Vintage SUVs have become hot items for car collectors, especially 4X4s that hold the promise of outdoor adventure. The Toyota Land Cruiser has led the way, with such contemporaries as the original Ford Bronco and the International Scout pulling up close behind.
The Pick of the Day is a gloriously refurbished 1964 International Scout, the boxy little ute that pulled plenty of farmers out of the mud, helped legions of mail carriers slog through and conquered rough terrain around the world.
Only this example is something else. The Belvidere, Illinois, dealer advertising this one on ClassicCars.com calls it, “quite possibly the most elegant Scout in the world.”
The dealer has posted an extensive description in the listing, so I’ll step aside and let the tale unfold:
“Ladies and Gentlemen, you are about to witness the end result of what happens when an International Scout restoration runs amok!” the dealer wrote. “This truck has lived nearly all of its life in the dry and sunny climate of Southern California. The owner searched very carefully and patiently to find a beautiful, straight, and rust-free canvas to begin with. This little southwest queen of the desert was the perfect platform.
“The vehicle was disassembled, stripped, and painted one of the most beautiful colors that man can put into a spray gun, Aegean Aqua. Accented with beautiful Cameo White stripes and lettering all painted on, and protected under several coats of clear. All paint work was completed less than four months ago.”
The interior continues the over-the-top motif, the dealer says.
“What started life as a cheap vinyl interior has been reupholstered with gorgeous white leather. Exactly two and one-half cows had to give their lives just to make the cab of this Scout smell like a Ferrari.”
While most Scouts are outfitted as enclosed wagons, this one has been done up as a pickup truck with an extensively refurbished bed, which includes a pair of side-facing benches on either side.
“Every piece in the bed has been hand crafted out of oak and protected under nearly a dozen coats of automotive clear coat on all sides. This assures that you will not do any damage to the wood if for some sad reason, this vehicle gets caught in the rain,” the seller says.
“The beautiful wood work is complimented by diamond-plate aluminum gleaming underneath. Fixed a-top the bed sides, you will find custom hand-made oak hand rails that accent the body lines and rest upon polished stainless steel standoffs.
“In the center of the bed, and included with the sale, is a classic steel Coleman cooler that has been painted the same breathtaking color to match the vehicle and completed with International Scout emblems.”
The photo gallery shows a totally refurbished truck, top to bottom, apparently with its original four-cylinder engine and four-wheel-drive drivetrain. Simple chrome wheels and off-road tires complete the package.
The Scout is priced at $29,900, which seems fair enough considering the work that has been done to bring this truck beyond perfection.
“You can find Scouts all day long that have been lifted, cut, chopped, shaved, bagged, slammed, slopped, botched, donked, etc.,” the dealer says. “But this truck was tastefully restored and modified to keep a factory and period-correct design and feel with luxurious accents upgraded all throughout.”
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day
(Editor’s note: Pick of the Day goes on break until next Wednesday, August 24, while the Classic Car News staff reports from Monterey Classic Car Week.)
