Pick Of The Day: 1978 International Scout Ii 4×4

There’s nothing quite like driving a convertible, is there? Driving one on the right day (or night) with the top down and your favorite music cranked up is just such a wonderful way to pass the miles. It’s even better in a rugged SUV — sure, it may not ride as smoothly as a ragtop car, but that feeling of freedom combined with the higher ride height of a rough and tough vehicle makes even the most mundane drive feel like an adventure. Our Pick of the Day offers that kind of driving experience. You can find this 1978 International Scout II 4×4 listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Beverly Hills.

International started producing the Scout’s long-awaited successor, the Scout II, in April 1971. According to Scout Motors (an EV company), “The Scout II model debuted with a powertrain lineup that started with the 196ci four, stepped up to the powerful 232ci six, a 304ci V-8, and finally, a big 345ci V-8 that beat Ford and tied GM for maximum cubic inches in the 4×4 SUV realm. Power steering, air conditioning, vastly improved ride quality, sound deadening, on top of a broadened array of styling, comfort and convenience options, put the Scout II model right back in the top tier of the growing SUV market.” You can consider the Scout II the second — and, unfortunately, final — part of the Scout’s history. The years following its release brought numerous updates, new models, and hope for the future, but none of those saved the Scout II from International Harvester’s financial woes and troubled contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers union. After International failed to find a buyer for its Scout division, it shut down production on October 21, 1980.

Fortunately, the ’78 Scout II you see here took an off-ramp from that corporate downhill slide into oblivion, one which led it to remaining on the road nearly 50 years later. It comes finished in an attractive medium shade of green that pairs well with a vehicle intended for off-road adventures on tree-lined trails. Those should be a little easier thanks to power steering and brakes, Rough Country shocks, and a set of 35-inch tires.

When I first spotted the tan PEXMOR buckets in this rig, I thought the interior had been luxed-up and modernized. It’s nice when builders do that with vintage SUVs, but it’s also great to see how those vehicles were supposed to be back in the day. With the exception of the seats and the round ISSPRO gauges, the cabin is largely true to its late-1970s roots.

Behind the seats is a cargo area with a bed mat and liners for the sides and tailgate. If that’s not enough room for camping or hunting gear, the black hardtop has roof rails to help carry more. If you’d rather go wheeling with the sun shining on your face and the breeze blowing through your hair, you can take the lid off and leave it at home.

The selling dealer doesn’t specify which exact engine is under the hood, but it does say that it’s a V-8. For the ’78 model, International offered a Comanche 304 with 144 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque, and a 345 that produced 163 horsepower and 292 lb-ft (those 345 ratings were lower for California Scout IIs). A three-speed automatic and dual-range transfer case send the eight-cylinder power to the pavement or dirt.

The Scout — at least as a V-8-powered off-roader — isn’t coming back. The good news is that you can get this lightly updated 1978 International Scout II 4×4 for $34,750, then take it for a roofless romp through the great outdoors.

Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com