Here’s another cool find from the recent Monmouth car show. From a distance, it appeared to be a nicely done Scout II, but upon looking closer, I noticed the nameplate. Farmall?
Of course, it is an IH Scout II; I imagine the Farmall tag is a tougue-in-cheek owner modification, as Farmall was the trade name of IH’s tractor division. In fact, we used to have a big Farmall tractor plant right here in Rock Island, until it shut down in 1985. It was a severe blow to our town.
It is not strictly stock, but the customization was all in all quite attractive. A fine Cornbinder, indeed.
Doesn’t look anything like my IH Scout II. I bought it off a family friend at age 17 for a tough vehicle that would take us to really obscure fishing spots. Paid all of $100 for it but it was, despite Ziebart, a total rust bucket and it needed a complete exhaust. The new pipes were $300, a lot for a teenager but I came up with it. The rear was so rusty that driving on dirt roads in the summer caused dust storms inside. The 304 V-8 used prodigious amounts of fuel but was so torquey I don’t recall using Lo range.
However, since it as a complete POS beater, I didn’t care how rusty it was or how much gas it used. It went places no fancy-pants shopping mall 4X4 ever went. I took it over completely overgrown logging roads, some overgrown with blackberries! You aren’t going to see an F-350 Powerstroke Double Cab 4X4 (with 22″ alloy wheels) in those places! It climbed like a billy-goat and never overheated as the 304 was so understressed.
I drove it for two summers and then sold it for $700. I got a tent trailer, hitched it to my Corolla, and headed out progressively farther.
Why do liberals even buy these things???
Nice try.
The “Farmall” badge puzzles me – he did a nice job of prepping and modifying a proto-SUV that doesn’t get a whole lotta respect. I don’t much understand the dash, and why he did it…but, his truck, his taste. But why the tractor nameplate? I wouldn’t put “L T D” on any Ford I owned – or, gawd forbid, a “Ferguson System” plate on an F150. Two entirely different products, and the one doesn’t even give a nod to the other.
But it’s an interesting vehicle nonetheless. Also suggestive of an impressive amount of work to ward off tinworm.
The guy obviously loved Farmall tractors. That appears to be Farmall red, as well. There is no accounting for taste . . .
Some unusual touches on that SII. That dash is an interesting custom touch as that is not one of the many aftermarket pieces for fitting aftermarket gauges. The front turn signals are interesting too. I’m not liking that set up with the diamond plate filling the OE hole and then the tacked on lights. With the metal working skills shown on the dash why not fill the holes in the valance panel if you wanted the aftermarket lights? Of course I prefer stock and since there are reproduction lenses available and at a reasonable price that isn’t an excuse.
Perhaps the builder wasn’t sure about the turn signal mods and wanted to keep his options open for returning them to stock later?
Nice looking Scout! One time, long ago, I test drove a used Scout which was made up by the factory to be competition with sporty CJs. I think it was called an SS-II? It had a fiberglass grille & door panels with removable fabric doors & roof. Have never seen one since.