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 1952 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

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
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-1317,4004,200
L-1328,0004,700
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