1962 IH International Metro Mite mini step van 59 60 61 63 64 Hot rat rod custom

1962 International Harvester Metro Mite Description

1962 International IH Metro Mite mini step van. I think this body style was similar from around 1959 to 1964. This could be restored to original or modified as a vintage ice cream or milk truck. Tons of ideas that would work with it. This has been sitting for a long time. Original 4 cylinder is stuck, appears to be complete minus air cleaner. Someone has broken most of the glass out. Front corner window and both door glass pieces are still in, but I would replace all of the glass. The glass appears to be all straight and a glass shop should be able to cut it. The seals look like the common ones used with the expansion filler in them. I replaced a rear glass in an old 40s Chevy pickup years ago and that type of seal just came in bulk and I cut what I needed. I think you could do the same on this IH. It is a unibody construction, not full frame. It has 5 on 4 1/2" bolt patterns and there are 14" Ford wheels on it now with bias ply whitewalls. The center holes in these wheels are too small for the front and the lug nuts are not on very far. I did not want to modify the wheels, because they are a matching set of 1962 date coded Ford wheels that probably won't stay on here anyway. Hub caps are just some stuff I had laying around, 2 matching, 2 odd. It rolls fine. Right front wheel seems to be tipped so I'm sure it will need suspension steering work. The driver's door opens and closes. That window should slide up and down but it is stuck. Right door glass is stationary. That right door has a problem with the rear roller either being stuck or missing. I can open and close it, but it is a challenge. Inside flat floor has surface rust and feels soft and should be replaced. The single seat folds and tilts forward for entry to the back. Some stole the gauge pod, cut the harness off. The park lights were gone, I put some in from Mac's hardware, didn't modify anything or wire them. The headlight bezels and sockets were gone and I modified some 46 Dodge cars ones. They don't fit right and the bezels are rusty, but look better than nothing. Someone also had taken the original grille. I made one that looks similar, but it is crude, made from stainless rocker trim from an old Pontiac. 3 of the bars are fair, bottom one dented. The whole unit is tack welded together and bolted in with the original 4 mounting holes. The IH emblem is missing from the front hood. One Metro Mite script is gone, the other missing the Mite. The inside is 5' 6" high in the rear. Outside, it measures right at 13' bumper to bumper, so it is short. There is rust out on the front wheel areas and in the "rocker" areas, but it is mostly straight metal and should be easy to fix. It doesn't appear to be dented up much, some in the lower rear right corner. That bumper bracket is broken there and the bumper is pushed in. The tail light bezels are pitted, but I found NOS lenses that I put in. There is a heater on the right front side, another under the driver's seat. The engine cover dog house is there and is held in with original appearing hardware. I have probably forgotten some things and will update the listing if needed. Please ask questions. This is far from good shape, but rare and would make a very cool project. Located in South Dakota. Clear title in my name.