1979 International Scout II Restoration

Steve had always wanted an International Scout II and now over 35 years after the last Scout rolled off the line, he was ready to find one to call his own. He found the one in December 2016; a 1979 model up in Hiddenite NC. The photos looked like what you would expect from an old SUV reduced to a weekend hunting vehicle: a bad camo paint job, more rust than metal in some spots, and an interior caked in mud with seats and cushions in tatters. But Steve had a vision of what it could become. After getting a referral, Steve was connected with Rick at Street Scenes Automotive.  Rick was up for the challenge and together they were able to bring this old Scout back from the auto graveyard and turn it into a true piece of moving art.  Rick wanted to do the restoration right and not cut corners – this can be seen in the final product.  Although the restorations took longer than originally projected, Rick kept Steve updated with regular communication.  The color has been restored to the beautiful hue it was when it rolled off the production line in October 1978, Lexington Blue. The interior was brought back to life with blue and black plaid seat coverings that, while not original, look darn good in this restored classic. All the rust and bad parts have been removed, and the vehicle now is the grand SUV it was before. A new windshield, tires, wheels and stripe add to the classic look. This was a labor of love from both Steve and Rick, and it shows.

Before pictures of the 1979 International Scout

Lots of rust.

More rust.

Replacement parts.

Power washing the undercarriage.

Undercoating

Sanding through the layers of paint.

Grill

Used hood and fender.

Cutting the cancer out..

Tailgate

The old seats.

Ready for paint.

Baking in the sun

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   New mirrors