Later this month at RM Sotheby’s Arizona Auction, this restomod International Scout (the underrated precursor to the Ford Bronco) will roll across the auction block. But while the Scout has undergone some extensive modifications, the result is overall tasteful. It’s not dissimilar to beloved off-road creations like the Land Rovers of East Coast Defender or the Broncos of Icon 4×4, though the inspired choice of base vehicle makes it a unique alternative.
The Scout’s most extensive changes include a new motor — GM’s workhorse 6.0-liter Vortec L96 crate engine — a modern four-speed automatic transmission and a Dana 300 transfer case. It also gets a set of what might be the most intense leaf springs ever fitted to a truck, while off-road accessories include a beefy Warn XD9000i winch, a roof rack and bumper rocker guards. The aesthetic of the truck, both inside and out, is definitely not original, but it does seem to be a loving recreation of the ’70s design schemes common on trucks of the Scout’s era, pairing a white roof and mossy green body on the outside and filling a spartan interior with striped cloth bench seats.
It’ll go up for auction at RM Sotheby’s without a reserve, with an expected sale price between $70,000 and $90,000. Whether or not it meets (or even exceeds) that estimate remains to be seen, but even if it does, it’ll very likely go for less than an Icon Bronco but will probably turn as many heads.
