Diamond In The Rough/Original Paint/196ci I4/T14 3-Speed Manual/Dana 44 Axles

1979 International Scout II

”The original International Harvester Scout was one of the earliest 4x4s, a true forerunner of the likes of the Toyota 4Runner. International Harvester is a century old tractor manufacturer, a peer to John Deere and the like. The original Scout 80 was intended to be a more civilian friendly version of the Willy’s Jeep, not so much a car as a combustion powered replacement for a cowboy’s horse.” Car and Driver, 2024

For consignment, a 1979 International Scout II showing 63,132 miles, but the true miles are unknown. This is a diamond in the rough, and wears its original paint, a one year color and is a popular alternative to classic Broncos, and both makes are coveted by companies that do nothing but retrofit and resto mod these early SUVs. 

Exterior
Available for 1979 only, Mint Green covers the truck in single stage application, here contrasted by lots of patina in the form of surface rust that flows from marker lights, fuel filler, side mirrors, and window trim. From the front, the Scout appears in good shape with a straight hood, intact grille and mostly straight bumper. Get close to the windshield and you will find rust through at the base while the roof is fully intact including the drip rails. The entire bottom edge is lined with rust and some of that is all the way through while rocker panels and roll pans are completely gone in most spots and parts of wheel openings are barely hanging on. All hubcaps are in place and carry 235/75R15 tires on the 15-inch wheels. 

Interior
Black vinyl door cards are framed in mint and show some age, although we could not open the passenger door to get a full view. The sill has rusted away on the driver’s side so you’ll step up into the cabin to find a split bench seat with the driver’s side torn up. The rear holds parts only and perhaps a rear bench. Up front, the simplest steering wheel leads to a basic, horizontal instrument cluster and all of its fairly dusty, while the center holds an AM radio along with vent levers nearby. The shifters rise from the transmission tunnel and the driver’s floor has what Vice Grip Garage refers to as weight saving, with a hole in the floor clear through to the road. The perforated headliner is in decent condition.  

Drivetrain
Under the hood is a not surprisingly driver quality 196ci four cylinder, rated at 100 horsepower and fueled through a 1-barrel carburetor. It is mated to a T14 3-speed manual and 2-speed transfer case, with the capability of splitting power between the Dana 44 axles at each end.  

Undercarriage
The rust continues underneath, of course, but the main frame beams are in good shape. There’s oil on both differentials, the oil pan, transmission, and transfer case. The single exhaust runs through a stock style muffler, exiting under the truck and is intact. Suspension consists of leaf springs front and rear and power brakes, front disc, rear drum equip the wheels. The inner rocker panels and some flooring as noted, is rusted through. 

Drive-Ability
The Scout cranks but will not start, and the clutch is not working. 

If you ask the professionals who restore these trucks, they will tell you that in any condition, they are desirable. So many were used as farm and work trucks and put away wet, and many returned to the earth. Pros might even tell you there is some potential here and that they’ve seen worse. We have too and even with miles of patina, they are cool vintage trucks!