Why Scout?

Because…that is the name International Harvester Company (IHC) gave it! Ok, besides that…why do we own Scouts and IHC related products? Or…better yet, why should people own Scouts and their IHC relatives?

In automotive terms, Scout, all the light pickups and travelalls through time have become ORPHANS a result of the parent company no longer making that product because the parent company folded or divorced the line. Other notable orphans include Studebaker, Nash, Hudson, (combined AMC) and Packard.
Back to why we should have Scouts and their cousins.

#1 for me is UNIQUENESS!!!!!!!!

I’m a fan of orphans and relish the thought that I’m keeping history alive with something unique. ANYONE can own a Chev, Ford or Dodge…but I have found that it takes a special person to own an IHC product (Scout)! Scout had two distinct bodies. The 1st generation Scout 80/800 looked very similar and the 2nd generation Scout II with it’s off spring Traveler and Terra. For the 20 years that IHC built Scouts, I believe that 500,000 were manufactured from 1961 – 1980. That means we should have enough to find parts and find decent Scouts to restore or modify. Because Scouts were built in enough volume, interest in restoring these vehicles has lead suppliers to the reproduction of parts that has eased the pain of looking for original parts. We are also blessed to have resourceful, creative souls who design and build products to enhance the original Scout (such as straight steer, disc brake conversions, fuel injection etc.)

Scout was the 1st true Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) combining 4X4 utility with all the then present luxuries found on many cars (check out a Custom Midas Scout!), unlike Jeep which catered more to the diehard outdoorsman with a very basic vehicle.

Ten years after the last Scout rolled off the line…a huge proliferation of SUV’s came on the market with the same basic design philosophy that IHC developed. I think every manufacturer now produces them in some manner. Well…they can keep all those vehicles because few are built as tough and durable as the Scout. (now we have to talk about RUST!)

For my money, I’d rather spend $15-20,000 restoring or modifying my Scout…to the point that it is in AS NEW condition with added creature comforts, better drivability, improved off road performance and of course…it’s not just another new vehicle that everyone seems to drive…that deprecates with every mile driven. I know that maybe my Scout will not bring the bucks spent on it…but it will retain its value better than ANY new vehicle. Oh…for my $15-20,000, it’s still less than ½ of those new vehicles and I have something that is customized to my liking.

Many people also spend LOTS of money restoring old cars. Some for the love, others for a profit. Most of those old cars are garage queens and seldom driven. Yes, they will retain their value better than a Scout, simply because most of the Scout owners I know will USE their Scout and give pleasure with driving them more as a daily driver rather than as show piece. So, for true value we must look at how we use our Scouts. The savings over the purchase of a new SUV and certainly the collecibility of owning an older vehicle that can be used as intended!

Today Scouts are more collectible than ever and we have a better communication of this product through the different forums on the internet. Suppliers of parts and accessories are sufficient for you to seek one that is local to you. Clubs abound that give you support and help. E-bay, Craigs list and other internet “for sale” sites offer vehicles and parts. I’ve heard too many times that it’s hard to find parts for IHC products. Yes, 20 years ago when I was restoring my 1st Scout, I could say that. Today just about every major body part on a Scout is reproduced, either in steel or fiberglass. The internet has made it easy to find what you need. My final word is that if restoring your Scout…nothing beats having a parts and service manual for your Scout. For the $50-200 you spend, think of what you save by reading or looking at some diagrams/pictures over what automotive shops charge per hour and the fact that you learn more about your vehicle. If you can avoid 2 hours in a shop…you’ve paid for your manuals. I’ve had 30 years experience maintaining a fleet of equipment and have service/parts manuals for every piece and use them to my advantage.

Yes…Scouts are a functional, useful vehicle that most people should have in their driveway!