This 1979 International Harvester Scout II is a gently-used survivor, with some cosmetic flaws to sort out. The seller notes it is a desirable “Off Road Package”-equipped model, with skidplates, heavy-duty springs and 3.73 gears from the factory. These were already robust trail divers; with this kit, I’d imagine the Scout becomes even more capable. Find it here on eBay with bids over $5K and the reserve unmet.

Aside from some of the period-cool bodyside trim gone rogue, the body appears quite nice. It’s been a southern California Scout all of its life, which is perhaps one of the best areas to buy a project rig from. Nice climate helped this example survive better than many of the Scouts I see in junkyards in the northeast that are completely rotted out.

The blue plaid interior was apparently a one-year only option for the Scouts, and this one has it. Overall, the interior is shockingly nice for an off-roader. It seems possible that this Scout never did a lot of off-road duty, given those older 4x4s that visit Moab every year tend to be pretty rough by this point. With a nice interior and solid exterior, this is the kind of Scout I’d want to buy if I were looking.

Surprisingly, the seller says the Scout does well on the interstate and tracks nicely. But the best thing he notes is that this Scout is one you can either take further as a restoration project, or simply use reliably every day and able to handle whatever gets in your path. The off-road kit additions make this Scout even more capable, and potentially, more desirable to a Scout enthusiast looking for a truck with OEM upgrades.