International Scout II years to avoid, and the best years to buy
Every International Scout II model year: which ones owners and specialists recommend, which have documented problems, which carry recalls, and what they sell for now.
There's no consensus year, and rust matters more than any of them. After 1974 every Scout II has Dana 44s at both ends and power front discs. Moses Ludel of 4WD Mechanix calls 1979 'a good model year' and says the only advantage of a 1980 is the one-year Dana 300 transfer case with its lower low range. Hagerty says the 1977–79 Super Scout II is the most valuable.
International Scout II year by year
| YEAR | VERDICT | WHAT CHANGED |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | — | Scout II replaces the 800B in April. 100-in wheelbase, Dana 30 front and Dana 44 rear; launched with the 196 four, AMC 232 six and IH 304 V8, with the 258 six and 345 V8 added soon after (Hagerty). Some early trucks have 'Scout 810' glovebox badges. Three-bar grille with chrome headlight rings for 1971–72 |
| 1973 | — | New grille with 14 vertical bars. From September 30, 1972 the serial numbers switch to the CGD prefix |
| 1974 | — | Power front disc brakes become standard late in the year (a rare option earlier in 1974) |
| 1975 | — | Dana 44 front and rear become standard on all Scout IIs. GVWR raised to 6,200 lb (XLC, 'Extra Load Capacity') to sidestep stricter light-duty emissions rules |
| 1976 | — | 118-in-wheelbase Traveler and Terra arrive. Nissan SD33 diesel option. Automatic shifter moves to the floor. Spirit of 76 and Patriot editions |
| 1977 | — | Super Scout II (SSII) introduced in February: soft top, soft doors, roll bar and plastic grille, in Rancher Special, Brush Buster, Sport and Baja Cruiser versions. Built until 1979. New grille for 1977–79 |
| 1979 | — | Catalytic converters arrive on Scouts |
| 1980 | — | Final year: one-piece ABS plastic grille, turbocharged SD33T diesel, and the Dana 300 transfer case (2.62:1 low range), fitted only in 1980. The last Scout was built on October 21, 1980 |
“Sweet spot” means owners and specialists recommend those years; “Beware” means documented problems; “Recall” means check the recall was done rather than walk away.
What a International Scout II costs (October 2026)
The Scout II is the most-traded Scout, and prices keep rising. Rust-free stock 345 trucks bring strong money, but the top of the market belongs to LS-swapped restomods.
| Project / needs work | $7k–18k |
|---|---|
| Driver | $18k–35k |
| Excellent / original | $40k–65k (Hagerty #2 median $42,200) |
| Restomod (LS/Vortec) | $28k–90k |
Recent Bring a Trailer results (the 18 most recent Scout II sales, July–October 2026) ran from $10,500 to $87,500, with a median of about $25,000. Stock 345 trucks mostly sold for $17k–24k, with projects and survivors up to $59,000; the top result was a 4.8L Vortec-powered 1978 at $87,500. Hagerty's median condition #2 value for 1972–80 Scout IIs is $42,200, and $64,750 for SSIIs.
Best years are buyer consensus from owners, specialists and forums, not spec sheets. See all Scout years to avoid across every generation.