I’m a longbed dually kind of truck guy. And, according to most people, that’s wrong. I should be looking at shortbed trucks because they “look right” or are more sporting. I don’t get it personally. Wouldn’t you want the bed to be as useable as possible? Ah, well, different strokes for different folks. Some people like Jeeps as open-air convertibles, some as closed-cab wagons, and according to the demand, as pickup trucks. The same story happened with International’s Scout. Much like the HMMWV and the Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler, you could order up how you wanted the cab to be configured. Usually, you see Scouts as either soft-roof convertibles or as wagons with a removable top, but you also had a removable hardtop configuration that this 1976 Rallye is sporting.

With a 345 V8 under the hood and a four-speed, we’re sure that this Binder is plenty motivated, and that bright red just pops out. Inside, it’s simple and durable, but with a touch of class…note the wood-faced panel for the gauges and the deluxe door panels fitted. International did brutality well, not a muscular utility vehicle, but they managed to make it work with this beauty. Maybe the short truck is the way to go, at least in this case. The bed area looks to be the same size as the cab, as is the front doghouse section. One third of the Scout is bed. One third is for people, and one-third is for engine. That’s somehow quite pleasing.

Mecum Auctions’ Louisville 2019: Lot S45 – 1976 International Scout II Rallye