Here from the deserts of Oregon is a two-owner 1979 International Harvester Scout Traveler, bid to $5928 on eBay, reserve not met. This Sunburst Yellow truck was sold new by a dealer in Baker City, Oregon, where it remains with its second owner. Its duty has been “adventuring” with its current owner’s family, a job for which its V8 engine and 4WD make it particularly suitable. The paint is original; the sheet metal sports a dent or two – including this damage on the tailgate. The seller highlights rust in the floor pans, and the sills look ragged. According to the seller, this rig has traveled just over 90,000 miles since it came off the showroom floor. Over the last few years, Scouts have won new appreciation in the collector market as Ford Bronco prices shot to the moon. With its many mechanical updates, this example is slightly underbid as yet.
The Scout evolved through several iterations from its introduction in 1961, with a major facelift rendered in 1971. The Scout II was more advanced all the way around, offering several engine options – changes designed to keep it relevant in the face of new larger SUVs from Jeep. This Scout has a “2” in the VIN’s engine-correlated digit, indicating it was factory-equipped with a V8. The seller has installed a new 304 cu. in. V8, along with a long roster of other fresh components ranging from an aluminum radiator, clutch, heater core, Warn locking hubs, trailer controller, steering joints, sway bar, fuel pump, water pump, shocks, and more. The tires are new. The two-barrel carburetor has been rebuilt. The 304 will make 180 bhp net; the torque reading is at least 270 lb-ft at 2800 rpm. A stock Scout is happy on the trail but primitive on the highway. This one is about as good as it gets.
The interior is entirely serviceable. The windshield is new, the wipers are new, the upholstery is new. The door panels, floor mats, and rear hatch struts have been replaced. The care lavished on this rig doesn’t stop with the Scout’s factory features – the owner has refinished the original license plate frames from the selling dealer – Chet Smith Motors. The cargo area is tidy, with a new rubber seal around the hatch opening.
This example’s underside is clean and dry, attesting to its desert home and a lifetime of vigilant maintenance. This Scout should give its new owner at least a few years of enjoyment before its bodywork demands attention. The Traveler owes its existence to terminating IH’s light truck line. Its longer wheelbase was meant to satisfy would-be truck buyers – along with the Terra. But both models are rare, with only a handful of thousands produced yearly. However, rarity does not lead to high values, as collectors prefer the shorter wheelbase Scout II. This Traveler sold for just $7300. What do you think – would you take a Traveler over a Scout II?
I remember the ads, guy taking mom for a ride, “but sonny, why did you buy a truck?” His reply, “it’s not a truck, mom, it’s a Scout”,,,the Scout, by all accounts, was a great vehicle, but mom was on to something. IH just couldn’t shake it’s HD truck image, I say a plus, but peoples is da craziest peoples, and the public just didn’t go for it. Didn’t have the zing of a Bronco or Blazer. Their loss, as I feel, BECAUSE of its truck image, was therefore the best one. In my life, for work, I drove more IHs than any other brand. For many, it was the standard in HD trucks. Again, I don’t think the public saw this as a viable alternative to the luxury Bronco/Blazer, and more of a driveway plow, like the CJ, as originally intended. Nice find, good luck with mechanical parts, I remember IHs used goofy “commercial” spark plugs and filters, only to be gotten at the local IH cow poop spreader dealer. I think standing next to farmer Browns stinky overalls, probably didn’t go over well either.
Well, H, Scouts were popular out west, I have to say that they were an even split between the farming crowd, the suburbanites and the mountain types. I was never a fan of the Traveler but a lot of people were. I just liked the Scout II. But Travelers became the choice of a lot of people, including school teachers and off-roaders.
Farmers often take a lot of heat over their choice of occupation but over the years I have to say that the majority of farmers, did very well.
Where I grew up farmers were the first to become Snow-Birds. They made up the majority of private pilots, and started groups such as the “International Flying Farmers.” They drive new pickups, put their kids through college, put on the most extravagant weddings and even the most elaborate funerals. A couple of farmers that I knew went on extensive safaris to Africa and India. Both have trophy rooms fancier than ‘Brad Wesley’s.’ When the kids started to take over the family farms their folks built the fanciest houses in town.
True they may get smelly at times but I think people get confused at what green ink smells like.
Anyways, I’m off the soapbox and back to work now. Got to save up for a set of tires…
Add IH chrome rally wheels or at least the correct year wheel covers, 235/75 tires with a thin whitewall, Rhinoline the roof back to white, repaint black in lamp bezels, meet reserve. A little banged up but solid and clean. Had a few Scouts and they really were pretty special. Perfect size. Head and shoulders above the competitors back then. One could say the proto Jeep XJ.
I had a 62 Scout 80, and a 75 Scout II, never cared for the Traveler, too long, just didn’t look right to me. This one’s had some good mechanical stuff done though, and I do like that 4spd transmission. Looks like the sale has ended
My brother had a Scout when we were teenagers. I don’t remember exactly what year it was.I want to say “73 or ’74. Either way that thing was a tank off road & in the snow. As hard as we tried, we couldn’t get that thing stuck it was an animal. I f I recall the rear spring shackles rotted off & my brother scrapped it.