Vehicle Description
Motorcar Studio is pleased to offer this 1976 International Scout
II, a great looking and highly upgraded truck just completed by
noted Scout specialist The Scoutman. We love vintage 4x4 trucks
around here, but as great as they are, the driving dynamics are
decidedly antique. They're perfectly fine as a nice-weather weekend
driver, which is how most people enjoy them, but can be impractical
to live with for everyday use.
What if you could have all of that vintage style but with a modern
drivetrain, good brakes, custom suspension, three-point seat belts
front and rear, a great stereo and cold A/C?
That's what you get with this Scout II, which has a fuel-injected
LS engine under the hood mated to an overdrive automatic
transmission plus a complete steering, brake and suspension
overhaul with many upgrades to enhance drivability. Oh, and it
looks great, too. Finished in Cavalry Blue with a black soft top,
plus a black rallye stripe, Mickey Thompson 17-inch wheels and GRC
front and rear bumpers. Good paint, body and panel gaps throughout.
Nicely detailed underneath with no known rust issues.
Interior is tastefully finished with saddle brown seat upholstery
and door panels, plus a GRC extended roll bar with three-point seat
belts (both front and rear), a locking center console with
cupholders and matching upholstered armrest, custom dash with full
Dakota Digital instrumentation, and a Kenwood double-din stereo
with backup camera discreetly installed in the tire carrier. With
the stereo plus Memphis Audio speakers and an 8-inch sub carefully
integrated in the passenger side inner quarter, sound quality is
excellent. All wiring is new with LED lighting upgrades inside and
out. All new air conditioning system running R134a blows ice cold
(heat/defrost work well, too).
But as sharp as this truck presents cosmetically, the drivetrain
and suspension are what really set this Scout apart. Under the hood
is a GM LS-based LQ9 6.0 liter fuel injected V8 freshly overhauled
with a Thumpr cam, LS7 lifters, new GM Performance valve springs,
new valve stem seals, plus new piston rings, rod bearings, main
bearings and oil pump. The LS engine (estimated at more than 350
horsepower) is mated to a 4L60E overdrive automatic transmission
with an NP208 transfer case, custom front and rear driveshafts and
rebuilt 3.73 axles. New Warn manual locking front hubs.
This Scout is running a 2-inch Skyjacker softride lift with stock
shackles (new bushings) and Bilstein shocks - with 33-inch tires,
the result is a ride height that's a little more aggressive than
stock, but still easy to get in and out of. Front axle cut and turn
means no bump steer or adverse handling characteristics due to the
lift. Complete front end rebuild with heavy duty drag link and tie
rod from GRC and Skyjacker pittman arm results in more precise
steering than your typical Scout. Brakes have also been fully
overhauled with new front calipers, rotors and pads and new rear
drums, shoes and springs plus all new hoses, stainless steel lines
and hydroboost power assist for excellent stopping ability.
The result is a Scout that runs, drives, steers and stops far
better than usual, all with modern safety and convenience features
that today's drivers expect. The performance and driving dynamics
(step on the gas and this truck will go) really brought smiles to
our faces. It was hard to give back the keys after our initial test
drive.
This LS-swapped Scout II offers a rare opportunity to own a bespoke
truck for considerably less than the cost to build one. For more
information about this 1976 International Scout II LS for sale at
Motorcar Studio in Atlanta, please call 404-692-5250.
