10 Reasons Why The OG International Scout Was A Brilliant Car

The Scout name is back: thanks to Volkswagen, the nameplate originally attached to International Harvester’s pickup and SUV between the ’60s and ’80s is now returning to the market in all-electric guise, with the Traveler and the Terra. The original vehicle that served as inspiration for VW’s new venture has a fascinating history: one of the first modern SUVs, it acted as the blueprint for fun, rugged recreational vehicles, a category that didn’t really exist at the time.

From its agricultural origins, to its unique special editions, to the legacy it left behind, here are ten of the reasons why we think the original International Scout has a place of pride in automotive history.

This is a list with all the reasons that made the original International Scout a brilliant and important model, listed in no particular order.

(specs refer to the first Scout model released, the Scout 80)

1

It Had Its Roots In Agriculture

The history of International Harvester, the company that built the original Scout, goes back all the way to 1907, when it started producing pickup trucks, tractors, and other agricultural equipment. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, and the beginning of its second half, both pickups and SUVs were considered strictly utilitarian vehicles, meant to be used as workhorses on farms and construction sites.

The world of farming heavily informed the design of the Scout, which was originally intended to be a competitor for the Jeep. The Jeep itself had started out as a military vehicle before being adopted by the agricultural industry; now, both the Jeep and the Scout were crossing the line between workhorse and recreational vehicle. International Harvester even ran a promotion aimed at farmers, seen in the advert above, which gave out a free Scout with a tractor purchase.

2

It Helped Create The Concept Of The Modern SUV

While the Scout’s origins may lie in farmers’ fields, the company had bigger ambitions for it: International Harvester wanted to explore the possibility of an off-road vehicle bought and driven for recreational purposes, a reality which was already beginning to materialize with the Jeep. The arrival Scout further cemented the idea that off-roaders could be more than just spartan, stripped-down working machines: in an era of post-war prosperity, the recreational SUV offered the prospect of off-roading trips and fun in the great outdoors. In the decades that followed, countless other automakers followed suit with their own SUVs, to the point where the SUV is now one of the most popular options when buying a family car in the US.

3

It Was Supposed To Be Made Out Of Plastic

The design process that led to the creation of the Scout was not without a few bumps in the road. The original vision, as recalled by chief designer Ted Ornas, involved a body made up mostly of plastic components; International Harvester envisioned a potential collaboration with Goodyear, which had previous experience of producing plastic components during World War II.

However, by 1959, it had been established that the cost of producing a plastic body would be too high. The direction of the Scout’s design was changed, with a steel body becoming the preferred option instead. The production timeline began to move quickly, and the first Scout was introduced to the world only a few months later in 1960.

4

It Combined Comfort With Ruggedness

Early all-terrain vehicles exclusively prioritized practical capabilities, with no regard given to passenger comfort or advanced tech features, due to their role as work vehicles. The Scout, however, began to introduce the idea of a pickup or SUV being used as a family daily driver or recreational off-roader; as a result, comfort began to gain more importance.

While the earliest Scouts were still fairly bare-bones, over the course of the model’s lifespan, additional features were introduced, such as carpeting, door panels, upgraded seats and heating systems. This made the Scout a viable choice for everyday driving and passenger transport, rather than a simple “engine-and-four-wheels” means of hauling cargo.

5

It Was Available In Several Different Layouts

The Scout, which had originally been introduced as a pickup truck, ended up being a truly chameleonic vehicle, with several different body styles as well as removable components that allowed the vehicle to serve different purposes. Throughout its life cycle, the Scout was sold as a pickup truck and an SUV, with hard-top and soft-top options available. There were also some more left-field body layouts introduced over the years, which are now considered rarities: the Campermobile variant was fitted with dining and sleeping units, as well as a retracting chemical toilet. The Sno-Star package, meanwhile, was introduced in the 1970s and converted the Scout into a snowplow.

6

It Spawned A Special “Red Carpet” Edition…

The first model of the Scout was called the Scout 80, sold between 1960 and 1965. In 1964, the company began to approach the milestone of 100,000 Scout units built, and decided to celebrate with a special edition to mark the occasion. This rare Scout was called the Red Carpet Edition, and was marketed as a premium model with only 3,000 units built. It had a white paint job and a red interior, with a full-length headliner and full floor mats; a silver-plated medallion reading “Custom” was attached to the door. Every International dealership in the US received one Red Carpet Scout, to be used for promotional purposes.

7

…And A Swiss Luxury Wagon

Founded in 1967 by former racing driver Peter Monteverdi, the company that carried his name was based in Switzerland and manufactured luxury and performance cars on a small scale. A decade after its creation, Monteverdi set its sights on the Scout as a potential base for a new model, and proceeded to create two separate Scout-based luxury station wagons.

The first was the Safari, which brought substantial changes to the original Scout bodywork; the second was the cheaper Sahara, which left the bodywork mostly intact but added other upgrades such as a new grille and upgraded interior. Production of both models ended in 1982, shortly after the Scout left the market.

8

It Had A Career In Motorsport

The Scout might not sound like the best candidate for a racing career, but it did collect a few accomplishments in the world of off-road racing. This is particularly true of the Super Scout II, a dedicated off-roading version of the Scout II – the model’s second generation, produced between 1971 and 1980. In 1977, Jerry Boone drove a Super Scout II in the iconic Baja 1000 race, finishing first in the production 4×4 vehicle category. The Scout claimed a few more victories throughout the second half of the 1970s and the start of the 80s, at several off-roading events including the Baja 500, Baja 1000, Parker 400, and Mint 400.

The modern Scout Motors brand has announced plans to take part in the Baja 1000 with a classic Scout, as a way to draw attention to the revived Scout brand. This will be accomplished in partnership with Anything Scout Vintage Racing Team – a mod shop that specializes in classic Scouts. We can’t think of a more fitting return for a well-loved brand.

9

It’s Now A Collectible

Thanks to its unique place in American automotive history, the humble Scout has become somewhat of an icon, popular as a collectible classic among fans of vintage trucks and 4×4 vehicles. Although there are plenty of examples available on the used market, finding one in good condition can be challenging; due to their rugged nature, Scouts were frequently put through the wringer, dealing with rough terrain and transporting heavy cargo. As a result, many surviving examples need repairs and restoration work; trapped dirt, salt and moisture contribute to the formation of rust on a model that’s already rust-prone. So if you find a Scout that’s still in good shape, especially if it’s from a rare variety or spec, you likely have a collectible rarity on your hands.

10

It Left A Legacy In The Modern Era

The legacy of the Scout cannot be quantified: in today’s automotive market, SUVs represent over half of all new vehicle sales, and are considered one of the default options when considering a daily driver for American consumers. Part of their popularity comes from the influence of the Scout, which helped redefine the SUV’s image of bare-bones workhorse and turn it into a viable choice of recreational and everyday vehicle.

Even the Scout name itself, which up until recently looked to be defunct, has now been revived: Volkswagen acquired the Scout name and launched its Scout Motors sub-brand in 2023, kicking things off with the Terra pickup truck and the Traveler SUV. Both are electric vehicles, intended to carry forward the original Scout’s spirit of innovation. But in an ingenious approach, Scout addresses the issue of EV road trips with a range-extender version that promises a range of 500 miles. It seems you can still do anything with a Scout.

Sources: CBTNews, Hagerty, Scout Motors