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Navistar Engine Group Historical Highlights

1889–1929

  • 1831 Company originates with introduction of McCormick reaper
  • 1889 McCormick Harvesting Company begins production of its first gasoline engine
  • 1891 First self-propelled vehicle tested
  • 1896 Automobile built by Deering Harvester tested in Florida- may have been the first ever speed trial at Daytona Beach
  • 1898 Edward Johnston begins experimentation at McCormick Harvesting machine Company, with automobiles
  • 1900 Deering auto-mower vs. McCormick Automower at Paris World’s Fair
  • 1900–1902 Both Deering and McCormick allegedly begin experimentation and design of stationary gas engines for farm use
  • 1902 Deering and McCormick combine with other firms to produce International Harvester
  • 1903–1904 First horizontal stationary gas engines are first produced at Deering Works, Chicago
  • 1904 First parts manual for early gas engines produced
  • 1904 Horizontal stationary engine production is transferred to Milwaukee Works
  • 1904–1905 Vertical stationary engines first produced at McCormick Works, transferred later to Milwaukee Works
  • 1905 3,000 stationary gas engines produced at Milwaukee Works
  • 1906 Horizontal stationary engines are fitted to Morton tractor frames to produce first IH tractors
  • 1907 First IH auto buggies produced at McCormick Works and later transferred to Akron Works
  • 1907 First large gas engines for municipal and factory power produced by IH
  • 1909 First kerosene burning engines built by IH (Alcohol engines also built before this)
  • 1915 IH experimented with fuel injected hot bulb ignition gasoline engine
  • 1916 First high-speed four-cylinder engines put into IH tractors. Engines designed at least two years before
  • 1916–1919 First period of diesel engine experimentation by IH
  • 1926 IH engineers travel Europe studying diesel engines
  • 1926 IH begins active diesel engine experimentation
  • 1928 IH tests four-cylinder diesel, which is the first successful automotive diesel developed
  • 1928 Field-testing of IH diesel tractor begins in Arizona
  • 1929 IH begins experimentation with IH injection pumps

1930–1949

  • 1930 Experimentation begins with pre-combustion chambers
  • 1933 First IH Diesel engine produced, PD-40 four-cylinder power unit for use in farm tractors
  • 1933 IH produces its first diesel engine at its Tractor Works factory in Chicago, Illinois
  • 1936 First D-80 6 cylinder Diesel engine released for production
  • 1937 First diesel powered IH truck produced
  • 1941 First IH single plunger injection pump released for production
  • 1941 Melrose Park Works, built by the U.S. Defense Plant Corporation and operated by the Buick Division of General Motors, opens to manufacture aircraft engines
  • 1946 Melrose Park Works purchased by IH for peace-time conversion; plant begins producing diesel motors, a gasoline engine, a crawler tractor (TD-24 model) and full line of stationary power units; employees contracted through UAW Local 6
  • 1940s IH Diamond Series engines provided power in many commercial and military applications, helping the U.S. win the war
  • 1940s The Green Diamond “GRD,” Blue Diamond “BLD,” and Red Diamond “RED” engines were used in many military and commercial applications

1950s–1960s

  • 1950s Modern engine development transitioned from gasoline-start diesels to direct start for agriculture, construction and on-highway trucks
  • 1950 Production of large motorized armored personnel carriers commissioned by U.S. Department of Defense
  • 1950s Paul haulers (off-highway trucks) and pay scrapers (rubber tired earthmovers) introduced to Melrose Park’s product line
  • 1958 Manufacture of engines for construction equipment begins
  • 1960 IH develops a diesel D-301 engine for use in medium-duty trucks
  • 1963 Worlds first numerically controlled transfer machine installed
  • 1963 World’s first fully integrated numerically controlled engine block machining line installed

1970s–1980s

  • 1970 Manufacture of engines for agricultural equipment begun
  • 1972 Manufacture of engines for on-highway trucks begins
  • 1975 DT 466 introduced (first rebuildable, in-chassis, mid-range diesel engine)
  • 1975 Production focus moves to small and medium crawlers, heavy tractors and diesel engines
  • 1982 International debuts 6.9-liter, indirect injection, naturally aspirated V8 diesel, IH begins partnership with Ford Motor Company to supply them with diesel engines for their medium-duty commercial truck series
  • 1984 Gasoline engine production discontinued
  • 1984 International Harvester sells off its Ag division
  • 1986 International Harvester changes its name to Navistar International
  • 1986 Melrose Park facility receives the first of, what will be, 9 consecutive “President’s Trophy” awards for safety and accident prevention
  • 1987 2D CAD/CAM systems installed
  • 1987 Manufacture of engines for construction and agricultural equipment discontinued
  • 1989 International unveils its first smokeless diesel engine, five years before the EPA deadline for such technology

1990s–Present

  • 1990 Engine division develops HEUI technology
  • 1992 Melrose Park facility receives Governor’s “Pollution Prevention” award from the state of Illinois
  • 1992 Indianapolis Engine Plant produces one-millionth 6.9/7.3 liter V8 diesel engine
  • 1992 Fully automated conveyors, separated by stations to allow employees control over assembly line speed are installed
  • 1993 Melrose Park Facility receives Well Workplace “Silver” award for excellence in employee wellness programs. Fitness Center and Legend Park opened
  • 1994 Introduction of T 444E, electronically controlled, direct injection, turbocharged, HEUI V8 diesel
  • 1994 HEUI engine fuel system recognized by the “Truck Writers of North America” for innovation in new product development
  • 1994 HEUI engine fuel system recognized by Construction Equipment magazine as one of the “Top 100 New Products of 1994”
  • 1995 The DT 466E and International 530E with HEUI technology introduced. Navistar becomes the first North American truck builder to offer electronics throughout its complete mid-range diesel engine line
  • 1995 HEUI engine fuel system receives “Nifty Fifty” award from Heavy Duty Trucking magazine
  • 1995 HEUI engine fuel system receives the International Marine Trades and Exhibits Convention IMTEC award for the most innovative product in the engine category.
  • 1995 3D computer aided design systems installed
  • 1995 Melrose Park Engine Plant produces its one-millionth in line six-cylinder diesel engine
  • 1996 50th anniversary of continuous IH/Navistar operation at Melrose Park plant
  • 1998 First company to certify low-emissions diesel vehicle
  • 1998 Engine Diamond Logic introduced
  • 1999 I-308 engine introduced
  • 1999 International demonstrated Green Diesel Technology vehicle to the EPA, California regulators and the public.
  • 2000 Introduced International Green Diesel Technology® — the first diesel with emissions equal to natural gas
  • 2001 Integrated powertrain introduced
  • 2002 First company to introduce U.S. EPA 2004-capable engine
  • 2002 VT-365 launched
  • 2002 6.0-liter Power Stroke Diesel introduced
  • 2004 Camless engine introduced
  • 2004 VT 275 launched
  • 2004 I-313 launched
  • 2005 International acquires MWM in South America, extending its engine offerings.
  • 2006 International introduces new 6.4-liter V8 engine
  • 2006 Indianapolis Engine Plant produces the 3-millionth Power Stroke Diesel engine
  • 2006 International unveils its new brand, MaxxForce International Diesel Power, for its line of commercial diesel engines
  • 2007 International produces its 15-millionth engine
  • 2008 International changes its name to Navistar
  • 2008 Navistar celebrates the 75th anniversary of the production of its first diesel engine

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