Wake up! You were dreaming. The seller is listing this 1967 International Scout 800 Sportop for $16,000 or best offer, that doesn’t include any other vehicles shown here. As nice as that would be, I would take this I-H Scout over the Camaro every single time, but I know I’m in the vast minority there. They have this RWD Scout posted here on craigslist in Gilroy, California. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Tony P. for the Sportop tip!
I don’t know how I haven’t been to Gilroy, California before/yet. The famous garlic capital of the U.S. has to be worth a visit. If I had an extra $16,000, I’d visit to buy this Scout and drive it home on two-lane roads. I would never drive a vehicle this nice on salty roads in the winter, so the fact that it isn’t a 4×4 doesn’t even enter into the equation for me.
International made the Scout 800 from 1965 through 1968, and the Sportop is a nice model. The removable fiberglass top is unique, and the split rear bumper with the spare tire mounted on the tailgate makes this model even more unique. The Sportop model was first available in late 1965 for the 1966 model year, and the seller says this one has new paint, but some of the panels appear a shade different from adjacent panels. Maybe it’s a trick of light and/or shadow?
The interior is obviously new, or not factory original. I’d want some sound-deadening material on the floor, and I’d even kick it up a notch with some nice light carpet in this Sportop. The seats look like new because they are. I wish they had gone with a bit less of an eye-popping combo than black and white, but they must like that combination, and with vehicle ownership, that’s all that matters. Our individual opinions are worth exactly zero to anyone but ourselves. We don’t get to see the rear cargo area, but here’s a shot of the back seat through the window.
The engine is a 4-cylinder, which is all we’re given, and it could be a 152 or 196 four. I’m assuming it’s the 152-cu.in. version with 92 horsepower and 142 lb-ft of torque, but I’m not sure. One of you International experts will know by looking at it. It’s backed by a BorgWarner T-90C three-speed manual with a floor shift, and power is sent to the rear wheels only on this Scout. They say it runs like a champ, and has new “paint, brakes, ebrake, seats, tires and mechanically very, very sound. Speedo and gauges are not yet working.” Hagerty is at $23,300 for a #3 good-condition example, so prices are really ramping up for early Scouts. How much would you pay for this Scout Sportop?
WOW!! Very nice IH!! Wouldn’t want to drive it much because of IGNORANT drivers.
Here’s a rare one, I read only about 3547 “Sportops” were made, and only about 2579 actually had the top. They originally came with a folding soft top. This was a classic “swing and a miss”, misinterpreting what the public actually wanted. With over half a million Scouts sold, this wasn’t it. The basic Scout cost about $2128 new, a Sportop was almost $2600, PLUS the hardtop was extra,( $200?) so it wasn’t a big seller. Some sites say an original could go as high as $50 grand,,,okay,,,the gauges aren’t original, so some tinkering there, and one was featured here a while back, in much worse shape, I don’t think was sold, but not much other info, so it’s a rare one.
Wow!! This is certainly a nice one. I’m not sure either what’s going on with that slight color variation going on, but I wouldn’t mess with it if the paints solid. I actually like the two tone interior. The only thing besides flooring is a missing gas pedal. I’d try to source one of those. The original 4 cylinder and 3 speed is just fine for 2 lane back roads. It looks great. I’m wondering since it’s in California if its been there its whole life, and if so if that sheetmetal is all original? If it is, thats impressive.
Um, I’ll take the Camaro…
A friend had one of these Scouts with the Sportop, but his was 4 wheel drive. He only paid 200 bucks for it in the late 70’s. It was a bit rusty but made a good plow vehicle. He lent to me a couple of times when I was without a car. I can’t imagine why anybody would buy a new 2WD Scout. They were slow and kind of unrefined, but purpose being you could put it in 4WD when the going got tough. I did see a Jeep Cherokee equipped like this once 2WD,4cyl, and a 5speed. It originally belonged to the Jeep dealer and they used it for a shop vehicle. I think if I was looking for basic transportation back in ’67, I think I would have bought a Rambler American or a Dodge Dart.
Hideous looking.