Rare 2WD: 1977 International Harvester Scout II
International Harvester produced over 500,000 models of the Scout from 1960 to 1980. This is a 1977 International Harvester Scout II that is a two wheel drive version. Most Scouts were four wheel drive. This Scout II is located in Rapid City, South Dakota and looks to be in pretty good shape all around. There is only 1 day remaining in the auction and the Scout II is bid to $6,950. This blue on blue Scout II is listed here on eBay at no reserve.
Unlike many Scouts that we see, this one has a nice interior and is optioned with power steering, power brakes, air conditioning and tilt steering. The seat is said to be original and the carpet has been replaced. The first generation of the Scout was manufactured from 1960 to 1965. It is known as the Scout 80 and was fairly primitive. The second generation of Scout was called the Scout 800 which was produced in three sub-models (800, 800A, and 800B). From 1966 to 1967, International Harvester built the Scout 800. Starting in 1968, the Scout 800A was produced from 1968 to 1970. The Scout 800B had the shortest production run from August 1970 to March 1971. It was replaced by the third generation model and the longest production run of any Scout model called the Scout II. It had a production run from 1971 to 1980.
The first Scout 80s (1960-1965) were equipped with a 152 cubic inch inline four-cylinder engine. It was rated from the factory at only 93 horsepower. This was also the base engine in the second generation Scout 800 but it could also be ordered with a turbocharger to boost power to 111 horsepower. An optional 196 cubic inch inline 4-cylinder was introduced in 1966. Other optional engines included a 266 cubic inch inline 6-cylinder (1967), a 304 cubic inch V8 engine (1968), and a 345 cubic inch V8 engine (1971) in second and third generation Scouts. This example has the 345 cubic inch V8 backed by an automatic transmission.
This looks like a great Scout to own. It does have some rust in the lower body panels but the floorboards are solid. The engine is said to run but the Scout II needs a new water pump, brakes and exhaust leak to be driveable.
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Comments
Here’s one for the “doesn’t make a lick of sense” dept. Like 2wd Blazers( I don’t think Ford ever made a 2wd Bronco), why would someone buy that? I’ve never heard of a 2wd Scout, research shows, they weren’t that rare, an estimated 17% were 2wd or about 90,000. I can only imagine those were sold south of the Mason-Dixon line and how many bought one thinking ALL Scouts are 4wd,,don’t laugh, I knew someone bought a “Jeep” at an auction, a “Dispatcher” because they always wanted a 4wd Jeep. You can imagine their response when I said, “did you actually look to see if it was 4wd,,,because it’s not”. They were shocked, thinking ALL Jeeps were 4wd,,,true story.
I went on a couple IH forums, apparently, switching a 2wd to 4wd isn’t easy, or worth it, in this case. This was obviously a stab at the soon to be, non-4wd, SUV market, the Scout was a darn nice 4×4, I’d think made a poor “soccer mom” vehicle. I read, IH dropped the 2×4 option for 1980, something they offered all along, just as they pulled the plug, but interestingly, the Scout was originally intended to be a 2×4, and 4wd was added at the last minute in 1961. It’s an unusual find, but without the 4×4, well, it’s like an ice cream sundae without the fudge,,,mmm, hot fudge sundae,,,drooling,,
no, justa nother wagon – BUT right sized for some, better (?sightly?) better MPGs? lota safe metal around U, etc.
BTW: the bronk (Bronco II) 2WD was done by leaving the chunk outta da frnt end. Wanna convert? Just add the diff to the housing!
All ways good ta hear frm HA~
2wd Scouts , Jeep trucks and wagons not rare they made S loads of them
This is a long-wheelbase Scout Traveler, intended as a quasi-replacement for the Suburban-like Travelall wagon. They must’ve sold a fair few of those with 2wd and thought there’d be a market for something like this.
You’re right nlpnt, the Scout 2 was a short wheelbase with steel roof which rusted badly, all Scouts also had a problem with major rusting around the windshield frame, later in the piece if you needed a frame good luck finding one that wasn’t rotten, mine was okay luckily, a great truck that could go anywhere. I think the secret was the low revving 345 truck motor. Highway speeds were fine but off road they’ve got massive grunt and the auto shifts when it needs to not when you think it should, leave it in drive and it’ll sort itself out.
A friend of mine had a ’73 Scout II 2WD. He drove it for many miles. I lost track of him several years ago; I wouldn’t be surprised if he still had it. You almost had to look at the front end to realize that it wasn’t a 4×4. It had the same leaf springs but a straight tube front axle. 304 engine, it took him everywhere he wanted to go…
I bought a 1977 Scout II originally for its motors. But the condition of it was so good I didn’t have the heart to part it. Now I drive it around town. I call it my City Scout!
the logging roads around here are so nice all you usually need is good tires and some ground clearance 2wd does fine. Just dont go looking for mud-)
That’s partially true, the forest roads in N.Wis. are pretty well maintained, as long as they were dry, a 2wd is adequate. At the hint of snow, it’s amazing how helpless they are. My 2wd squarebody gets stuck on heavy frost,,,
Howard A, changing a 2wd to 4wd is exceedingly easy (don’t trust what you hear on Scout Facebook forums). If you have the parts, they literally bolt in. Lots of effort, yes, but hard, no. And given the rising values of Scouts, I’d say well worth the effort. Get a Dana 44 front, a transfer case (preferably a Dana 300, if you can find one), drive shafts and you are off and running.
I agree that a better moniker for this beast is ‘uncommon’. ‘Rare’ imparts some level of additional desirability, which a 2wd Scout does not have. Truth be told though that even 2wd Scouts did better in most circumstances than most 4wd vehicles. I knew an old timer that plowed with a 2wd Scout 80. In the 40+ years he ran it, he said he never once got stuck.
Awesome looking IH Scout! I hope whoever buys this enjoys it. Who needs 4wd, unless you intend to do any serious off-road driving. Given its condition, I’d be willing to pay between $5,000 and $10,000.
This is a Terra.
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/scouts-last-stand-1976-80-international-scout-terra
I am pretty sure the 266 was a v8.
Yes, the 266 was a V-8. The six-cylinder was a BD264 or a BG265. They were the exact same engine other than the fact that the 265 was American and the 264 was Canadian. There was a big debacle over vehicles crossing the border during the 60s so IH put labels on them. I might add that the 266 was an American only engine although lots of those came through Sweetgrass into Canada back then because at least (2) dealers had American truck contracts…
Just begging for a hemi swap!
This one has the full fiberglass top. Terras came with a hard half top, like a cab, making it more like a pickup.