I Might Give Up Looking For A Scout... And F##king Build My Own

"Andrew P. Collins" (andrewpcollins)
07/29/2014 at 16:24 • Filed to: Scouting America, International Scout, Restoration, Off-Road, 4x4, SUVs

Just learned somebody sells !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for the International Scout II. Ain't cheap, but now I'm hot on the idea of building my own factory-fresh Scout from new-old-stock and rebuilt parts.

Eh, who I am I kidding that would be so cost-ineffective it's not even funny (and where would I get a title?) but a boy can dream.

Anyone have any experience re-bodying an old off-roader with fiberglass?

DISCUSSION (25)

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Andrew P. Collins
07/29/2014 at 16:26

would it fit any wrangler wheel base?

Andrew P. Collins > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
07/29/2014 at 16:28

ooooo.

oooooooooooooooo GREAT QUESTION.

bob and john > Andrew P. Collins
07/29/2014 at 16:29

hehe, andrew is getting impatient XD

Diesel > Andrew P. Collins
07/29/2014 at 16:29

How about you try posting on Craigslist that you want to buy a Scout and explain that you're an author and would fly out to make the purchase?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Andrew P. Collins
07/29/2014 at 16:30

I actually just saw a semi-completed project Scout II for sale.

Diesel > Andrew P. Collins
07/29/2014 at 16:31

Oh my god, I have found my next vehicle.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Internatio…

It's a mobile International STRIP CLUB!

CAR_IS_MI > Andrew P. Collins
07/29/2014 at 16:31

It would look nice and you wouldn't have to worry about rust, but you would not want to take it anywhere off road. Even the smallest about of twist might crack the fiberglass, nevermind if you hit something.

Jagvar > Andrew P. Collins
07/29/2014 at 16:31

Have you tried Hemmings ? It looks like they have at least a dozen Scouts for sale.

Andrew P. Collins > Diesel
07/29/2014 at 16:31

Hahaha... oi.

No Prius Needed > Andrew P. Collins
07/29/2014 at 16:35

Ah em

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/4528108367…

EL_ULY > Andrew P. Collins
07/29/2014 at 16:35

macanamera > Andrew P. Collins
07/29/2014 at 16:36

I find it astounding that you can't find a scout.

Andrew P. Collins > macanamera
07/29/2014 at 16:50

I admit it's largely because I'm taking my sweetass time and have a ridiculously specific idea of what I actually want to buy.

macanamera > Andrew P. Collins
07/29/2014 at 16:54

Andrew P. Collins > No Prius Needed
07/29/2014 at 16:56

Yeah, $10 is way outta my price range but if a tub is already $5 this is a better buy.

Garrett Davis > Andrew P. Collins
07/29/2014 at 17:03

I'm telling you, man, if you're still willing to travel for one, come out to SoCal. Rust is a minor annoyance here, you'll find plenty: http://sandiego.craigslist.org/search/cta?que…

(Look at the found near by section)

Andrew P. Collins > Garrett Davis
07/29/2014 at 17:10

Funny you should say that.

Part of the reason I'm dragging my feet on this purchase is my lady and I are actually talking about relocating to SoCal in the next six to eight months. Since I'm not really interested in shipping a restoration project across the country twice along with my already sizable fleet of craft (car and two motorcycles that I refuse to sell) part of me is just holding off 'til we know what we're up to.

Matt Fast > Andrew P. Collins
07/29/2014 at 17:22

I've built a V-Bird ('57 T-Bird replica on a beetle chassis). A few of the parts (e.g.: taillights, windshield) were NOS; all the running gear, HVAC, etc. was from the donor car and the interior trim, gauges and upholstery were fabbed/custom. It's challenging but extremely rewarding.

I wouldn't be afraid of a glass body on an IH frame. They're solid enough to run rusty, after all. If you're leery, have the frame braced and fishplated and add a roll cage for torsional stiffness. If you plan on adding a lot of power, you'll want to do that anyway.

Under $5k for a body isn't too awfully loathsome if you consider the cost of hot tanking and welding/repairing a rusty metal body. Compared to a full metal re-body (if such a thing were available for a Scout), it seems priced about right. Plus, seeing as how you'll actually off-road it, glass' superior DIY fixability and lack of insta-rust after you dunk it gives it the edge.

Why drop it on a different chassis when you'll need a donor vehicle for the windshield, doors, tailgate, grill, hinges, top, headlights, taillights, seats, door panels, bumpers, etc.? Why not just find a really rusty one, replace the body, dip the doors & tailgate, glass the holes over (or, if you can weld, braze in new metal — either way is OK since they're not structural pieces) and rebuild the moving parts like you want?

Plus, the old front-leaf Jeeps are getting rare and collectible in their own right. You'd have to pony up for one, and then destroy it just to make a not-the-real-thing Scout. A coil-sprung front and/or IFS would be quite obviously not-a-Scout, and you'd have spent a ton of money just to drive around the not-real-thing.

For Sweden > Andrew P. Collins
07/29/2014 at 17:26

Did you follow up on that Montana listing I sent you?

Garrett Davis > Andrew P. Collins
07/29/2014 at 17:37

Interesting. Problem solved then, I say!

No Prius Needed > Andrew P. Collins
07/29/2014 at 18:12

Doesn't look like it has much rust either.

desertdog5051 > Andrew P. Collins
07/29/2014 at 18:39

Now you will have a Cub Scout.

Ohto Kangas > Andrew P. Collins
08/04/2014 at 09:23

I found a Scout you may be interested in. It was in really decent shape. One of the more solid examples I have seen in awhile.

Andrew P. Collins > Ohto Kangas
08/04/2014 at 09:26

Lovely. Where's it at? That looks like the coolest dealership ever.

Ohto Kangas > Andrew P. Collins
08/04/2014 at 09:28

Pick and Pull in Stockton, CA http://www.picknpull.com/locations.aspx…