International Harvester K and KB Series

"KB3", "KB5", "KB7" redirect here. For the Kidz Bop albums abbreviated as KB3, KB5 and KB7, see Kidz Bop 3, Kidz Bop 5 and Kidz Bop 7.

International K and KB Series
Overview
Manufacturer	International Harvester Company
Production	1940-1947 (K) 1947-1949 (KB)
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size pickup truck
Chronology
Successor	International Harvester L-Series

The K and KB trucks were produced by the International Harvester Company, the first being the K introduced in mid 1940. In total there were 42 models, 142 different wheelbase lengths and load ratings ranging from 1/2 ton to 90,000 lbs.^[1] They are best known for their durability, prewar design in a postwar era, and low price. The followup to the K, the KB, was introduced in 1947, with the characteristic difference being a widened lower grill appearing like "wings". Between 1947 and 1949 122,000 KB-1 and KB-2 trucks were sold.^[2] The KB series was subsequently replaced by the L-Series.

K Series

А KB-3 truck

Models

The K models progress from 1 to 14 based upon the load capacity (K1 = half ton, K2 = 3/4 ton, K3 = 1 ton, etc.).

There are no K-9 or K-13 model trucks.

Light duty

Few differences exist between K-1 and K-2 models as they share most of their mechanical and chassis components. The rear axles in these two models is supported by a single roller bearing. Their differences in load rating are due to the K-2's stronger suspension.

The K-3 has a heavier frame, larger brakes, and rear axles supported by two roller bearings on a free floating rear end.

Heavy duty

The heavy duty K6 and larger use a center hinged butterfly hood rather than the rear hinged hood of the smaller trucks.

K6 and K7 share the same hood, fenders, and grill and use the smaller Blue Diamond engines.

K8 to K11 have a larger hood, fenders, and grill with fewer, but wider, grill bars. They use the larger FAB, Red, or RD series engines depending upon model year.

K12 has a longer hood to accommodate the larger Continental engine. They can either have the rounded nose common to the KB8 and larger or a flat nose grill.

K14 has flat top fenders rather than the rounded top of the smaller sizes.

Styling

The style of the truck involved headlamps that were integrated into the fenders. The hood opens alligator style. Heavy duty models (K6 and above) carried over the D-series cab and high crowned fenders.

А KB-5 truck with a King Midget on a flatbed

KB Series

The KB series added wings on the sides of the grill, a wrap-around chrome piece on the front hood, a hood ornament and chrome lettering indicating the model designation below the International nameplate on each side of the hood.

The Aerosmith Pump Trucks

Two of these trucks are featured (a smaller model on top of a larger model) in a black and white photo used for the cover of Aerosmith's 1989 album Pump, as well as the cover of the 1990 Things That Go Pump in the Night VHS video. Both trucks have the word pump in place of the chrome International markings on the side of their hoods and the smaller top truck has pump in large block letters on the door. A close up of the smaller truck's door is used for the cover of the 1994 documentary The Making of Pump.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to International Harvester KB-series.

• A restored KB-14 at hankstruckpictures.com

References