This International Scout II Is The Perfect Bronco Alternative

By Max Holder Mar 04, 2019

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By Max Holder Mar 04, 2019

This 1972 Scout II could have been the catalyst to spawn modern two-wheel-drive SUVs

While Jeep and Ford have enjoyed many years of being household names, this interesting 4x4 has several tricks up its sleeve. Not only was this model entered the Baja 1000 in 1974, incidentally one of the most gruelling challenges a vehicle could be subjected to, but it also featured in probably the most jovial scenes in Deliverance.

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The Scout was a vehicle that merrily jumped on the SUV bandwagon during the 1960s and '70s, and even outsold its competitors. In fact, it outsold all Jeeps produced during the '60s. Quite the statistic. Possibly even more impressive is that the Scout was actually designed and produced in the space of just two years. Considering we're talking about the decade where data transmission peaked between 75 and 150 bytes per second, it was quite a remarkable achievement.

Originally equipped with a small four-cylinder unit, these claims are perhaps even more surprising when contrasted with the typical V8 powerhouses in the likely competitors. The first V8 wasn’t released until seven years after the Scout first entered production, with just a 262ci block mounted to a three-speed gearbox.

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Having smaller engines worked particularly well for the company, as once the oil crisis set in, the four-cylinder unit was far more desirable for obvious reasons. Available with either two or four-wheel drive, it was also one of the first SUVs to offer such drivetrain options. A trait that is all the range now with vehicles that clearly will never see anything more worrisome than a wild puddle on a school run.

The vehicle for sale underwent a sympathetic restoration 3500 miles ago. Despite the restoration, the engine has actually not been apart as the restorers deemed it too good to unnecessarily break open, a point that is rare in today’s efforts to replace and improve everything for the sake of doing so. Considering how desirable Broncos have now become, perhaps this is the time to buy?