There’s something about a truck that wears its patina proudly. In the case of this 1970 International Harvester Scout, it has stood for about 30 years in California and lost most of its paint, but it still looks rock-solid with the kind of patina that’s impossible to fake. The seller has gotten it running and driving, and while it still has a few needs, they sound entirely manageable for the next owner to sort out. This Scout also features a desirable manual transmission and V8 combination. Find it here on eBay with bids to just over $6,000 and a Buy-It-Now of $15,000.
It’s funny: we get so used to seeing trucks with oversized wheels and all-terrain tires that we forget they used to appear much more humble. The Scout sits on off-road tires but the wheels are just standard slot-mags. Still, it would look pretty great with some bigger tires underneath it, and I suspect the next owner will make this change almost immediately. In fact, I wouldn’t touch much else, opting to simply leave the cosmetics as-is and throw on some period-correct wheels. I could also be convinced to use a brush guard and mount a few off-road lamps.
The combination of a V8 and manual gearbox is always appealing. The seller notes that the 304 V8 engine runs and drives well, doesn’t overheat, and is equipped with a Holley 2300 carburetor. There’s a boatload of recent maintenance performed, including a new water pump, radiator hoses, heater hoses, thermostat and gaskets, fuel filler necks, and having the radiator professionally tested and cleaned. When new, this engine produced a healthy 193 horsepower and 272 lb-ft of torque. While it has good compression, the seller notes that the valve seals will need to be replaced and the vacuum advance is bad.
It’s hard to get a good look at the interior, but the back seat is in decent shape. The floors are said to be mostly solid, along with the body mounts, but there are apparently a few areas that need attention; the seller simply refers to 3 spots that will need to be repaired. However, given it’s a California rig, I doubt it’s anything too serious. The seller has listed several other mechanical improvements, so this seems like a fair deal at the Buy-It-Now price for a truck that should prove pretty easy to sort out. Would you buy one like this or do you prefer the showroom-fresh paint job?
Needs a Radio Shack CB radio with a whup antenna.