It’s amazing to see 45-year-old sheet metal this solid, in fact, the seller says this 1979 International Scout II has no body rust at all. They’re talking about rust-through, of course, not surface rust. That’s what living in Southern California will do for a vehicle if it isn’t exposed to too much salty ocean breeze. The paint and graphics are said to be original, and thanks to Russell G. for the tip!
The wheels and tires aren’t original, but otherwise, this Scout could be shown in a preservation class car show, and it just might win. International Harvester made the Scout II from the spring of 1971 until the end of the line for personal trucks at the company, in 1980. I’m not alone in wishing that they had hung around in the personal truck market to see what a modern version may have been like today.
The seller has included many good photos. Kudos to them for taking the extra time to show this truck inside and out, along with a few underside photos! Having lived in Southern California its whole life, where I should have lived, this Scout II is one of the best-preserved ones I’ve seen. Sure, the paint and graphics aren’t perfect but as a counterpoint to having no road salt comes sunburn. They have included a video here on YouTube showing this vehicle inside and out.
The interior makes me openly weep to think about my vehicles looking this nice, but a lot of this interior is new. The seller mentions that the Traveltop, what I-H called their all-metal full-sized top, is in great condition and has new gaskets and seals. The seats, front door panels, and carpet are new and this one has a three-speed automatic transmission with a gear selector mounted on the console. Power steering and power brakes will make you forget this is a very rugged vehicle with off-road capabilities. Hagerty is at $36,300 for a #3 good-condition Scout II, as a general reference.
The biggest V8 available resides under that original paint hood. It’s International’s 345-cu.in. OHV V8, and they had a wide range of horsepower ratings, between 148 and almost 200 horsepower. The engine is clean and appears to have been painted at some point, and it is said to start and run fine with no leaks or smoke. The seller has it listed here on eBay in La Jolla, California and they’re asking $44,900 or you can make an offer. How much would you pay for this solid Scout?
This is a nice Scout no doubt, but it’s not perfect and my eyes watered when I saw that $44k price tag.
I nearly spit my beverage up.
To quote a line from an Aussie classic movie (The castle) Tell em, he’s dreaming, reference the price.
Scotty, we’re not far from seeing a modern Scout. International Harvester became Navistar International and was eventually acquired by Volkswagen. There will definitely be groans from the sidelines, but VW is expected to reveal the new, all-electric Scout SUV sometime this summer. I’m sure it will make this $45K vintage Scout seem like a bargain.
lol. Yeah ok.
Love the scout ! had a 62 and a 66 and would love to have this one for a reasonable price more like 10 to 12 k. Just sayin.
Had a 74′ from 76-78. 258/6, 3 spd, manual with a 4:11 posi rear. This series had an issue with the hydraulic clutches leaking with premature failure. The acceleration on the 258 required you to slingshot it to pass anything on two-lane road. The points distributor would malfunction even after a moderate rainfall. Carrying 1-2 spares was always a necessity. The short wheelbase would “propose-hop” on uneven curves.
Now, all that said, that truck went everywhere I needed to from New England to the Canadian Maritimes, and back. But for the life of me, I cannot figure what the big deal is about the resale prices on these lately. They were good, but not that great. There was a reason they d/c’d them . Just my personal experience.
Definitely catching up with Bronco prices
Listing update: the seller lowered their asking price to $39,500 or best offer.