International was very prolific in offering special-edition Scouts throughout most of their long production run, but on a day like today, the 250th anniversary of the United States, it’s fitting to celebrate the most red, white, and blue of the bunch (and its brethren), the Spirit of ’76 Scout II.
Something that has been conspicuously missing from the “America 250” celebrations (no judgment, but who wants to try to pronounce or remember “Semiquincentennial” or “Sestercentennial?”) is the sheer volume of cheesy yet patriotic marketing that took place during the Bicentennial 50 years ago. Back then, International got into the game early on with its U.S. Ski Team Scout IIs that actually served as support vehicles at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Austria in February of that year. According to Jim Allen and John Glancy’s excellent International Scout Encyclopedia, 17 of them were built, 10 of which were Travelers such as this one that were built on a longer wheelbase than the standard Scout II.
The Spirit of ’76 took a similar idea and designed it for a broader market; this drawing was most likely created at International in the fall of 1975. The striping was very similar to the ski-team Scouts, but this package would only be available on the 100-inch wheelbase Scout II with a soft top.
There was even a Patriot edition, which was similar to the Spirit of ’76 Scout except for its hard top and lack of a roll bar. Both the Patriot and the Spirit of ’76 were painted Winter White with Wedgewood Blue interiors.
Our featured Spirit of ’76 Scout II was a very original example that sold on Bring a Trailer in June of 2022 for a healthy $43,000. Several Scout II experts commented on the car’s rarity and originality, and indeed, it’s one of 429 documented Spirit of ’76 Scouts ever built. How do we know that?
International fans are extremely lucky that the Line Setting Tickets (LST) for their trucks are readily available from a variety of sources for trucks from about 1955 through the mid-1980s, and copies only cost about $30. Historical gold such as this is not always available for collector cars and trucks, and it tells you the date your International was built, in addition to all its options. This is the LST for this Spirit of ’76 Scout II, and it says that it’s an original Spirit of ’76 with a 345 V8 and a four-speed. Being built on March 24th, it’s an early example, as most of them were built between April 12th and June 1st. According to Jim Allen in the BaT comment section, this is “approximately the 52nd one built,” and it made its way from International’s Fort Wayne plant to Colorado Springs, which may be why it’s such a solid SUV today.
The interior looks all original, including what appears to be the factory “sport steering wheel,” which is about ready to come apart in the driver’s hands at any time. The seats are blue and the roll bar was painted to complement the interior. The top itself was called a Safari soft top, and it appears to be in decent condition.
Although the Spirit of ’76 package was available with any powertrain combination, it sounds like the vast majority had V8s, such as this two-barrel, 345-cubic-inch V8, which produced 163 horsepower and 292 lb-ft of torque when equipped with dual exhaust, as this one is. This Scout II also has power steering and power brakes but no air conditioning, which is not too big a surprise for a Colorado truck.
On this special day in America’s history, I wasn’t sure which Bicentennial-themed vehicle to highlight; I was sorely tempted to discuss the Lawn Boy “Liberty” mower, but information on them is scarce and, well, it’s a lawn mower. But what’s more American than an old International Scout, one that’s painted to celebrate things the way we did 50 years ago, when we weren’t afraid to go way, way over the top with paint schemes? Happy 250, everyone.
Once again, Jim Allen and John Glancy’s International Scout Encyclopedia: The Authoritative Guide to IH’s Legendary 4×4 is the definitive source for information about Scouts, and it’s where I found my facts for this article. It’s available here at Octane Press.
Related Reading
Curbside Classic: 1976 International Scout Terra – The Hometown Truck (by JP Cavanaugh)
Curbside Capsule: c. 1978 International Scout II – A Year Of Exploring (by Joseph Dennis)
COAL: 1978 International Harvester Scout – First Love (by Idiotking)
Vintage Ad: 1980 International Scout – “Sensible” But Not Suitable For The Eighties (by Paul N)
It must have been a sight seeing those big thirsty Scout Travelers in and around Innsbruck in 1976.
The coming-soon Slate truck reminds me quite a bit of the Scout. It even comes with either a slopeback hardtop like the Traveler (below) or a vertical back top like the base Scout.
These were so few in #; even in their day. This edition was well done, visually. Interior, for an “International” is rather amazing.
Needs a trailer towing a Spirit of ’76 IH Cub Cadet.
In the 1960s the US Post Office bought a bunch of RHD Scouts, probably rural delivery? Dark blue with a white roof and a red stripe, I think.
WooHoo! The funny thing is I don’t remember these at all. As common as the Scout was in 1970s Fort Wayne, you would think these would have been seen with some frequency.
The International Scout! The frame, suspension, and driveline were indestructible. But the sheet metal would practically evaporate before your very eyes. And it got worse the newer they were. By the last year the Scout was made, 1980, International was circling the drain and must have bought the absolute cheapest sheet steel they could find.
The local International dealer received three Scouts from the last batch made in September 1980. I don’t think they wanted these. I think the factory forced them to take these Scouts to get rid of them. Scouts were not selling in our area. The effects of the second oil “crisis” of 1979 were still very strong and Scouts were thirsty beasts. Our area was very much in recession with a lot of industry shutting down and high unemployment. This dealer never sold that many Scouts anyhow. Their main markets were semi-trucks and school buses.
Two of the three Scouts were identical – fully loaded with options, 345 V8, automatic, A/C, in green with black “eagle” striping. Not bad looking at all. The third was a no option stripper, 4-cylinder, 4 speed, in gray. You couldn’t find a plainer looking vehicle if you tried. So, the three Scouts sat there all winter. 1981 came and went. 3 Scouts still there. Spring 1982 – finally one green Scout sold. Summer passed, fall came, first snow and the other green Scout found a home. Another winter passed and the poor gray Scout was still sitting there. Now it had big rust holes on both sides above the rear wheel wells. Was never driven on the road and it still rusted away! Summer of 1983, they took it into the body shop, patched it up, and repainted it. Still no sale. They finally gave it to an employee as a retirement gift. I never saw it again.
I was happy to hear VW wants to resurrect the Scout but I am not holding my breath to see if it really happens. I am OK with the electric driveline, but I wish they would offer an internal combustion version as well. I would love to have one with a modern European diesel!