At the beginning of this new century, one of the most popular cars is the 'all-purpose vehicle,' one that could carry groceries, and lumber for weekend projects, and take the family on an outing. In 1907, the International Harvester Company introduced an earlier version of the 'one car to do everything' - the Auto-Wagon. With the rear seat removed, the Auto-Wagon could participate in daily work around the farm, and on Sunday wîth the rear seat in place, it could also carry the family to church in style. Sold through International dealers that traditionally handled farm equipment and built purposely to look as much like a buggy as possible, these 'high-wheelers' had solid rubber tires and large wheels to allow for high clearance on the unpaved country roads.

International trucks were produced by the commercial vehicles division of International Harvester, a company created in 1902 by the merger of a group of agricultural equipment manufacturers. The International Harvester Company is best remembered for their successful 'Farmall' tractors, production of which commenced in 1924. Prior to that, the company had diversified into the production of light commercial trucks and vehicles. The first of these was the high-wheeled, pickup-like Model A Auto Wagon which was powered by an air-cooled 'flat twin' engine offering 15 horsepower. IN 1907, they produced 73 units and by 1909, that number had grown to 2,465. In 1916, an International became the first truck to scale the formidable Pikes Peak in Colorado.

by Dan Vaughan