6x427,000
L-17518,000 / 33,000 w/semitrailerdepends on trailer weight
L-18017,000
L-18119,000
L-18221,000
L-18421,50013,000
L-18521,000 / 42,000 w/semitrailerdepends on trailer weight
L-19021,000
LF-190 6x430,000
L-19123,000
LF-191 6x432,500
L-19225,000
LF-192 6x435,000
L-19425,500
LF-194 6x438,000
L-19524,000 / 48,000 w/semitrailerdepends on trailer weight
LF-195 6x435,000 / 55,000 w/semitrailerdepends on trailer weight
L-20024,000
L-20127,000
L-20229,000
L-20429,500
L-20528,000 / 52,000 w/semitrailerdepends on trailer weight
L-21030,000
LF-210 6x437,000
L-21134,000
LF-211 6x441,000
L-21238,000
LF-212 6x445,000