Have You Ever Seen An IH Car?

Have You Ever Seen An IH Car? FARM HOME Cars 20-6-20 Did you know that before International Harvester ever built pickups, they were in the car business? "IHC built 4,410 æAuto Buggies' between 1907 and 1911," says Dennis French, Minnetonka, Minn., who owns one of the rare vehicles. "They had air-cooled, 2-cyl. engines which got hot pretty fast. The engines were later converted to water-cooled simply by casting the cylinder heads with an internal water jacket, making them exceptionally reliable. The æAuto Buggies' were designed to travel slow, 20 mph tops, with lots of power. Mine was used as a scrap hauler at the Crystal, Minn., junk yard during World War II." French found his IHC "car" four years ago in operating condition at Montrose, Minn. Since then, he's done extensive engine work on the vehicle. His "Auto Buggy" features a two-speed transmission (low, high and reverse) and 36 by 2-in. solid rubber tires. It chain drives the rear differential which in turn chain drives each rear wheel. The brake system consists of an external foot brake, which squeezes the differential, and internal hand brakes connected to the rear wheels. French has his vehicle insured for $15,000 but says he doubts that's enough to ever replace it. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dennis French, 5917 Center Lane, Minnetonka, Minn. 55343 (ph 612 938-8381).

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