The July/August 2023 issue of the magazine is available in our gift shop now and will be available on newsstands soon. Our cover feature is Colleen Lamb’s 1950 International L-122 pickup—a low-mile beauty that has been in the family since new! Story by Bob Tomaine • Photos by Eric Neurath

Cover Story | **1950 International L-122 pickup**

Grandma Lamb’s Red Truck

Colleen Lamb’s 1950 International L-122 pickup is a low-mile beauty that has been in the family since new!

Of all the clichés about cars and trucks, the most common must be the one that says they become members of the family. Colleen Lamb can look at her 1950 International L-122 and know that, as clichés go, this one is accurate.

“The International was Grandma’s car,” she explained. “She was a horsewoman, farmer’s wife, and mother of two sons. When the pickup wasn’t driving the Palouse hills of Washington, it was parked in the barn. Grandma only used it to drive short hops into Steptoe, Colfax, and Spokane.”

It’s not especially surprising that Martha Lamb, whose life revolved around the farm would end up driving an International 3/4-ton pickup. After all, International Harvester was a firm known and respected in agriculture before it began building motor vehicles. Adding in its earlier forms takes the company back to 1831, when Cyrus McCormick invented the mechanical reaper that would be the basis of McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. By 1874, William Deering’s Deering Harvester Co. was in operation and became the major competitor to McCormick.

The two were rivals rather than friendly competitors and—to put it politely—not on the best of terms. Despite an occasional feeler that went out as to the possibility of a merger in some form, there was no real progress because they were unable to work together. That changed, though, shortly after the turn of the century. Cyrus McCormick died in 1884, and William Deering retired in 1901. While control of the Deering company remained in the family, the atmosphere improved significantly enough that outside business and financial interests carefully stepped in to steer the companies in the direction of joining together.

To read more about the 1950 International L-122, pick up a copy of the July/August 2023 issue of Vintage Truck magazine!

Articles in this issue include:

FEATURES

Mercury Enters the Hauling Field
David DuLong’s 1946 Mercury Express one-ton is a rare beauty from the north!
Story by Joshua Elzey, Photos by Al Rogers
Work Done!
In which I provide the final chapter of Vintage Truck magazine’s epic restoration of my 1947 Dodge WD-15 pickup!
Story and Photos by Patrick Ertel, Founder of Ertel Publishing
Grandma Lamb’s Red Truck
Colleen Lamb’s 1950 International L-122 pickup is a low-mile beauty that has been in the family since new!
Story by Bob Tomaine, Photos by Eric Neurath
Grandpa Dennis’ Blue Truck
All it took was a child’s encouragement for Dennis McTigue to take home this 1953 Chevrolet 3100!
Story by Garry Foster, Photos by Brad Bowling

DEPARTMENTS

Letter from the Editor
Letters to the Editor
For Ford Fans: 1986 F-150 Styleside
Books in the Bed: Reviews by Robert Gabrick
Photos from the Attic
The Road Less Traveled: Overland Delivery Cars
Aid for the Anxious Amateur: Discerning Differentials
Classifieds
Show Guide
Granny Gear: A Little-Known Part of the Re-restoration Process

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