Why Wait Until 2027 for a New Scout When You Can Buy Classics
The International Harvester Scout II may have a rich background of miles, but it has a charm that lacks modern models. Today, the used car mavens from the Indy Auto Man dealership, Indianapolis, prepared an overview of the good old classic SUV.
The novelties by Volkswagen
The American company International Harvester produced the original Scouts from 1961 to 1980 and competed in the local market with frame all-terrain vehicles from Ford and Chevrolet. But then, the company abandoned this segment and focused on trucks. In 2022, the German concern Volkswagen decided to resurrect the dormant brand to enter the lucrative segment of frame pickups and SUVs in the North American market. Since then, Scout has acquired a technical center in the United States, and earlier this year, construction began on a plant in South Carolina. Now, prototypes of future vehicles are ready – this is the Scout Traveler SUV and the Scout Terra pickup.
The presentation of the new Scout SUVs was the main topic of the last week of October, but there’s a catch – they won’t hit the assembly line until 2027 – almost three years from now. And that’s assuming everything goes smoothly, which is not a guarantee in the world of new cars. So if you are itching to get your hands on a Scout but can’t wait until the end of the decade, your best bet is to buy an original International Harvester Scout II. As a reminder, the classic Scout, produced from 1961 to 1980, was made by a company with many years of experience in building agricultural machinery and trucks. And despite the fact that it was discontinued more than forty years ago, this boxy SUV still holds a place in the hearts of classic car lovers and could be your perfect project car.
What you can buy today
The Scouts you see in the market today didn’t leave the factory like this in 1979. Most of them have been overhauled and repainted. Jeep’s bitter rival usually rides on 15-inch steel wheels, which hide disc brakes in the front and drum ones in the rear. Under the hood, you may find the original 5.7-liter V8, although updated versions may have added a new carburetor and radiator. The V8 is usually paired with a three-speed automatics and a dual-range transfer case, and thanks to permanent all-wheel drive, the Scout II feels confident on rough terrain.
The interior is simple but effective: brown vinyl seats and a matching rear bench lend the car a rugged retro charm. There is also air conditioning, although, frankly, it often doesn’t work, so if you plan to use the car on hot days, you will have to tinker a bit.
If you are seriously considering buying a Scout but don’t want to wait until 2027 for the shiny Volkswagen models to arrive, go for the classics. Especially since the classic Scout II’s charisma will win your heart even before the new models hit the assembly line.
