You will not be able to drive this one home but this 1964 International Harvester Scout 80 is presented as an original and still running example of one of the first SUVs. It is located near Fayetteville, Arkansas and is listed for sale here on Craigslist. The seller listed it 8 days ago for a price of $10,000. It looks like a great restoration candidate as the rust to the body panels and undercarriage is limited. International Harvester produced the first series of Scouts from 1961 to 1964 and called it the Scout 80. Various versions of the Scout were produced all the way to 1980 with over 500,000 produced. We appreciate Gunter Kramer for finding this Scout 80 and sending us the link.
The Scout 80 was powered by a 152 cubic inch inline Comanche 4 cylinder engine that produced 93 horsepower from the factory. The engine is backed by a 3 speed manual transmission. The four wheel drive has locking hubs and a dual stick transfer case. Later Scouts came with the 196 cubic inch inline 4 cylinder that was introduced in 1966. Other optional engines over the years included a 232 cubic inch and 258 cubic inch inline 6-cylinder. Also, a 266 cubic inch, 304 cubic inch V8, and a 345 cubic inch V8 engine powered later versions of the Scout.
The interiors of Scout 80’s were spartan to say the least. The restoration is not that complicated because it just requires new paint, new seats and some minor trim replacement as long as there is no major rust repair. This Scout 80 is said to start, run and drive but the tires are dry rotted. The lights and gauges are not working but the windows roll-up and the 4WD works. The seller has the line ticket to show how the Scout was originally equipped and the Scout has a PTO winch.
The exterior shows surface rust but it appears in pretty good condition considering its age. After the first production run of the Scout 80 ended, International Harvester introduced the Scout 800 which was produced in three sub-models (800, 800A, and 800B) from 1966 to 1967. The Scout 800A was produced from 1968 to 1970. The Scout 800B had a short production run of only a few months from August 1970 to March 1971. It was replaced by the Scout II which had a 10-year production run from 1971 to 1980 and had many more modern features.
I wonder if Ted Ornas had any idea that his idea, that he drew out on his kitchen table one night, would spawn half a million successful vehicles. Ted was the head of the future planning department at International and would work there for more than 30 years before retiring. He saw the popularity of the Jeep and thought that International was up to the same task. He just needed to put some ideas in motion. This was what he came up with back in the 50s. Of course it was rather different when it first saw the light of day in the fall of 1960.
This is a very good candidate for a resto although I would personally prefer to see the entire engine sitting under the hood instead of just half. Kind of reminds me of the Pontiac Tempest. There’s getting to be more parts available all the time and the Scout’s popularity is increasing. I would love to have a project like this but I’m afraid that this one is beyond my budget. But it’s nice to dream. Never know, I might be able to arrange some parts for the new owner. I’ve got a couple so far who have bought through BF…
I do declare, got to love your optimism. It’s the pessimists bane, but helps balance out the world,,,for now. I get lambasted because I say the CJ is an outdated vehicle. Except for the last Scouts, they are in the same category as the CJ. I agree on the great find, naturally, it’s the gall to ask $10gs that grinds my gears. I look at it differently. The Scout is fast becoming the latest “flash-in-the-pan”, and will eventually take it’s place along side all the other “flashes” that have come and gone. Scouts were great vehicles, gave Jeep something to sweat about, who previously, enjoyed a decade+ of being the only plausible 4×4. Scout did everything the Jeep did. Splitting hairs what was better, as aside from the motor, both stout units, they used many of the same components. This? Maybe a grand, use it for it’s intent, plowing snow and checking fences in the lower 400. To restore and drive? As is with no modifications? I’ll just say, 4x4s have come a long ways since these humble beginnings.
The “flash-in-the-pan” might say something for flippers but otherwise I have to disagree. The majority of my Scout customers are my kids’ age and younger. I’ve got one who just graduated high school and anothe who’s a junior. I look at them and say, “that’s ME, when I was that age. I’ve got a high schoo senior with an S-1700 4×4 who is co-ordinating the restoration while he serves Uncle Sam. Another who is doing a similar restoration on the farm.
You know the horse is 100K years old or more. It’s smelly, inefficient, very strong and very stupid, yet people are passionate about them and I don’t see the numbers dwindling, at least not out west. I’m 69 and I was passionate about old trucks since I could walk. Smelly and inefficient as old trucks are, I love them. And there’s lots of youngsters coming up who share that passion. Yet, I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t care for A/C, cruise control, or even a heater where you didn’t have to reverse the fan for defrost (while your toes freeze). Maybe we’re all just warped. I don’t know but I’m proud to be a redneck and love the skin I’m in…
My rich, eccentric uncle had one with all the tops; station wagon, pick-up, and two different rag tops. I swear, he used it to haul his favorite horse (poor guy had to stand with his 4 feet together like a mountain goat).. Along with my cousins, I did my part to tear it up, we couldn’t! I wouldn’t restore it to stock, just make it drivable; lawn chairs bolted in, no top, rebuild the engine, kinda fix the brakes, and use it as intended. I used his to plough my aunt’s garden! I am too old and decrepit for that project.
My friend bought a scout in 1979 when I bought a cj 7 . He was very upset that my Jeep gave me twice the gas mileage of his Scout. He did not keep his Scout for very long even though it did it’s jobs very well!
$10K, and all the money in your bank account will restore this one. Another subscriber to the Junk and Clunker price guide.
Looking at the amount needed to restore this one I’d offer $200. tops. Another High hopes seller.
Aaaaand it’s gone. I be he got pretty near the $10K too.
Is this Scout still available?