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 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 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
