My inbox is a mess. Really, it’s to be expected when anyone can email you, but sometimes this mountain of messages offers up prospector vibes. Case in point: In between pitches about the market cap of methylene di-something-or-other and press releases hawking the latest vaporware sat pure gold. A reader, whose email I unfortunately couldn’t find for some reason, sent over a link to this: An International Scout that doesn’t quite look like an International Scout.
Obviously, restomods are fairly common these days as everyone likes old cars until it’s time for old car problems, but this is a little more extreme than new suspension and a modern powertrain on a classic frame. Instead, it uses the entire chassis and running gear from a different vehicle clothed in heavily modified sheetmetal, so let’s see if you can figure out what lies beneath that familiar surface.
Oh, and before anyone cries sacrilege, the only original Scout part here is the cab. The front end, roof, tailgate, quarters, and hatch are all fabricated either from scratch or from other vehicle panels, and since there’s no shortage of derelict classic off-roaders lying about, it’s likely no pristine classics were sacrificed in the creative process.
The first impression of this green rig is that even when parked near a forest, it looks big. That hoodline is so much higher than normal, obviously swelling to contain something taller than an International straight-six or V8. The front bumper is also some modern aftermarket body-on-frame stuff, although that’s not much of a clue as to what’s going on below the body.
The profile view offers up some better clues. Not only do the lower doors look modern in their treatment, those are some straight-up 21st century door handles and mirrors. Think you know your minutiae? These two parts are the key to unlocking exactly what’s going on with this build.
Yep, this is actually a 2017 Nissan Titan XD made to look like an International Scout. The modern interior completely shatters the illusion of antiquity, but at least it adds amenities like dual-zone automatic climate control, a heated steering wheel, and an audio system you can connect your phone to.
Under the hood, you’ll find a five-liter Cummins turbodiesel V8 making more twist than any Scout of old. We’re talking 555 lb.-ft. of torque and a decent 310 horsepower. Hitched to the factory Aisin six-speed automatic, it ought to make for adequate forward progress, even though this powertrain was never really on the level of the diesels in domestic heavy duty pickups. Perhaps that’s part of the reason why the unloved second-generation Titan doesn’t seem like an obvious choice of donor vehicle, but in a way, it’s weirdly fitting.
International existed for the sort of person who looked at Big Three offerings and wasn’t quite into them. When it came to pickup trucks and what we now know as SUVs, it often did things with a quirky tilt, and Nissan’s bigger-than-a-half-ton, smaller-than-a-three-quarter-ton in-betweener is nothing if not quirky.Perhaps this build is a little too quirky for some, as it didn’t actually sell on Bring A Trailer despite being listed there. Bidding wrapped up at $36,500, which wasn’t enough to meet this vehicle’s reserve. It’s understandable, this is a niche proposition for those with deep pockets and a disposition of “yeah, why not?”
Still, the execution is impressive, yeah? From the use of a Ford F-100 windshield to the commitment to maintaining proportions, this one-off Scout-inspired creation really takes the concept of old-meets-new to the extreme.
Top graphic image: Bring A Trailer
Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.
Based on personal experience, what’s underneath that Scout is a life-time addiction to frozen Little Debbie’s Swiss Cake Rolls.
That’s what turned a small child that got banned from Cub Scouts to a Webble shaped human 50 years later.
I am especially impressed by the cool looking LED headlights…
I’ll never understand bizarre customs that make new stuff look old. It’s going to be so much less work to just find a decent Scout and restomod that.
The overall effect is tragically, quintessentially American. Supersize Everything!
IH had the Travelall if you needed larger.
This looks like the trucks you make at EPCOT’s test track ride.
Proportions are off. Like looking at a wax sculpture of a famous celebrity, or a really good rendering that is just a wee bit off. Or, I guess these days, an AI-generated image.
I believe this is a good example of the uncanny valley, applied to inanimate objects.
Rando: “Hey, where’d you get that vintage Scout?”
Driver: “Temu.”
Considering late Scout IIs were available with a Nissan diesel from the factory I guess this makes sense in a bizarro way.
*inserts buy why gif* of all things you choose one of the worst Cummins to swap it onto why didn’t they just buy and dodge cummins, power stroke or Duramax? Or better yet just left it on its old platform and just swapped in a 12v or 4bt? This is just weird but I guess what ever floats people’s boats.
It’s not a swap–it’s just custom bodywork on the Nissan.
Ah okay that makes more sense why it looks so weird. And just reread and see they really only took the main cab and everything else is custom made.
An old Xterra would have been so much more appropriately sized if they were determined to go with a Nissan.
This so much… The more angular body sides would be more suitable as well.
Make a new airbag cover with a damn IH logo – you’ve already gone this far!!
The side profile in particular is just — off. Mismatched surfacing, diverging character lines.
I was prepared for something interesting, like the underpinnings being an International HD commercial truck, and this inflated Scout was a test bed for some sort of strange suspension design.
The reveal should come with the sad trombone sound.
Yeah would have made more sense to swap it onto a CV platform (yes those are just glorified GMs) but own would have made more sense and you would of had a 6.6 Duramax which I would much rather have over this crap cummins.
I can appreciate the amount of work that went in to this, but the proportions are so wrong.
As far as suitability goes, don’t forget that Nissan diesels were also available in later Scouts.
I don’t hate the idea, but it just looks … off.
Also, why would you choose an engine with ZERO parts support? Good luck keeping this thing on the road.
The Scout was an odd choice to replicate, considering International also made full size pickups
Vogon Scout; that’s the swolest thing I have seen since <redacted>.
I think this might be the subject remembered in “Ode to a Small Lump of Green Putty I Found in My Armpit One Midsummer Morning.”
looks like a scout off of saints row or GTA.
the diesel is welcomed. theres a lot of 4bt swaps out there. ive got a 62 scout 80 i bought to restore one day. that little 152 is is dead hammer reliable but man is it slow. anything scout has a 4.3 vortec swap kit which is very tempting alternative to not being able to get out of ones own way.
I want to ice this thing until the swelling goes down.
A 2016 Nissan Titan dolled up to look like a Scout. Listed as a “International Harvester Scout II–Bodied 2016 Nissan Titan XD PRO-4X.” Despite it not being a Scout body, but custom bodywork. With a reserve higher than $36,500.
This is the sort of thing you build when you really just want to have it or you have a buyer lined up. Building it to put up for auction is certainly a choice. I hope the builder or buyer really enjoys it, but I don’t feel like the value is there for most people.
Maybe the original buyer who specced the build dropped dead upon seeing it in real life? Now the builder is just trying to recoup?
Just spit ballin’ over here.
I get emails whenever Scouts show up on BaT so I saw this one right away, and I really liked this one and would love it but not for the price they are expecting.
Diabetes
In the photo, it appears to be grass and soil.
Bingo – You win!
I guessed rust. Lots of rust
I can’t imagine why this didn’t meet the reserve price.
Reminds me of that meme:
(Photo of a Fiat Multipla for sale on Facebook)
Buyer: Is this still available?
Seller: Yes.
Buyer: Not surprised.