By 1980, the International Scout II was at the end of its run, but there were still plenty of special editions available in that final year. One company that specialized in creating these limited models in 1979 and 1980 was Custom Vehicles Incorporated (CVI), located just around the corner from the International Harvester Scout assembly plant in Fort Wayne, IN. These special models were dressed up with exterior details that included unique decals, trim, and fender flares. This 1980 International Scout CVI Sportstar, available here on eBay, is one of nearly a dozen special editions available that year from CVI with names that included Hot Stuff and Green Machine Sport.

1980 Scouts are instantly identifiable by their one-year-only rectangular headlights and ABS plastic grille. The Sportstar appears to have been mostly a decal package and lacks some of the extra plastic doodads like hood scoops, tailgate inserts, and window louvers that some of the other CVI models received, though it does have fender flares. The most obvious body issues on this one are the almost identical big dents on both rear quarter panels. This damage will take some work to sort out since there is some creasing. There is some rust-through around the fender flare mounting points in the rear, but it is not too bad when you consider how rust-prone Scouts were. The paint is faded and thin but most of the decals are intact. One flare is missing and some of the side trim is falling off.

The seller states that the drivetrain, which includes a 345 cubic inch V8 and three-speed automatic, works smoothly. They recommend checking the belts and hoses before doing any serious driving. There are few other details offered except the mileage which is stated to be just over 35,000 miles. The heater and air conditioning both work though the latter is said not to be very cold.

The best part of the Sportstar package is on the inside. The flamboyant interior consists of orange carpet on the floors and lower door panels, orange, white, and black plaid upholstery on the upper door panels and seating surfaces, and orange vinyl on the side of the seats. All of these materials appear in well-preserved condition and give off a nice late Seventies/early Eighties vibe. The black three-spoke steering wheel is a sporty touch and there is a large console with a storage compartment and cupholders between the front bucket seats. Cupholders, in 1980!

A cool detail is the copy of the line ticket that is still attached to the glovebox door, where it was located on all 1977-1980 Scout IIs. These tickets were created by dealers before the vehicle was built, and included a VIN number, engine and transmission type, axle gear ratios, paint codes, and standard and optional equipment specific to that Scout, and it was assembled based on that. This information will prove useful for restoration efforts. With three days of bidding left, this Scout II Sportstar is approaching $15,000 with more than 40 bids and a reserve not yet met. Given the low miles and condition of its interior, this vintage SUV is a great candidate for some bodywork, new paint, and new decals. Would you restore this one to its original CVI Sportstar specifications or give it your own personalized touch?