Saleofcar.com :International

International Harvester Other (1959)
for sale

Price: US $7,500.00

Description:

For your consideration is a 1959 International Harvester Metro Van. This van was to be my second of many food trucks, however those plans are on hold at the moment due to unforeseen circumstances.
This Metro resided on the west coast (OR) for the past 57 years, though it now finds its home on the east coast (PA). I have a clean PA title in hand. The van has quite a unique history; it was purchased new in 1959 by United Airlines, where it served as a tarmac vehicle vacuuming out airplanes. .hence the roof hatch. This is the only Metro I have seen with this set-up. Here's the really cool part though...I have every single service record for this Metro for the 32 years it was owned by United Airlines! Every oil and filter change, every replacement part, even when the transmission was replaced with an early K1 series. The records contain every service that was completed, the date it occurred, the initials of the service tech., and even the price per part. It's a very cool piece of this van's history, something I have yet to see with another Metro. If you're a purist, then this particular van may be of great interest to you.
A considerable amount of time and money was spent going through the engine on this Metro in the rather short period of time I have owned it, and as a result it runs strong. New battery, new horn, new carb, rebuild of the fuel pump, new plugs, new hoses, radiator flushed several times and pressurized, etc. I will try to upload a short video later of the van running, as well as update a laundry list of everything that was done to the engine.
As with most Metros, the brakes on this van are rough and will need work; emergency brake works perfectly. There is rust around the perimeter of the roof hatch, and as a result the storage compartment above the driver's seat is pretty well rusted out and will need to be replaced. I did not have time to drop and drain the gas tank, so that should be done. I have the engine running from a separate fuel line, with its own filter, to avoid running any crud through the engine.
I own three other vans, a couple of which may be for sale over the course of the next several months (I will always own at least one), and am familiar with the ever-increasing value of these Metro vans. If you're looking for a cheap, entry-level van with major engine and body work needing to be done, then this is not the van for you. If you are looking for a project well under way, that you can complete with your finishing touches, then this may be the van for you. Chop it, slam it, restore it...the possibilities are endless.
This Metro is being listed locally and I reserve the right to end this auction early if the van sells locally.
Best wishes~
On Mar-08-16 at 14:16:58 PST, seller added the following information:
I have a video of the engine running, but can't figure out how to upload it. If interested, message me your cell # and I can send it to you.
To clarify, this metro is not rust free. It does have rust in the usual places (drip channels, step edges into the van), but overall is in very good shape. Worst of the rust is inside above driver's seat, as I described earlier, where the 'glove compartment' is. If interested in seeing the van, you can message me for a time.

_{update: 2016-03-12}