One of the many tragedies about the International Scout II’s demise after the 1980 model year was that the automotive world lost a little of its sense of whimsy. Because International was a relatively small automaker, it couldn’t update the Scout regularly, so it offered an almost unending selection of trim and decal packages that allowed buyers to customize their new rigs to their preferences. This specific Scout, which Barn Finds all-star spotter T.J. found on eBay in Gentry, Arkansas, has a CVI trim package called “Sportstar” (more on that in a moment), making it an uncommon International from that final year of production. The high bid is currently $6,400, and it has not yet met reserve.

CVI stood for “Custom Vehicles International,” an offshoot of Good Times, Inc., a Texas-based van conversion outlet, according to the International Scout Encyclopedia. They contracted with International’s Southwestern Zone Office to create special editions of Scout IIs for that region, whose success meant expansion into nationwide markets. CVI set up a building in Fort Wayne, Indiana, near the Scout line, to complete the work, but it all came at the wrong time. This program came online just as Scout II production was ending, making these 1980 models quite uncommon, especially considering that Scout II sales fell to just over 13,000 units for 1980 (over 44,000 were sold in 1979).

The Sportstar required the buyer to order a “Winter White Traveltop” with a T-407 automatic (which was a 727 Torqueflite), a “sport steering wheel,” the “off-road tire package,” and a black custom interior, although (like this example), “several have been seen with Russet Plaid interiors.” Then, the Scout IIs were given these special graphics. Unfortunately, the seller of this example didn’t pull it out of the garage for pictures, but you can see that there’s some rust in the wheelwells and lower quarters on this side. The missing door trim will come with the sale.

The engine is International’s 150-horsepower 345 four-barrel V8, which also produces 263 lb.-ft. of torque. Aside from mentioning that it and the transmission both have fluid leaks, the seller doesn’t say whether the engine runs or not. It does have power steering, power brakes, and air conditioning.

The undercarriage is where the good news lies: the pictures show a surprisingly solid Scout II. It is uncanny how badly an International Scout can rust, and finding a rare trim package on a sound foundation is exactly what you want (if this is your kind of truck).

Here’s that Russet Plaid interior, which the seller says is in “really nice condition.”

A nice thing about buying a Scout is that production records are readily available. This one has its “Line Setting Ticket,” which shows almost every piece of equipment installed on the truck at the Fort Wayne assembly plant. This one is fundamentally loaded; it appears to even have a tilt wheel and “auto cruise.”

Perhaps the worst news is that the Sportstar has taken a hit on both quarter panels, almost as if it got caught in a giant pair of pincers. That’s really the only thing keeping you from getting this rare Scout II on the road as-is, because now you’ll have to match those graphics, and that’s going to be expensive. Regardless, if you like Scouts, you’ll clearly like this one, and it’s definitely going to bring a decent price.