Treasure Valley Street Rods Finishes a 1935 International Pickup in Honor of the Man who had the Vision
Like many trucks from the 1930s, Ralph Ross’s 1935 International was quietly rusting away in a farmer’s field when he found it about 10 years ago. A victim of hard work and neglect, the truck was a mess: half-missing rear fenders, a crumpled bed, front fenders split in half, and an engine that gave up the fight decades ago.
After getting the hulk back to his home in Idaho, the truck sat for a few years before Ralph turned it over to nearby Treasure Valley Street Rods, where the heavy lifting of a complete rebuild began. Unfortunately, Ralph passed away in 2022, partway through the multi-year project. His wife Judy died a few months later, leaving the pickup in limbo. A year later, the family trust gave Treasure Valley the go ahead to see the vision through and complete the build.
The truck received a new foundation with a boxed original frame that was narrowed in the rear and outfitted with an Art Morrison front suspension and four-link rear, complete with Ridetech Shockwaves. The wiring and suspension plumbing were run through the frame, which was smoothed and painted body color. Wilwood disc brakes on all four corners were surrounded by Billet Specialties 18×7- and 20×12-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli rubber.
Power comes from a vintage 392c.i. Chrysler Hemi producing 400 horsepower thanks to Hilborn stack injection converted to EFI and other upgrades, including Sanderson headers and an exhaust system utilizing Borla mufflers. A 4L60E automatic transmission is controlled by a Lokar shifter.
The engine is surrounded by a scratch-built three-piece hood with side panel openings to show things off. That’s one of many significant body modifications that include a chopped top, custom firewall, a stretched cowl to create more passenger legroom, and a custom bed. Rear fenders from a ’34 Ford were stretched and widened and flow into one-off running boards and side skirts. The doors were reworked to open suicide style, while all the interior wood framing was replaced with metal. When bodywork was complete on the 1935 International, Crystal Copper paint from Kefa Kolor was applied by Treasure Valley’s Jeff Reed. The headlights are from United Pacific, while ’37 Ford taillights bring up the rear.
Fine Auto Trim by Chip Knight is responsible for the interior that features Procar seats tan leather upholstery, a Billet Specialties steering wheel on a Flaming River column, and Dakota Digital gauges centered on a smoothed original dash.
The Treasure Valley team feels the 1935 International is finished the way Ralph would have wanted. They hope he’s looking down on it and beaming with pride in seeing his vision completed.
Photos: Damon Lee
