1963 IHC METRO STEP VAN TRUCK: RAT ROD DIVCO KUSTOM ICE CREAM, MILK, OR FOOD RIG

Description for International Harvester Other 1963

Present your best items with Auctiva's FREE Scrolling Gallery.
1963 INTERNATIONAL METRO MILK TRUCK STEP VAN!

This is a government air force issue IHC multi-stop step van. It has been in high desert of Montana since it was new. After the air-force it was used as a county vehicle in a small town, o do maintenance and painting on county buildings. I don't know for sure, ut the mileage of 63,962 is probably original. These vans are very cool milk trucks and have unique art deco styling. There are only a handful vintage step van models that look cool restored or rodded. This particular model was the second shortest you could get. The short ones are neat looking too, ut this is the most popular size and has more interior space. Included are pictures of a other vans that have been rodded or restored. I also have more pics of this van that I can send in a link. These vans are very popular for mobile businesses or advertising. They also look cool chopped or lowered and are becoming popular for rod projects. There is plenty of room in the back to stand up and put living quarters, ooking equipment, peed parts, -shirt shop, offee truck, onut truck, ood truck, attoo parlor or? A harley will fit, aybe two. This truck has a solid body that is mostly straight and has no rust. Clear Montana title. I have a few more pics I can send if you'd like but everything is pretty much covered in these pics. I can also send video of it running and driving. Thanks for looking and happy bidding.

MECHANICAL

The metro has what looks to be the original six cylinder, ith four speed manual transmission. The motor starts up and runs nice. It doesn't smoke, nock or tick. It runs cool. No water in the oil, r oil in the water. No dripping leaks. It has the usual slow gasket seepage of a 52- year old vehicle, ut nothing that I see that needs repaired. No blowby. The motor is in really good condition. The transmission works great and the clutch is good with no problems. I did not drive this on the highway. Just fast enough to check all gears. The frontend feels tight and no clunking and steering feels tight. It's hard to tell for sure on the frontend, ut I think it's fine. I knew even if I drove it on pavement, wouldn't be able to tell for sure because the tires are aged and I think they are bias ply. The brakes work but feel like the need bled maybe. This has manual brakes and steering. It's easy to steer, ut I would convert to power brakes if you'll be driving it much. If your in a small town or rural area, he manual brakes would be fine. No gauges appear to work except the speedometer. Headlights work but tailights don't. It most likely just needs bulbs. Turn signals act like they may work with some tinkering. The tires are 17" heavy duty but are weathered. They would probably be ok for low speed driving but should be replaced at some point if you'll be driving it much or putting weight in it. These do not look to be split rims. The fuel tank was bad when I bought it, o it's running on a temporary tank. The old tank is included, or a template. It will be easy for a fabricator to build a new tank. It's basically just a metal rectangle. The motor runs very nice but I would recommend a basic tuneup and new plug wires, luids checked/flushed, rakes bled/adjusted, nd just the basic stuff. There doesn't appear anything wrong with the wires, nd it doesn't miss, ut they get brittle over time. It runs and drives but is not a daily driver right now until those things are checked and lights fixed. The ignition points are new. Fuel pump is new also. I put those items on myself. Antifreeze is good. Depending on how much your driving this, nd where, ou can convert these vans to a more modern suspension with auto transmission. I know a rod builder who has done it and used an independent suspension front clip off a chevy pickup and then you have a modern setup with power disc brakes, ower steering, 8, ore power, etter ride, nd auto transmission. I was told that it is almost a direct bolt on. The chevy front clips are cheap and readily available. This conversion is not necessary, s the drivetrain in this van is in nice working condition. Overall, he van needs little to be a daily driver.

BODY

The body on the metrovan is very nice for an un-restored project this old. Easy to restore, r drive as-is. It is nearly rust free. The only rust is on the small rocker area, elow the side entrance doors. This is a normal spot of rust for these vans, nd will be easy for a bodyman to repair. It does not extend behind the doors. The floors, oof, loor supports, enders, nner fenders/wheelhouses, uarters, rame, riprails, tc. etc. are nice with no rust. You can see in the pictures that the paint is chipped off on each rear corner, howing bare metal. When I bought this van, t had dents there that had been repaired right and had bondo. I pushed the dents out and removed the bad bondo. The corners will still need a little work, ut they are relatively straight now. No other filler/bondo anywhere except the rear corners. I have a digital paint thickness tool that I have checked the van out with. Normally filler that is old will crack anyways, f it's overly thick, ut I checked it with the gauge anyways. The orange paint is probably at least 30 years old, nd wearing thin. If there was anything hiding under it, 'd be able to see it. I can see "air force" in one spot on the original blue paint. The drivers side has the sideswipe damage you can see in the pic. This is a straight forward repair for a bodyman. The interior panels are removable also, aking bodywork easier than normal. Besides the sideswipe, he van is pretty straight overall. No dents in the roof. The grille is pretty nice. Grille shell has been bent up a bit but is easily fixable for a bodyman. The pics pretty much tell the story, ut email if you have questions. If you think you see rust in the pics but it's not listed, t not rust. It's either surface rust, r just where the paint has peeled off. I have a lot of experience with classic vehicles, nd I know how to do bodywork/rust repair myself. I know it's humanly possible for anyone to make a mistake, ut it's unlikely that I missed anything. I went over it thoroughly, nd also went back over the pics a couple times. The passenger door does latch but the handle needs work because it's locked so someone removed it. It is included. The gas filler door is not included. It's just a flat piece of metal, o one could be fabricated easily. I know of three of these vans at salvage yards. When I can, 'll be checking to see if they have one. If they do, 'll either include it with the van or mail it to you. Overall, he body is in very solid and dry condition.

INTERIOR

Not much tosay here. The pics tell the story. The interior is pretty much original. Keys are in it. The seat needs recovered. It's easy to find another seat at a salvage yard to put on the passenger side if you wish. The floors and interior are fairly clean. This has an overhead compartment above the windshield. The VIN tag is mounted on the interior, nd does match the title, hich is clear.

OVERALL

This is a great metro to restore back to original or have one of the most unique custoom rods at the car show. Either way, hey get lots of attention and have great resale. I've included a couple pics of restored or rodded vans and I have more I can send.

This van is sold as-is, o warranty. It is an un-restored project.