It’s hard to believe that the last Scout was made over forty years ago now, what a shame. Why is that? Just when companies seem to be getting everything dialed in they stop making certain vehicles. This 1977 International Scout II looks like a good one with just enough work to do to keep it interesting. It’s listed here on eBay in Mansfield, Texas and there is a single bid of $16,500 and no reserve!
What a great-looking Scout, or Scout II, I should say. The Scout II was made from the spring of 1971 all the way to the end of the line in 1980. If I would have been thinking, I would have been born into a rich family so I could have asked for a 1980 Scout as a graduation present. What was I thinking?!
There is one significant dent in the driver’s side quarter panel and one on the driver’s side corner of the roof, and a few little dings here and there. Otherwise, the body on this 4×4 looks good. The only real visible rust appears to be related to the top and hopefully that can be fixed without too much trouble. The underside looks solid and look at those rocker panels! Kudos to the seller for providing quite a few good photos inside and out.
There’s enough interior work to do that the next owner will have a good excuse to escape to the garage often enough to stay sane. That didn’t sound right, but you know what I mean. This Scout II has a 3-speed manual transmission, according to the seller, with a floor shifter. Other than needing some work on the front seat vinyl, things look pretty tidy, dare I say, even semi-luxurious for a Scout with the woodgrain and padded dash and factory air-conditioning – although it isn’t currently working.
The engine is International’s 345 cubic-inch V8 with around 160 horsepower. This Scout II starts, runs, shifts, and drives well, and with a little cosmetic work, the next owner should have a winner. The seller has replaced the gas tank, rebuilt the carb, and went through the brakes. Have any of you owned a Scout II?
I never owned one of these, but I always thought they were cool.
They couldn’t have held on for another decade, but if they had, they would have been part of the SUV craze. Though there was no such thing as an “SUV” in the 1970s. I’m not sure when that term was coined, sometime around 1995 I think. I knew someone who had one of the first Explorers, before they were really popular, and someone saying to them, “oh, you have one of those car/truck things”.
I had a ’75 that looked almost identical inside and out to this one. Wish I had never parted with it. Got 14mpg and would pop out of 4th gear until I replaced the tranny. lots and lots of fun.
The why is the greedy auto workers union who bleed IHC to death
I owned a 72 Scout for about 7 years (80-87). Outside of the rusting problem, it was one of the most reliable vehicles I’ve ever owned. Even with the single speed transfer case (in mine), it would go places that Broncos, Jeeps and Blazers would have difficulty traversing. (I know; I did my fair share of pulling those vehicles out.)
I have high hopes of owning another one. Unfortunately, there always seems to be a reason to put it off.
I never owned one, but Springfield Ohio was crawling with these things back in the ’70s & 80’s. Good simple solid vehicles. Some rusted pretty bad (usually in the back quarters), but keep in mind that most were used in the salt & snow. That is what they were good at. Worked at a golf course where one was used for everything including pulling the rough mowers! I was looking at the new Ford Bronco this morning. In my opinion, the new Bronco gets more styling cues from the Scout than the old Bronco!
JMB#7
You are absolutely correct. The new Bronco does get a lot of styling clues from the Scout; especially the Scout 80 and 800. Too bad it likely won’t have the off road capability of the Scouts.
The upcoming Bronco (not the Sport that is already out) will absolutely trounce a stock Scout off road, especially considering even the base model will be available with front and rear lockers. Step up to at least the Black Diamond to get the GOAT mode and it will have many tricks up its sleeve. What today’s off-roaders can do with computer trickery plus those lockers is way beyond what the past offered.
Will the Scout still be cooler? Absolutely. And you can still build one to conquer anything.
Got to have respect for any vehicle that uses a Bluebird school bus motor for a power plant!
Aside from rust , you couldn’t kill the IH Scout
I had a 78 Scout lol, 304 with 4 speed manual. I had it painted Garfield Yellow. I had to ship it to California before I finished pairing the stripes. I had Maui Off-road put a 8 “ lift on it. 3” body blocks and 5” suspension. I had Ceterline Racing Rims with 36” Dick Cepek Tire. Was going to flip the axles to put the leaf springs on top the axle instead of on the axle, but Ca said no way to drive on road. I had a light bar with 5 KC Daylighters. I lowered the radiator and cut the firewall for the steering column. Last I knew it was in Lewisville. Had to let it go. Father passed and needed the money. I put over 10k into this but had to sell for half.
3 speed manual ??????????
This one looks pretty good. If it’s always been in north Texas, chances are it hasn’t seen much salt. The underside photos look pretty clean—you’ll want to look closer at cab mounts, rockers, around the rear wheel arches, and the windshield, as well as under that rubber floormat.
This was a well-optioned truck from the factory. the 4-speed will almost certainly be a BW T-19; the Close version is pretty traditional and the Wide version is a 6-1 crawl gear in first. Both are excellent. (I have a 345/T-19W).
Despite what commenters say here, parts are available, you just have to look beyond Pep Boys.
While the unions did have a strangle hold on IH, it was nothing unusual. All the manufacturers had labor problems. The real reason, was just plain timing. In the 70’s, trucks didn’t have the image they have today, and without some crystal ball, it was pretty hard to figure out what was the next big thing. To many, trucks were the last thing one would think of. That, and IH was concentrating on the heavy truck market, which, at the time, IH was the absolute king, until Volvo hit the scene, that is. Scouts are great vehicles, and I’d love to have one. Too bad, I’m not that particular, and there’s like 100 CJ’s for every Scout today.
the 80/800 is Y I bought my ’70 bronk in 1980 (us of a the law wuz U must make prts 7 yrs after U go bankrupt & IH did at that time). The bronk wuz gunna stay around longer (or did it?)? Scouts (or is it just these – the “TWO”) that’s climbing to price parity just now w/the bronk. Frnt discs, 5 speed or 4 auto and these rigs have it all over the imorts. Ex: a toy jeep hits abt 45, 50 mph on rd where these can do hwy speed AND still do pretty good off rd.
My 4th grade teacher. She had 2 of them back in 1977. I liked them.