It’s pretty clear that this 1971 Scout has spent part of its life plowing snow based on all the mounting equipment at the front of the vehicle. It’s listed for sale here on eBay and is located in Freeport, New York. Bidding is only up to just over $1,000 as I write and there’s no reserve. Could the primer be hiding a surprisingly solid body?
Based on the waves in the rocker panel in this picture I’m guessing this Scout has some body filler in there. I’m not exactly sure what makes Scouts rust so badly but I’ll bet one of our IH enthusiast commenters can tell us. I just know I have hardly ever seen an unrestored one that isn’t losing the battle to rust.
You have to admit the snow equipment gives a certain attitude to the front of the Scout, but I’d still look at removing it (unless I had snow to plow). Based on the design of the auxiliary headlights I think this addition was installed quite a while after the Scout left the factory, but that’s just a guess.
I really like “Actionmobile” as a new/old term for Sport Utility Vehicle! Of course, the Scout was much more capable than many of the car-based crossovers that try to look the part today. While I was researching this article I noticed a distinct change in Scout advertising over the years. At its launch in 1961, the Scout was portrayed as a work/farm vehicle that you could also take the family to town in. As time went on the ads changed (along with Jeep & Bronco ads) to a much more fun-related sales pitch. I found two terrific online histories of the Scout here and here if you want to learn more, including the factory-offered SnowStar plowing package (I don’t think this is one).
There’s a useful bed back here. However, the original floor should have had stiffening rails. so this has been replaced (although quite nicely from the looks of things). It would be telling to know if this was just put on over whatever was left of the original or if it was cut out and replaced for a “proper” repair.
We’re told the engine doesn’t run and that the vehicle has 166,000 miles. That carburetor and other newish components are indicative that someone cared at some point about the Scout, but the wires strewn carelessly along the firewall has me a little worried. Do you think it’s worth taking a chance if the bidding stays this low?
Seriously? A cheap Scout that looks still usable and none of you are interested? I’m amazed!
I was born where Scouts were made, For Wayne IN. They do get rusty, it’s hard to tell with the primer.
They are have a first reunion car show for IH Scouts:
Harvester Homecoming 2019
Venue: Scout Park Conference Center
Dates: August 10, 2019
Address: 2400 Meyer Road Fort Wayne, IN 46803
Times: 10am to 7pm https://harvesterhomecoming.com/
They were beasts in there Day!!!
Hey , for once a seller that didn’t say 66,000 original miles !
The replacement bed floor scares me. I have the cab top version and the bed floor still exists and it’s been exposed all it’s life. On the other hand this is a V8 version unlike the 3 listed the other day. There is more room under the hood on these to accommodate virtually any power plant within reason. I’ve seen IH 266 304 345, 392, SBC , LS, Cummins 4BT , 6BT even a 4.0 Jeep I6 fit with little modification.
The scouts we’re at one time a pretty good vehicle and plowing snow was one of many duties the we’re called upon to do. It’s a half ton unit and snowplows and very hard on the front suspension, very likely lots to replace there. The 266 was a great reliable engine and the 345 wasn’t as good nut acceptable. The main weak component on the vehicles was rust all over and the fact that it has a plow mount means it was living in everything that causes rust! I would try hard to ID what’s going on with the engine if it’s fixable for a reasonable amount of money I would put a plow back on it and move LOTS of snow with it.