What We Know: You sure wont catch this ‘69 Scout on the Pebble Beach lawn next August, but you just might run into it crawling along the beach, soft top retracted and the interior packed full of smiling faces consumed by vacation-mode bliss. The Exterior: While there aren’t any Concours victories around the corner for this Scout, that isn’t what this vehicle is about. This particular Scout is built to be capable and reliable, rather than flashy and clean. Noteworthy exterior features include 33” x 12.5” BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain tires, a SOFTTOPPER soft top, and black leather seats. Cherry Red paint scores a C in our book, with a number of chips, a couple small dings, and some bubbling along the windshield frame and on the chrome bumpers. The most significant exterior defect is a dent/blemish above the driver-side headlight. Please see photos. The Interior: The interior shows fairly well – black leather front and rear seats are in great condition, with no signs of cracking. The top of the dash is faded, while the rest of the dash shows well. Rear bench seat is removable, with carpeting in the bed as well as throughout the rest of the vehicle. Carpet shows well, with the exception of a small tear to the right of the gear lever. There is no audio unit present and underside of passenger door shows evidence of the removal of a speaker (documented in photos). Cabin is airy and bright, thanks to the SOFTTOPPER soft top. Windows crank up and down freely. Give us a call if there’s any questions. That’s what we’re here for! Under the Hood / Under the Car: Here’s where this ‘69 Scout really gets interesting. Originally optioned with a 266 CI V8 (highest-spec at the time) and a four speed manual transmission, this Scout has since received a 350in3 Summit Racing small block V8 and a five speed manual transmission. Only 900 miles have been covered since the installation. In addition to the swap, this Scout has been fitted with power steering and disc brakes. These modifications make the truck more maneuverable, reliable, usable, and capable. The addition of a fifth gear, as well as the bump in power, allow this Scout to cruise at highway speeds without hesitation. The underbody shows well, with rockers free of corrosion and no evidence of any sort of fluid leaks. This ‘69 Scout was originally equipped with dual fuel tanks, which have since been replaced by one fifteen gallon tank. This Scout is mechanically sound and ready for adventure. The Final Assessment: If your idea of a perfect weekend is packing up the truck with camping gear and hitting the trail, this is your car. If you’re looking for an original specimen that will impress the purists at the next International Harvester Scout Club meet, this may not be the car for you. We love originality here at Evolve Motors, but I’ll be damned if a 350 CI V8, 5 speed gearbox, disc brakes, and power steering doesn’t make this the ultimate Scout! If you agree, give us a call at Evolve Motors today!
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