International Harvester Scout: Everything to Know About America’s Other Off-Roader

With VW resurrecting the Scout name for an all-electric off-road brand, what better time to learn its history?

International Harvester Scout: Everything to Know About America’s Other Off-Roader

On the pyramid of vintage off-road obscurity, the Willys Jeep is a cornerstone: Just about everyone has heard of it, even those who know very little about cars. Then come the Toyota Land Cruiser, Ford Bronco, and Chevrolet K5 Blazer, a trio of body-on-frame, open-air off-roaders that seemed to be everywhere in the 1960s and 1970s. And at the very tippy top of the triangle comes the International Harvester Scout, a happy-go-lucky trucklet built from 1961 to 1980 that only the most devoted 4x4 enthusiasts know about. 

You’re forgiven if you’ve never heard of the Scout. While the SUVs with which it competed were built by automakers with a massive footprint, the International Harvester Company was as well known for farm implements and tractors as it was for light-duty trucks. Its pickups and SUVs were more utilitarian than their Ford, Chevy, and Dodge rivals, so the International Harvester brand never got that much mainstream recognition; today, the International brand lives on—only in the large commercial truck space, after being rebranded for a time under the Navistar banner but as of 2024 back as International. Nearly as recently, the Scout-related name rights were purchased by Volkswagen Group, which is spinning up the Scout electric off-road brand from its legacy with a new pickup and SUV.

001 international harvester scout 80 green front three quarter

The 1961 International Harvester Scout was no different. Built to be compact, nimble, and versatile, it was designed with hard work in mind more than off-road adventure. In fact, the design brief was rather convoluted, with the only guidance being that International wanted the Scout to “replace the horse.”But that didn’t stop the company’s designers from having a little fun and giving the Scout more curves and styling features than the simple, slab-sided Willys CJ-5 that came out in 1955. 

Buyers responded in kind, putting the Scout to work but also taking it out to play. Its low price, comparably spacious cabin, and rugged mechanicals made it surprisingly popular as a farm implement, suburban snowplow, and adventure machine, and over 100,000 examples sold within just three model years. 

Scout 800 Mecum 29

International Scout History 

When it arrived for the 1961 model year, the original International Scout had a four-cylinder engine and was available in one size with modular body styles, but in time, the lineup grew to include six- and eight-cylinder versions, as well as short- and long-wheelbase pickup and SUV variants. There are two kinda-sorta generations, starting with the 1961–1971 Scout and the mechanically similar 1972–1980 Scout II. 

International made a variety of running changes to the little truck throughout its run, and these changes are not always confined to specific model years. Each Scout had a line ticket that identified its engine, transmission, options, paint codes, and other data, and this line ticket can be helpful in determining which particular Scout variant you’re looking at. 

002 1961 scout cabtop rear three quarter view

The Scout was International Harvester’s first effort at a small, rugged SUV, so it didn’t have any real predecessors. Production on the Scout ended in October 1980, and it didn’t get a successor after it was discontinued. In fact, the Scout was the final light-duty International Harvester product before the company retreated from retail automobiles, refocusing instead on commercial trucks, buses, and heavy equipment. 

That is, until Volkswagen acquired the rights to the name and incorporated Scout Motors in 2022 as an American off-road EV manufacturer. Coming in 2027, the Scout Traveler SUV may be a four-door, but it incorporates lots of the original Scout’s design features. Meanwhile, the 2027 Scout Terra pickup is a crew cab in the vein of the Rivian R1T. Both will be body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle off-roaders, sold either with a purely electric drivetrain or with an optional on-board range extender, a gasoline-powered unit appropriately called Harvester. 

Modular Multi-Tool

Despite a mandatory 100-inch wheelbase, the first Scouts were rather versatile. The standard configuration was a half-cab with a removable roof and fixed bulkhead aft of the front seats, making the Scout a compact pickup. A full-length roof and a passthrough bulkhead were also available, turning it into one of the first SUVs. 

The first Scout was designated the 80, built from 1961 to 1965. Among its distinctive features are horizontal-sliding windows in the doors, a windscreen that folds down like a Jeep’s, and windshield wipers mounted at the top. Then came the Scout 800 from 1965 to 1971, which did away with the folding top and added roll-down door windows, a more effective cabin heater, optional bucket seats, and an optional rear seat. The Scout 800 still retained the half-cab/pickup and full-cab/wagon body styles. 

006 scout spotters guide 1969 scout 800a interior

In 1971, International tweaked the interior and exterior enough to call the new model the Scout II. Smoother body lines, crisp fenders, a wider grille, and no more exposed door hinges made the Scout II a bit more modern and contemporary—the Scout 80 and 800 were decidedly rudimentary by comparison. Despite the styling and convenience changes, the Scout II still rode on the same platform as its predecessor and was largely the same under the skin. 

Scout groundbreaking 5

And then in 1976, International added two extended-wheelbase variants that measured 118 inches between the wheels. The Scout Terra pickup had a fixed bulkhead and removable half-cab roof, while the Scout Traveler boasted a full-length roof and upward-opening rear hatch in place of the regular Scout II’s tailgate. The Traveler was a two-row SUV, and its newfound size put it against the Chevrolet K5 Blazer and second-generation Ford Bronco, rather than the Jeep CJ-5 and CJ-7. 

Scout groundbreaking 9

Like those machines, all International Scouts had robust solid and live front and rear axles. Four-wheel drive was a common option, and some 4x4s had a twin-stick transfer case offering 2-Hi, 2-Lo, 4-Hi, and 4-Lo settings. A variety of three- and four-speed manual transmissions were offered, as was a manual overdrive selector. The Scout II also had an available three-speed automatic gearbox. The simple, agricultural build quality of the Scout made it very dependable and easy to maintain, just what you want in your off-roader. 

International Harvester Scout Timeline 

• 1961–1965 Scout 80: Rudimentary and agricultural, with a fold-down windshield and International’s torquey but slow 2.5-liter four-cylinder 
• 1965–1968 Scout 800: A few more amenities, a fixed windshield, and some added interior options 
• 1968–1970 Scout 800A: Engine list included larger four-, six-, and eight-cylinder options
• 1970–1971 Scout 800B: Minor styling changes 
• 1971–1980 Scout II: Major styling and interior changes, larger engine options, a few special editions 
• 1976–1980 Scout Terra: An 18-inch-longer wheelbase and fixed bulkhead behind the seats made for a single-cab pickup 
• 1976–1980 Scout Traveler: Same longer wheelbase as the Terra, but with a full-length removable top, rear seat, and upholstered cargo area 
• 2027– Scout Motors Terra and Traveler: Fully electric or range-extended electric crew-cab pickup and SUV, body-on-frame construction, live rear axle, locking differentials; 350 miles of all-electric range, going to 500 miles with gasoline on-board generator 

Power Plays 

The Scout 80 offered just one engine: a reliable and proven 2.5-liter inline-four from International’s Comanche engine family. In the Scout, this grunty engine made 93 horsepower and 143 lb-ft of torque. 

The Scout 800 added a couple more engine options to the list. A turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter was offered from ’65 to ’68, while a 3.2-liter Comanche four-cylinder came along in 1966 and lasted through the end of the Scout line. In 1968, a revised Scout 800A arrived, which put the small four-cylinder to rest and added a pair of optional V-8 engines measuring 4.4 and 5.0 liters. The 800A also added an inline-six to the options list, either an International-designed 3.8-liter for a few months in 1969 or an AMC-designed 3.8-liter for most of 1969 through 1971. The Scout 800B, sold for a few months in 1969 and 1970, was all but identical to the 800A, with no changes save chrome headlight surrounds replacing black units. 

1967 international scout 800 convertible engine

The Scout II kept two of the engine options as the Scout 800, the base 3.2-liter four-cylinder and the optional 5.0-liter V-8. In addition, the Scout II was available with an AMC 4.2-liter inline-six or a 5.7-liter International V-8 engine. And then in 1976, the Scout was available with a Nissan 3.2-liter inline-six diesel, replaced for the 1980 model year by a turbocharged version of the same oil-burner. 

The Competition 

The most obvious rival to the International Harvester Scout is the Willys Jeep CJ. The CJ-5 in particular was well matched to the Scout 80 and 800, although the International was larger inside and out and therefore a bit more accommodating to passengers and cargo. However, the CJ-5 had a similarly diverse lineup of basic inline-four, stout six-cylinder, and hot rod V-8 engines as the Scout, and it had a more carefree personality than the somewhat agricultural I-H. 

matt-stoffregen-cj5-lead

The Jeep CJ and International Scout also faced a domestic foe from the Ford Bronco, whose compact first generation was as iconic as they come. Like the Scout, the Bronco offered half-cab pickup, enclosed SUV, and roofless “roadster” variants, and it also came with a variety of engine options to suit customer needs. 

The more refined Scout II was nicely matched to the Jeep CJ-7, whose longer wheelbase relative to its predecessor was still shorter than the International at just 93 inches. The CJ-7 was still the more popular option, though. Meanwhile, the extended-length Scout Terra pickup seemed a perfect match for the Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler, another two-seat, removable-roof pickup. And then the similarly lengthened Scout Traveler SUV did battle with the full-size Chevrolet Blazer and second-gen Ford Bronco. 

Choosing an International over any of its rivals is an offbeat choice. It has less brand cachet than anything from Ford, Chevy, GMC, Jeep, or Toyota, yet there’s something charming about its unadorned styling, tractor like engines, and simple construction. Scouts feel like you could keep them running forever using only baling wire, a set of SAE sockets, and a couple spare spark plugs. There’s something fun about a vehicle that’s so honest in its simplicity. 

006 classic international harvester scout

How Many Scouts Were Made? 

Over the course of its 1961 to 1980 model run, International produced more than 532,000 Scout models. The Jeep CJ-5 moved around 600,000 units, but its run lasted seven years longer than the Scout’s. And the first-generation Ford Bronco was far less popular than the International, surprising given the seeming commonality of Blue Oval survivors. 

The Scout’s popularity likely had a lot to do with its low price, starting at just $1,771 in 1961. That was $250 less than the CJ-5 offered that year, or the equivalent of about $18,500 in 2024 dollars. 

Scouting the Specials 

The International Scout came in a few different special editions through its life cycle. One of the first was the Red Carpet Special, a 1964 Scout 80 with the full-length Travel Top roof, a white exterior, red interior, complete headliner, and full carpeting. The Red Carpet commemorated the 100,000th Scout sold since 1961. 

1967 international scout 800 convertible rear three quarter

The International Harvester Scout Sportop was an unusual offering, first appearing in 1966. The Sportop had either a folding fabric roof or a removable hardtop, both with a slanting rear profile that led to a Continental-style spare tire kit on the tailgate. The Sportop was a clear riff on the Willys Jeepster formula, incorporating luxury car styling into a utility vehicle. It was also pure pastiche, not unlike the later neo-classic Zimmer and Excalibur cars of the 1980s. 

010 scout spotters guide 1976 scout spirit

To celebrate the American Bicentennial in 1976, International built the Scout Spirit of ’76. Featuring a blue soft top, blue interior, blue and red body graphics, and chrome rally-style wheels, the Spirit of ’76 was a rare beast, with International producing only 384 examples. 

From 1977 to 1979, International fielded the Super Scout II. Featuring a soft top, cutaway doors, and a roll bar, the SSII was International’s effort at capturing the doors-off fun of a Jeep CJ-7. 

002 international super scout ii orange sand dune jump

The International Scout II also served as the basis for the Monteverdi Safari and Sahara, a pair of luxury SUVs built in Switzerland. The Sahara maintained much of the Scout’s design from the beltline up, including the removable roof, while the Safari was a fixed-roof wagon that was unrecognizable as a Scout. Built from 1976 to 1982, the Monteverdi twins offered either the International 5.7-liter V-8, a 5.2-liter Chrysler V-8, or a 7.2-liter Chrysler V-8. 

Celebrity Endorsements 

With more than 532,000 units built over its 20-year production run, the International Scout was a huge success—its CJ-5 rival sold 603,000 units, but over a seven-year-longer span of time. Despite that, the Scout doesn’t have as much star power as its seven-slat rival (or even the less popular first-gen Ford Bronco). Still, there are a handful of Scouts out there with some celebrity status. 

The most notable is Minnesota governor and 2024 vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, who owns a 1979 International Harvester Scout in light blue with a white roof. A fleet of Scouts also appeared in Fast Five, driven by the bad guys chasing Dom and Brian after they stole a Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport from a moving train (as one does). The Scout has also served as a perfect set piece whenever a character needs something cool, rugged, and a little offbeat—if they were like everyone else, they’d just drive a Jeep. 

003 1975 international harvester scout ii 345 engine light blue front three quarter

Buy Low, Sell High 

International Scouts aren’t immune to the 4x4 craze going on in the marketplace right now, but values have been mostly steady. Early models, which aren’t terribly well suited to modern traffic thanks to manual steering and brakes and a weakish four-cylinder engine, trade for around $18,000 in good condition. Later Scout 800s are a bit more valuable, fetching 25 large or so if equipped with a more powerful motor or the rare Sportop option. 

V-8-powered later models are more valuable still, with a 1975 Scout II trading on average for $30,000 or so. Ditto the Terra pickup and Traveler SUV. That said, a cheaper, less sorted Scout that needs a little love still isn’t a terrible buy. 

The mechanical simplicity makes maintenance relatively cheap and easy, and parts manufacturers still provide support for most of the Scout’s engine options. Braking and suspension bits are as simple as they get, too. But if a concours build is your goal, interior and exterior trim will be hard to find since the Scout doesn’t have as much of an enthusiast following as similar Jeep, Ford, or GM off-roaders. And many of these trucklets ended up rusting away behind the barn for decades rather than cared for and maintained, so hidden corrosion is a concern—as it should be for all vintage cars. 

002 classic international harvester scout

International Harvester Scout Highlights 

• The International Scout was offered with engine sizes ranging from 2.8 to 5.7 liters, with power output rising from 93 hp in 1961 to double that in 1972. 
• Many of the Scout’s engine options are shared with other International vehicles, including the Light Line pickup, the Metro step van, and the medium-duty Loadstar truck. 
• 2024 vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz drives a 1979 International Harvester Scout. 
• The Scout was offered as a pickup with a short bed or an enclosed SUV in its first generation, while the Scout II also had longer-wheelbase offerings that had more cargo room. 
• In addition to the half-cab and Travel Top full cab roof options, the International Harvester Scout also came with a novel slant-back hardtop with a stubby little trunk instead of a tailgate. This so-called Sportop was intended to mimic the sleek lines of a luxury car, including a Continental-style spare tire kit. 
• The Scout name will return for the 2028 model year on a pair of electrified off-road vehicles. The Terra truck and Traveler SUV will offer fully electric or range-extended gasoline drivetrains when they arrive.