While small sports utility vehicles now seem to be some of the most common cars on the road, it wasn’t always so. It has been a long evolution from the working vehicles of the past to the people-movers of the present day. Long before the likes of the Kia Soul or Chevy Equinox, the market segment had its origins in “sport” and “utility.” Both are in evidence with this 1967 International Harvester Scout 800. Located in Joshua, Texas, just south of Fort Worth, this classic truck is up for auction here on eBay. At the time of writing, the bid rests at $7,700, with a little over two days left to go.
While the broad market appeal of four-wheel-drive vehicles wasn’t apparent in 1950s America, thousands of veterans of the Second World War and Korea had become extremely familiar with the chief example of the post-war years: the Willys Jeep. Rugged, reliable, and able to go places that other vehicles could not, it quickly found a niche in the world of farm and ranch. Even in the world of television tradition bowed to progress, as the 1946 CJ-2A “Nellybelle” found stardom on the set of The Roy Rogers Show.
So, though main street might not have been ready for the SUV, the back forty definitely was– and agriculture was a setting with which International Harvester was intimately familiar. Building on its experience with full-sized trucks, military vehicles, and tractors, International launched the Scout 80 in 1960. More comfortable than a Jeep, the little trucks were nonetheless rugged and capable, and IH sold the heck out of them. By 1965, however, it was time for an update: enter the Scout 800.
This Scout 800 appears to be an excellent example of the type, showing little of the rust and wear that is common on what were, after all, work vehicles. That’s not to say that there is no rust, of course, but as the seller states, it’s as close to rust-free as you’re likely to find. Unfortunately, it is not a 4×4, but for most drivers this presents few problems; though Scouts remain popular in the world of off-roading, there’s a large number of fans who would be just as happy to keep this one on pavement. It needs some mechanical attention to get it running again, but these are simple trucks– a home mechanic should be able to tackle most jobs short of tearing the engine to pieces. All in all, this one looks to be what it claims: a very solid classic Scout. It will be interesting to see where this one ends up.
Kind of surprised this hasn’t had any comments yet. To me this is one of the most desirable Scouts ever featured here. Too bad it isn’t a 4×4. On the other hand, how many who would buy a Scout or any similar vehicle would actually USE the 4×4? Myself, I would prefer a full-bodied version but sometimes you have to take what’s there. A good cleaning, a tuneup and enjoy. Nothing could be better…
“On the other hand, how many who would buy a Scout or any similar vehicle would actually USE the 4×4?”
I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains and we USE 4WD around here, especially in the winter. Last month, January, my 2WD car sat for almost 3 weeks due to my iced-over driveway. I drove either my wife’s AWD Escape or my gas hog 4WD F150 with the snowplow on the front.
I’d love to find an inexpensive 4×4 Scout, with better gas milage, for winter driving, fishing trips, etc.
He’s referring to using 4wd on a vintage vehicle such as this, especially one in great condition. Hopefully they don’t use salt in your area and regardless, a classic SUV shouldn’t be exposed to a ton of snow. Finally, I’m not sure why you would expect a vintage scout to get better mpg’s than a modern Ford, especially the Escape.
That’s what I was getting at. All of our regular drivers are 4×4 and we find ourselves using that feature a lot, all year round. But our vintage stuff is pretty much fair weather unless we get caught in a sudden weather anomaly. If this Scout was to find its way to my place it would be used, probably to carry the beer…
Mmmmm Beeeeerrrr. And maybe a picnic basket and plaid blanket. I can’t imagine wanting to drive a vintage Scout during the winter when modern, cushy 4wd/awd options are there for the taking. Maybe take it out once to cut down the xmas tree and snap a photo for a xmas card and posterity.
Yeah Geomechs – you are absolutely right! One of the best ever featured here. Would take it in a heartbeat if I would live on this side of the pond.
The Roy Rogers show never used a Scout on his show, Pat Brady drove a willis Jeep on the show, named Nellie Bell. Check it out.
Andy never stated that a Scout was on the Roy Rogers Show. He was talking about the Jeep Nellybelle and how seeing it on TV gave the SUV more visibility.
I guess we’re run out of overpriced Broncos and VW busses
I plowed snow in northern Indiana all winter with a 4×4 Scout that looked just like this one. In the spring I unlocked the front hubs and found it wouldn’t move. I’d snapped a rear axle shaft and had been plowing with the front axle only.
We bought a next to new (20K) miles hauling truck and put it right to work. One day we were out in the yard jockeying the trailer around and got stuck in the mud. The driver selected the Interaxle Diff Lock and the truck freewheeled. Found out the diff was out. The original owner reversed the air lines on us. One new front carrier later and the problem was solved…
Nice little scout. I have a top like that,but I am sure its fiberglass. It sat out in the weather for along time and has not rusted any. If I had this . I,d drive it. Its what it was made for and use. I would set it in a building and look at it and if I did. People wouldm want to buy it for very little. It has wheels. Use it and drive it. Your relatives would sale it in a heart beat. They don,t even come to visit. Unless they want something. fiing up a 78 Bronco now and I,m gonna use it. I,m fixing it to use–not make money on it. Money ruins alot of good people and makes them greedy. I don,t like money–I help people with it. That really need help.
The ad shows the mileage as 30,000. I wonder if those are the actual miles? This looks like a solid, lightly used ranch truck and the engine looks really clean. Probably won’t take much to have it running fine. $7900 with 2 hours left. Sounds like the new owner will be getting a good deal!
I used a ’68 Scout 800 in Northern Maine for several years. I bought it for $300.00 in about 1980. It only needed a lock out hub on the left front to make the 4 wheel drive work. I made my own spring over lift, added a snow plow that I traded for and eventually replaced the tired 304 with a newer 304 from a junk yard. I only had to replace 2 valves on one head and it ran great! A different set of larger tires, some mod’s to the heater, and a small, auxillary heater for the back and I was in business. I used that Scout for just about everything I did. Hunting in the North Maine woods, fishing in rough country, going to work, and plowing snow in my neighborhood and a few other places. That little truck performed great! A few more mod’s were made, like bumpers and hitches, and stuff. I wish I had kept that Scout, it was in really good shape. I’ve owned quite a few Scouts since then but, that ’68 was my favorite. I am now building a ’67 800, with all Chevy running gear, I upgraded the trans’ to a 700R4, the transfer case to a 205, and added some goodies to the 350 V-8. I still have a long way to go, and I need a full top for it. (I have a fiberglass half cab to sell or trade) It’s gonna be Great Little Truck when I finish it and a suitable replacement for my ole ’68 Scout I called “Sprout”. The ’67 is named “THUNDER CHICKEN” after my old CB handle. May Scouts live forever!!!
Y I bought my bronk 40 yrs ago this fall. Needed a sm wrk truck but IH went out of business. Fed law at that time “U only gotta make replacement parts 7 yrs after closing” so I gotta ford. 30 yrs in the woods income from it. Restoring now for twenty-something daughter. I retire but it goes onto job 2, cartin her round. I see these? wonder if I made the right choice. Financially, yes. I still like the way these (& the 80) look better. A Jeepster (commando)? Kinda nice lookin w/a small lift too.
Hey Joshua M. I stand corrected, I went back and read the artical again and it never said that the scout was on the Roy Rogers show, I miss read it., Thanks