The International K and KB series were International Harvester’s trucks of the 1940s. The K arrived in mid-1940 and the lightly modernised KB followed in 1947. Between them they covered a remarkable spread — 42 models, 142 different wheelbase lengths, and load ratings from half a ton to 90,000 lb.
International K and KB series at a glance
| Maker | International Harvester |
|---|---|
| K series introduced | mid-1940 |
| KB series introduced | 1947 |
| Models | 42 in total |
| Wheelbases | 142 different lengths |
| Load ratings | from 1/2 ton to 90,000 lb |
| K model numbering | K1 half-ton, K2 three-quarter-ton, K3 one-ton and upwards |
| Gaps in the range | no K-9 or K-13 |
| KB sales | 122,000 KB-1 and KB-2 trucks, 1947–1949 |
| Replaced by | International L series |
| Best known for | durability, low price, prewar design in the postwar era |
Written from the English Wikipedia article on the K and KB series, a single source.
History of the International K and KB series
The K series was introduced in the middle of 1940 and became International Harvester’s main truck range through the war years. Its numbering ran from K1 to K14 by load capacity: K1 was a half-ton truck, K2 three-quarter-ton, K3 one-ton, and so on, with no K-9 or K-13. Even the light models were not simply scaled-down versions of the heavy ones: the K-1 and K-2 shared most mechanical parts and a single roller-bearing rear axle, the K-3 had a heavier frame, larger brakes and a floating rear axle on two roller bearings, and the K-4 came on artillery-style wheels.
Above K5 the trucks changed character. The heavy-duty K6 and larger used a centre-hinged butterfly bonnet instead of the rear-hinged bonnet of the smaller models, and from K6 upwards the trucks carried over the cab and high-crowned wings of the earlier D series. The K6 and K7 shared their sheet metal and used the smaller Blue Diamond engines, while the K8 to K11 had a larger bonnet, wings and grille with fewer but wider bars and the bigger FAB, Red or RD engines. The K12 had a longer bonnet for a Continental engine and could be ordered with either the rounded nose of the KB8 and larger or a flat-nose grille; the K14 had flat-topped wings.
Styling across the range was consistent: headlamps integrated into the wings and a bonnet that opened alligator-style. For 1947 the lightly modernised KB series replaced the K. On the KB-1 to KB-5 the changes were mostly decorative and very much of their time: chrome “wings” on the sides of the grille, a wrap-around chrome strip on the front of the bonnet, a bonnet ornament and chrome lettering below the International nameplate on each side of the bonnet. The KB-6 and larger trucks changed far less, with the Triple Diamond badge moved to the top of the grille and model designations added to the bonnet-side trim.
The KB was a commercial success at exactly the right moment. Between 1947 and 1949, 122,000 KB-1 and KB-2 trucks were sold, as farmers, tradesmen and small businesses bought whatever was available after years of wartime restriction. The trucks are remembered for their durability and their low price, and for being a prewar design sold into a postwar market — which is also why International replaced them so quickly, with the L series arriving in the autumn of 1949.
Design and features
- Huge variety: 42 models and 142 wheelbase lengths from one basic design.
- Integrated headlamps: set into the wings, with an alligator-style bonnet.
- Butterfly bonnet: centre-hinged on K6 and larger trucks.
- KB chrome: grille wings, a bonnet ornament and model lettering for 1947.
- Durability: simple mechanicals that kept working long after the warranty.
International K and KB series versions
- K1 to K3: half-ton, three-quarter-ton and one-ton light trucks.
- K4 and K5: heavier light trucks, the K-4 on artillery wheels.
- K6 and K7: heavy-duty models with the butterfly bonnet.
- K8 to K14: the largest models, with bigger engines and sheet metal.
- KB series (1947–1949): modernised range, best known in KB-1 and KB-2 form.
The KB was replaced by the L series in 1949, which in turn gave way to the R series. More trucks are in the collection.
Video: Custom 1946 International Harvester KB1 Pickup Truck
Video by NotBob Channel on YouTube.
Sources
- International K and KB series, English Wikipedia: models, numbering, engines, styling, KB sales
