Nearly 24 hours after the incoming Scout Traveller SUV and Terra pickup truck were unveiled, it’s safe to say that the relaunch of the Scout brand has taken the internet by storm. Not only are they great-looking vehicles, they seem impressively capable, and the option of a gasoline range extender should make them seriously usable. Even our own David Tracy has placed a reservation, but given that the first customer examples won’t roll off the line until 2027, the waiting really will be the hardest part. So, if you can’t wait for 2027 but love the look of the new Scout Traveller and Terra, why not buy a classic International Harvester Scout to tide you over?
In 1961, International Harvester branched out into the two-door off-roader market with the Scout, a rugged little thing with four-wheel-drive, a ladder frame, and a removable roof, designed to be more sophisticated than a Jeep. Developed in just 24 months, the Scout was a hit, and it was continually updated through the 1960s, eventually being replaced with a second-generation model called the Scout II in 1971. That second-generation model stayed in production through 1980, and it kept a whole lot of the good of the original while refining the look and experience.
Over the past decade, the collector car market has gone crazy for classic off-roaders. Original Ford Broncos and classic Land Rovers are now worth serious money, not to mention 1960s Toyota Land Cruisers. However, the International Harvester Scout remains a bit of a bargain among its contemporaries. In fact, you can pick up a running, driving example for less than $20,000
This beautifully patinated 1963 Scout 80 has been cosmetically preserved yet mechanically refreshed, with tires, brakes, shocks, the fuel system, the carburetor, and the ignition system all being either rebuilt or updated for the sake of usability. Electronic ignition in particular is a great touch, as fiddling about with ignition points can be a pain for the uninitiated. Perhaps as a result of its patination, this example ended up bringing in $18,000 when it hammered on Bring A Trailer earlier this year, and that’s not a bad price for a turn-key SUV from the early 1960s.
Looking for something with a little more gusto than a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine? Well, something like this 1968 Scout 800 might fit the bill. It features the optional 4.4-liter V8, along with a four-speed manual transmission. Granted, this one is a little bit of a fixer-upper, given that the wipers are said to not move, the reverse lights are said to not work, and the driver’s window is said to not go down. Still, it runs and drives and doesn’t appear rotten, and it brought a hammer price of $18,750 on Bring A Trailer earlier in October.
However, let’s say you want something less patinated but still on a budget. Well, your best bet is likely a Scout II. Built between 1971 and 1980, they featured revised sheetmetal, roomier interiors, updated mechanicals, and a whole host of other changes. This 1973 Scout II looks like just the ticket, sitting pretty in primrose yellow paint. Under the hood, it features a five-liter V8 engine of International’s design, while power steering ought to make things pretty easy at low speeds. This example received an engine rebuild and allegedly a new transmission in 2019, so it should be pretty much ready to go. However, despite the high-dollar work done and the clean appearance of this Texas-based rig, it sold for a reasonable $18,500 on Bring A Trailer just this week.
So, if you want a classic off-roader but can’t stomach what Broncos and Land Cruisers are going for and don’t quite want a Jeep, give the International Harvester Scout a good look. It’s a stout, capable off-roader with the right look and the right equipment to be nothing short of iconic.
(Photo credits: Bring A Trailer)
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What you don’t know is that because of the cult following with these things, all floor panels, and body panels are reproduced and available to use to fix the ones you can get for under 5K. it was not so long ago many a restored unit was also under 10K but these things are averaging 20K and up. There is multiple companies that offer upgraded ignition systems and Fuel injection kits, and if you want to go crazy there is a pretty good adapter/engine mount kit for LS power. These days the 1st gen broncos have mostly been pulled out of fields and the Rust they have, which is not insignificant, is also repaired and repairable, but they rarely came with HD D44 front axles, nor did they often have a super low first gear.
More like a collection of rust barely held together with paint.
We need a competition buy an old Scout and do Top Gear like tests on both cars and see which is best.
Shoot for a 4 way 1974 comparison. 10K to buy the best 74 Bronco, the best K5 Blazer, the Best CJ Jeep and the best Scout II. then lets take them to TFL and do the offroad test and Ike Gauntlet unloaded.
After that let the teams have 5K to upgrade them and see which ones improve the most.
If you’re looking for one of the originals, my recommendation is to avoid the 4-cylinder models. They’re geared so low you’ll question your life choices if you ever need to get it on the highway.
They did offer a Turbo Version of the half V-8 four cylinder, bt it was still gutless. even the 304 V8 puts out at best 160 odd HP. But it can lug around in low gear all day as long as the cooling system is up to snuff.
I have to chuckle because when these were actually in production, the general attitude toward them was totally meh. Now they’re a “thing”.
been looking for a little convertible trucklet for a fun retirement project. “fun.”
Tried a Daihatsu Rocky. (shudders)
Tried an Isuzu Amigo, 2nd Gen. (shudders)
Scout, FJ, old Blazer, full size Bronco, 1st gen 4runner. First I see that isn’t a basketcase will be the winner.
There really wasn’t a point to this post…other than you can find them for cheaper if you want to wrench
Hey I had an Amigo and I loved it. Not much fun going up hill but 2 door 2 seater, open top but one of the best roll cages because solid roof over the driver. Flew over deep puddles danced over ice water and snow. You could do a lot worse than an Amigo.
I loved mine. Lovvvved it. But the whole “Drinking oil like a madman” thing was an issue, and then the bottom end let go, and off she went
Don’t sleep on the Suzuki/Geos, they’re bulletproof. Although the body panels feel thin as tissue paper.
Really liked mine. It was pretty good (I should have included the fact I had one above) but a drunk driver destroyed mine. If I could link pics I could show ya. We never did find the spare tire: I think it went into orbit
Ouch! That sounds horrible, glad you made it out in one piece.
I wasn’t in the car! Drunk driver got it at 2am or so. But it did total the F250! I’ll try to link the pic below!
No more Tracker!
Wow, that is a big hit! Poor thing, I see what you mean about the spare tire getting launched at that angle!
I’m absolutely not joking when I say that we never found the spare tire. I was sure it would be in the guy’s bushes but after he passed, I went through them…nope. I think it’s in orbit around Mars at this point.
60-something mph in a residential area, driving drunk at 19 years old. At least his truck was totaled. Snapped the motor off at the mounts, I guess.
I’ll tell you something else: the passenger compartment of that little guy was completely intact. I have pics somewhere. Like, if you had been in the rear seat, you’d have had whiplash, that’s it. Craziness.
Seeing a few of these with VW diesel conversions lately. the biggest issue even with the Geo motor upgrade was always just around town speeds once they were geared up for the real trail use.
Every old Scout or Bronco I’ve seen lately has been trailing giant MAGA flags.
Not Gov. Walz Scout.
…and he has International experience! I loved that COTD
Not my Scout.
Someone always has to force their political opinions on us. Thanks anus.
Just an observation. No opinion included.
Man, you guys are touchier than college sophomores who just discovered intersectionality.
Parents had a 76 Scout II Traveller. Pretty basic rig, 345 IH V8 3 spd auto locking front hubs. Was an okay truck not the best, not the worst in those years. The transfer case blew up once.
That is definitely something for me to be happy about the return of the Scout name plate, interest along with prices have definitely increased since the announcement. Almost makes me want to put the old spit shine on mine and put them on an auction site.
But that Scout does not have a 4.4 liter V8 it has a 266 cu in V8 while the Scout II in question has a 304 cu in V8. Now if it was a 1980 I could forgive the use of 5.0 Liter since there were a few vehicles produced with that sticker, the only time they called out the displacement on a SII.
I mean at this point you should have already seen the prices going up. I doubt this new thing with a scout name is necessarily going to make them go much higher, much faster. The market for off road toys in general are dropping this past 6 months though, so if you want to get in before the values drop, now might be the time to try I suppose.