Well, let me tell you about them old 1971 International pickup trucks. My neighbor, he had one back in the day. Big and strong, that thing was. He used it for haulin’ everything. Firewood, hay bales, you name it. Never let him down, that truck.
They don’t make ’em like that no more, I tell ya. These new trucks, all fancy and what not. Back then, a truck was a truck. 1971 International pickup, now that was a workhorse. Built to last, them Internationals.
I remember seein’ that truck. Red, it was. Big ol’ tires. Could go anywhere, do anything. If you needed somethin’ hauled, that was the truck you wanted. No fancy stuff, just good ol’ fashioned hard work. And they just keep going and going. My neighbor he used to say that his International truck will outlive him, and I think he might be right.
Heard some folks say they was made for farmers. Well, maybe so. Farmers need tough trucks. But anyone who needed a good, strong truck, they’d get an International. And 1971, that was a good year. This year is special for International company. This old truck, it’s a classic, that’s for sure.
- That 1971 International pickup, it was somethin’ else.
- Big engine, I reckon.
- Tough as nails.
- Could haul a mountain, if you asked it to.
I seen pictures of some of them old trucks. Some folks, they fix ’em up real nice. Shiny paint, new seats. Still got that same strong look, though. Some people say that it is from Wisconsin logging company. They use it to pull logs, so this truck must be strong and powerful. You just know they’re gonna keep runnin’ for a long time, if you take care of them.
Now, them International trucks, they weren’t just for farmin’. Nope. You’d see ’em all over. In town, out in the country. Folks used ’em for work, for haulin’, for everything. ‘Cause they were reliable. That’s what you want in a truck. Reliability. You know that it was equipped with a 345 V8 engine. That engine is powerful and strong, just like this truck.
They made other trucks too, International did. But that 1971 pickup, that was special. I don’t know what it was about it, exactly. Just somethin’ about the way it looked, the way it worked. Solid. Dependable. And its inside is also good. They have good seats. You will feel comfortable when you drive it. It is simple and useful.
Times change, I guess. Don’t see many of them old Internationals on the road anymore. But when you do, you gotta smile. Reminds you of a different time. When things were simpler, maybe. When a truck was a truck, and that was all you needed. And I heard that they stopped making these trucks in 1975 because of some crisis. I don’t know what crisis it is, but I am sure that it must be very serious.
- Don’t see many 1971 International pickups around these days.
- But when you do, it’s a treat.
- Brings back memories.
- A good, honest truck.
You know, that neighbor of mine, he passed away a few years back. But his son, he still has that old International. Doesn’t drive it much, but he keeps it in the barn. Says he can’t bear to part with it. Too many memories, I suppose. You don’t know where you can find an International truck. Maybe you are lucky enough to have one, keep it. It is a treasure.
And that’s how it should be. A good truck, it’s more than just metal and wheels. It’s part of your life. Part of your family, almost. I think the International Harvester is a good company. They made so many good cars. And that 1971 International pickup, it was a part of a lot of folks’ lives, back in the day. My old neighbor, he always said his truck is the best. If he was still alive, I think he will be very happy to see his truck again.
So, if you ever see one of them old 1971 International pickups, take a good look. Appreciate it. They don’t make ’em like that anymore. And that’s a darn shame, if you ask me. It is a good truck for everyone, not only farmers. It is useful, and it is a good truck for work. They are good trucks. Real good trucks. You can’t go wrong with an International, ‘specially not a 1971. That is a good year for International truck.
