Spectacular rotisserie restoration. Rebuilt 304 cubic inch V8 with automatic transmission, 2-speed transfer case, and 4WD. Vintage Air added. Beautiful interior. Rugged yet nice enough to go out on the town, this Scout is the best we?ve ever seen!
The International Scout pre-dates the Bronco and Blazer and probably created the niche that today is full of 4-wheel-drive SUVs. Crude but effective, the Scout was designed to go to remote places and work hard once they got there. They are simple, rugged machines, which his probably why they have so much appeal in today?s computerized world. This particular 1970 Scout 800A is fresh from the shop where it received a rotisserie restoration to better-than-new condition. Sadly, that beautiful workmanship probably means its off-roading days are over, but the hardware is certainly there if you want to have fun in the dirt. The light blue paint is deep and glossy, surely better than anything International was spraying on their farm equipment in 1970, and all the sheetmetal was smoothed back into shape so it presents extremely well. Panel gaps are even, the doors align nicely, and the big hood fits right. The grille is a simple mesh insert, the bumpers are plain steel, and the few chrome dress-up pieces were all restored along with the rest of the truck. There?s also a removable white hardtop that provides all-weather protection, as well as a removable ?bikini? top just in case the weather turns on you when you?re out and about.
The interior is also ruggedly simple, although the beautifully reupholstered seats are what make this truck special. Plaid cloth inserts add a sense of whimsy to the truck and look awesome. The rest is ready for action, with plain steel floors, rubber floor mats, and spray-in bedliner in back. Original gauges monitor the torquey V8 up front, the auxiliary controls are just underneath, and the two levers in the center control the 3-speed automatic transmission and 2-speed transfer case. Other details include a RetroSound radio with speakers stashed throughout the cab, a digital readout for the shifter position, and Vintage Air A/C cleverly integrated into the original heater unit so no unsightly vents had to be added. Nice! The thing is bone-simple, so that means crank windows and manual locks, but as we said, that kind of simplicity is a bit part of the Scout?s appeal. In back there?s a small bench for two, and the cargo bay is big enough for a weekend?s worth of camping gear so feel free to hit the trail. The rear seat is also easily removed for truly big stuff, and there are seat belts all around?always a good idea.
International?s 304 cubic inch V8 was the top powerplant for the Scout, delivering substantial performance increases over the 4- and 6-cylinder models. Fully rebuilt, this one starts easily thanks to a Holley carburetor on top, and while it?s not super smooth, it does get the job done rather well. There?s plenty of torque off the line to get the Scout rolling, and with smart gearing in the pumpkins, it?ll cruise at 60 MPH without much trouble. Just about everything you see under the hood is new, including the wiring, the radiator, alternator, water pump, belts and hoses, and more. There?s also a modern dual master cylinder with booster for the 4-wheel disc brakes, and as I mentioned, the A/C system is integrated into the original heater box, which is kind of cool. The 3-speed automatic snaps off crisp shifts just when you need them and 3.73 gears are a nice compromise between climbing ability and easy cruising with those big 31x10.50-15 BFGoodrich off-road radials. The undercarriage is highly detailed and extremely fresh, with new components used throughout. Note that the floors are extremely solid and clean, and the light blue paint makes a great background for the heavy-duty hardware. The stainless dual exhaust system sounds great and those plain steel wheels are exactly the right choice for the no-nonsense Scout. This truck just looks right.
Early off-roaders are red hot right now, and the Scout seems to be one of the most popular models simply because there are far fewer of them. With a unique look, rugged hardware, and a few choice upgrades, this particular Scout is easily the best we?ve ever seen. It is beautifully finished and drives right. If you like simplicity but don?t want to drive some bare-bones machine, perhaps this cleverly built Scout will fit the bill. Call today!
Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.