Let's take a look at the others before we admire today's street survivor:

First, this '72.

Another '72.

Yet another '72.

This '76.

This '77 Traveler.

And this final-year '80. OK, now on to today's truck!


This truck, built during the next-to-last year of Scout production, lives just around the corner from the super-clean '64 Galaxie 500 convertible we saw last weekend. It appears to be a daily driver. Who needs cup holders and faux wood dash trim?

Some might say that Alameda- which is quite urban, completely paved, snow-free, and lacking in any hills of any sort- isn't the kind of place where a Scout makes sense. We disagree, however; a Scout always makes sense!

So, in an attempt to get the 450 DOTS Celebration to show up on your computer, I'm breaking it up into sections. We've had the Germans and the Wagons, and today I've been so inspired by the beautiful DOTS '69 AMX that I've put together a collection of Alameda's street-parked vintage American cars and trucks that were not designed by Detroit's Big Three (I say "designed" because I think that the '45 Jeep counts as a Willys, in spite of being built by Ford). I believe that the trio of kit cars, the Shay Model A, the CMC Gazelle, and the Fieroborghini- based on Pinto, Chevette, and Fiero chassis, respectively- qualify here, because, well, why not? You Scout fans will find plenty of iron to admire, we've got some Ramblers and a couple of Studes, and there's even a Packard!

1943 IHC	1945 Ford	1948 IHC	1951 Willys	1953 Packard	1956 Willys
1958 Willys	1960 Studebaker	1960 Rambler	1961 Rambler	1964 Studebaker	1964 Jeep
1964 Checker	1965 IHC	1965 Rambler	1969 AMC	1969 AMC	1972 IHC
1972 IHC	1972 IHC	1976 AMC	1976 IHC	1977 IHC	1979 Shay
1980 IHC	1983 Jeep	1984 Jeep	1988 CMC	2000 Fieroborghini

The Maserati-powered Model T definitely made an impression at the last Billetproof Nor-Cal, which is totally understandable. After all, the [flawless Model A, B, or T] + [Chevy or Ford OHV V8] formula has been done so often and so well that you need a body machined from pure plutonium to really stand out these days, while the [rusty-ass ancient non-Ford] + [weird yet hypnotically cool engine] formula still offers plenty of fun for each pint of blood you spill in the Hell Garage. Tonight, we're going to look at a total of nine possible vehicle+engine combos, any one of which would draw vast crowds of Bettie Page lookalikes at the next Billetproof. Hear the rusty iron doors of the Hell Garage swinging open for you? Once closed, they'll be welded shut until you're done... or insane!

Every time I see the amazing DOTS '47 Plymouth rumbling through my neighborhood, I realize anew that old suicide-door Plymouth sedans let you roll in the purest Hell Garage style. Affordable examples are quite easy to find in diamond-in-the-rough condition, too. Say f'r'example, this 1937 Plymouth sedan, which has a no-doubt-negotiable $1,000 price tag. The patina is already perfect, and the "toast" interior should be viewed as an opportunity to commission a special burlap-and-studded-pleather extravaganza!

It's tough to argue with the appeal of a 62-year-old sedan, but an elderly pickup made by a farm equipment manufacturer might make you forget all about that Plymouth. This '38 IHC pickup, which has been sitting in an Iowa field since Syngman Rhee was in office, has the perfect paint finish for Billetproof stardom, though we're not sure that "no bullet holes" is really a selling point. No matter, though- you can always make your own bullet holes!

Sedans? Trucks? Don't forget station wagons! Sure, you'd like a two-door wagon, and a Ford Ranch Wagon would be an excellent choice... but even that might veer uncomfortably close to the overchromed aesthetic behind those hyper-sanitary Chevy Nomads we see at mainstream car shows. Don't worry, because LeMons Rabbit racer Casadelshawn has tipped us off about this Opel Olympia Caravan, which is priced right in LeMons territory... which isn't relevant, because you know that mini-Euro-Nomad will be just the car to receive the engine of your deepest fears dreams! And, speaking of engines...

Now that you've picked out your chassis, what would you say to a 317-horse, DOHC/4-valve aluminum V8 that should be making good power until the Sun goes supernova? You can get this Nissan VK56DE out of a Nissan Titan pickup for well under two grand, though you'll need to spend many a few more bucks setting it up with an octet of Weber carbs and some sort of transmission.

A Nissan 5.6 liter V8 would be fun, but imagine all the wild Teutonic Maltese-cross decor you could put on your Opel, Plymouth, or IHC if you were to drop a Mercedes-Benz 5.6 liter V8 into the engine compartment? An M117, freshly torn from the still-twitching corpse of a big ol' Cocaine Dealer Grade 560SEL, would be just the ticket, and here's a 69,000-mile specimen for a mere 710 bucks! You'll need to ditch that irritatingly modern fuel-injection system and replace it with some carburetors, of course, and we recommend a homemade pipe-organ-style intake manifold made from galvanized plumbing fittings and sucking fuel from as many updraft Cessna carburetors as you can obtain. Then you'll start your junkyard quest for a functional junkyard transmission. How hard could it be?

Is there some rule that states you've got to have a V8? No? Well, how about one of GM's coolest engines ever, a high-performance inline six that struggled to get attention while in the shadow of big-inch monster V8s during the Muscle Car Golden Age? Yes, we mean the Pontiac OHC six-cylinder, which was a Chevrolet 230 or 250 six equipped with a futuristic (for 1960s Detroit) belt-driven overhead-cam cylinder head. The high-performance Sprint version, installed in regrettably few Firebirds and Tempests, could hold its own against V8s with vastly more displacement... but real Sprints are hard to find. No problem, though, because you can build your own Sprint from this Pontiac OHC 250, which is sitting with a top bid of just 150 bucks.

Ready to decide? Let's vote!

This is the sixth Alameda Scout in the series (after this '72, this '72, this '76, and this '77, and this super-rare '80 Diesel Scout). I see a few more Scouts around town that I'll get around to photographing one of these days. Why does this totally paved, completely flat, dense-urban island have so many serious off-road, farm-equipment-grade machines? Weekend fishing trips in the mountains? Preparing for the apocalypse? You tell me!

It appears that this truck, which is painted in jaunty two-tone orange/green, has had some spewing-radiator difficulties recently. The list price on the '72 Scout II Traveltop was $3,340. That's $248 cheaper than the '72 Bronco wagon; the '72 Blazer was $190 cheaper, but you had to pay extra for the removable top.

DOTSBE tipster Kitt has introduced me to the Tilt-Shift Maker website, so I thought I'd try it out with the Scout. I'd do it in Photoshop, but I'm still a fan of the prehistoric 1997-vintage Photoshop 5.0 and it lacks the necessary features.

We'll start off with an octet from Discontinuuity, who has a knack for finding some great machinery down on the streets of the home of Coors: Golden, Colorado. Discontinuuity brought us these eight Golden vehicles plus this dignified Golden Mercedes-Benz Ponton a while back, and now we've got another round for you:

Nova Station Wagon: I've got a couple of good DOTS cars here for you. First up is a 1962 (or maybe '63) Chevrolet Nova station wagon gasser. I talked to the owner, Mike, who also owns a 1946 Austin hot rod and takes both cars out to the local Bandimere Speedway for Wednesday night drag races. The Chevy sports a 327 small block, not the stock I6, and has a killer stance in my opinion. More photos of an IH Scout coming soon.
International Harvester Scout: About a block away from the Chevy was this International Harvester Scout in fairly good condition. All I know is that it's driven by a School of Mines student and that it was probably built between 1965 and 1970.
Subaru Leone: I finally got around to photographing this Subaru today. From what I can tell, it was made between 1975 and 1978 and has every Malaise-tastic tape stripe and chrome option checked off (along with "5 speeds" and "Front Wheel Drive"). It looks like a pretty competent little daily driver though. Now I just need pictures of the much rustier BRAT last spotted at Taco Bell.
Volkwsagen Beetle: I saw the Beetle you posted for DOTS a few days ago with the engine cover propped open, and it reminded me that I needed to photograph this flat-black Beetle. I'm not sure of the year; it's probably from the mid 70s. Whatever the vintage, I think it captures the spirit of a college car pretty well: the Libertarian party bumper stickers, subtle yet somewhat half-assed mods, and the pile of crap where the back seat used to be. You also might note that it's parked on Illinois St, right in front of the MG from the original DOTS Golden post.
Toyota Starlet: I saw this Starlet parked on the street while on my way to a friend's house, and knowing the love that many Jalops have for the little Toyota I had to snap a few pictures. From what Wikipedia tells me this is an 81-84 model, and from what the bumper sticker and rust can tell me this little car has been driven hard through Alaska and Colorado since the Reagan years.
Ford Model A: I hope I'm not sending you too many photos from Golden, but I couldn't pass up this great vintage-styled hot rod I saw in a parking lot today. It's a 1931 Ford Model A (although the owner wasn't sure exactly what year it is, the title is for '31) with a chopped top, a 302 Ford V8, and some sweet pinstriping, all sitting on a '32 Ford frame and bias plys. I love all of the little details like the structural wood and fabric in the roof, flat green paint, dropped axle with hairpins, and the lakes-style pipes. Probably one of the oldest cars I've seen around Golden this year, and definitely one of the coolest.
Ford Thunderbird: I've got a couple more DOTSBE cars here for ya. The first is a beat to hell old Thunderbird I caught being transported on a flatbed, parked in front of this creepy industrial building. Whether its destiny is a full restoration or The Crusher, we can only guess.
Volkswagen Transporter: The second car is a newer VW Bus with a wikkid flame paint job, photographed near where I found the MG previously. The paint and aftermarket exhaust give it cool points in my book; however it also looses a few points because of the PRNDL between the seats. From the stickers on the back window, I infer that the owner (or previous owner) is a Christian, works on power lines, and has been a student at the Colorado School of Mines for the last three years or so.

These are the cars and trucks that, for one reason or another, really made my day when I ran across them on the streets of Alameda. Some of them are on this list because they're rare and/or interesting (the "Whoa! What's that?" factor), while others made the cut simply because I yearn to own them. And, yes, the Fire Arrow falls into the latter category, because I'm sick like that. So here we go, my personal Alameda DOTS favorites for Ought-Eight:

You could get yourself a Travelall based on the D-1000 half-ton truck chassis for $2,705 back in 1965. The half-ton '65 Suburban sold for $3,270 and the Jeep Wagoneer 4-door was $3,395. What a deal! Of course, you'd have to pay more to upgrade the Travelall from the 240-cube six to the 304 V8 (a wise investment for a vehicle weighing well over 2-1/2 tons).


This appears to be a two-wheel-drive version, so you wouldn't want to take it on a camping trip involving heavy-duty mud-boggin' action. Ground clearance is still great, though, so those dirt roads will be no sweat.


I really could have used this sort of diagram on the first three-on-the-tree car I ever drove- definitely would have saved me a lot of confusion.

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I'm chillin' in Austin this week, and one of the major hiking/Mountain bike trails here is the Green Belt. The house I'm at is right on it. Less then a 5 minute walk down the path is this 40s-50s(?) International Dump truck. Straight 6 and all. How it got there? No f-n clue, there is no reasonable way now days to get there with a truck. The only way it can be pulled out is by backing a crane down a 30-45 degree slope for a few hundred yards with anywhere from a 3 foot to 50 foot drop off, and hoist it out.

Just about the only working bits is the door, steering wheel, and the clutch moves, everything else has rusted into one solid piece, but still a solid truck... I was climbing all over it to clean out rocks for pics and to move around to get better pics. Has a massive straight 6, though I personally don't know what it is, I'm sure you would. The pics are under a CC 3.0 license

Most of the time, when I see a jacked-up 4x4 with big mud-slingin' tires in a context as distinctly urban as this, it strikes me as a silly vehicle. Not so with an International Harvester!


This Scout might not be a '72, but the grille is a '72. No doubt some parts have been swapped here or there, so there's no telling at a glance.


If it is a '72, the available engines were a (non-AMC) 304 V8 and a 196-cube four-cylinder. Base price with four-wheel-drive was a mere $3,340, midway between the $3,588 list for a Bronco wagon and the Blazer's $3,145 price tag. I'm pretty sure the vacuum gauge dangling from dash was a non-factory option.

As you may (or may not) know, I'm a factory rep for an Import Truck Distributor, and one of my dealers in the New York region is Jim Reed. He is a minor legend in NASCAR (when they actually drove real Stock Cars, not fake ones). Here is a small biography of Jim when he was racing.



Anyway, today was nearly perfect weatherwise, so I convinced Jim to let me take pictures of two of his prized vehicles. I'll start out with a Beige 1941 Lincoln Zephyr V-12 Club Coupe. The 1941 Model used a 292 Cu. In Flathead V-12, linked to a 3 Speed Manual. This car is equipped with a Borg Warner Overdrive, giving the car the ability to cruise over 75 MPH with no problems. Jim owned this car over 4 years, and during that time he has built it up to be a driver, not a trailer queen (as you can see, it is currently registered in New York, and is driven an average of 3,000 miles a year. The car was in rather poor condition when purchased, and was a Dark Brown color. The V-12 has been rebuilt, including a performance camshaft, the Chrome was all re-plated, the O/D was rebuilt, and even though the sheet metal was relatively rust free, it was refinished in it's current light sandstone finish. The interior was refinished two years ago, with a special seat cover made to keep the seats in good condition, since Jim uses it as a real car, and transports his Jack Russell terrier Bocci with him when he comes to work. The work took over 3 years to get into it's current condition, with the engine taking over a year just to get running again.

Ok, some details about the photos. Take a look at the floor pedals. There is a high/low beam switch to the left of the clutch, and a Radio Station Changer button right between the Clutch and the Brake pedals. Notice the Art Deco details, including the Bumpers, the Tail Lights, and the Zeppelin shaped turn signals. The "wood" (used on top of the doors, and the dashboard) isn't wood, but hand painted to look like wood. Take a look at the dash, and you will see a hood release, one of the very first offered in any car at the time. On the outside, the hubcaps let you know this was a Lincoln V-12, as does the chrome stip on the hood. Now take a look at the twin carbureted V-12. Isn't that a thing of beauty? I drove this beautiful car short distance, and would love to do it again.



Now, let me introduce you to the 1937 Cord 812. Cord pioneered front wheel drive in production applications with the L-29 in the late 20's. The A-C-D company then created a "Baby" Duesenberg which became in 1936 the Cord 810 with front wheel drive, Lycoming V8 power and a legendary body design from Gordon Buehrig. A year later, in 1937, came modest changes as in this distinctive example of the beautiful Beverly 4-door sedan body style. Finished in green with green cloth interior, the car is used as a driver, and not as a trailer queen. Jim uses this car for about 1,500 to 2,000 miles a year, and he just completed a round trip to an Auburn, Cord, Dusenberg club meet. This car was purchased a couple of years ago through a Hemmings ad. Since Jim took possession, there has been some improvements made, including new wheels and wheel discs, hubs, joints, brakes, tires, and other special features. The Shift controls were thoroughly rebuilt with new servos and micro switches.

A bit of history. The 289 Cu In V-8 was made by Lycoming, and it's actually installed backwards, since this car was Front Wheel Drive. The transmission was also unique, as it was the 4-speed manual with helical-cut gears and Bendix "Electric Hand" vacuum-servo pre-selector remote control. The Pre-selector always proved to be problematic, and this car was no exception.

Now, some of the photos. Take a look at that aircraft inspired dashboard, with a full set of instrumentation. Notice the two cranks at each side. Those are used to raise and lower the headlamps. This is one of the first cars to use a full wheelcover, instead of hubcaps (notice how these are tied on using zip ties!). The shift lever is the pre-selector. Now take a look at those trunk locks, heavy, and well made. The Art Deco details abound. Under the hood is that Lycoming V-8, and take a look at how the exhaust is routed! In front of the radiator is the Bendix Electric pre-selector shifting mechanism. Notice that the Front Doors are suicide, and the rears are not!




Now, the trucks:

1)The Green one is a 1948 International K-Series 1 ton truck, with a Chrysler Flat head 6 Cyl Engine. This is a truck that is owned by an International Dealer in Plattsburgh, NY. The owner stated that he has two of them, since he was born in 1948. It's all there, but currently not running, as is used as eye candy in front of the dealership.

2) The Ford is a 1964 Ford F250 Camper Conversion. It is currently registered, but there is some major work that has to be done to it. The cab is a custom cab, and is quite unique and interesting. This was also shot in Plattsburgh, NY (where the classic Airstreams were parked.)

3) The Maroon/Black Wrecker is a fully functioning 1966 International V200, and it has a Huge Gasoline 549 Cu. In V-8. I can't tell you the horsepower, but it sounds menacing. One thing I did spot when taking pictures was the fact that this still sports split rims, which are somewhat of a hazard if you try and change the tire... ugh!

It's been a couple months since our last Scout in this series, and this is the oldest one I've managed to find on the island so far.


In '72, you could get your Scout II with a 196-cube four-cylinder engine (that's 3.2 liters, for you fans of the metric system and/or really big four-bangers) or a 304-cubic-inch V8. No, that's not an AMC engine- genuine farm equipment here!


Breakers breakers, any takers? It's been a while since CB radios were relevant; whatever vestige of CB that the cellphone didn't kill, cheap and powerful FMS/GMRS radios finished off. Still, a CB antenna on a Scout just looks right.

We've seen six International Harvester vehicles so far in Alameda, which means we get a poll. Which one do you like best?

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Thought I'd share shots of the sweet beast parked outside my workplace today. I took a whole whack of photos, but the cameraphone seems to have trouble when taking shots into the sun. Or towards the sun. Or facing west. Or during daylight, darkness, movement, moments of happiness, sadness, while smoking, while drinking, while breathing... you get the idea.

So to compensate for only supplying two mediocre shots, I included a shot of an absolutely beautiful old Saab that bumbled past us in Vancouver. I know, who cares... but the point is, this was in the middle of shooting a scene of Smallville. (If you notice in the background, there are movie-car definitely-not-RCMP-standard-issue Charger police cars as part of the scene.) The roads are blocked, the building has been redressed for Luthorcorp, the cameras are rolling.... and in the middle of it all, this Saab goes around the roadblocks and right into the camera's way. "CUT!" Nobody seemed to mind, because it sounded like it was brand new, and looked like it drove that way too. Reeeeespect.

And now it's time to listen to a tune from north of the border!



Our friends from Texas do a good version as well:

It turns out that this truck is owned by the guy who runs the Alameda Naval Air Museum, and all the costumed folks hanging around (including a guy in full Indiana Jones gear and some fur-hatted Rooskies) were getting ready to attend the grand opening of the newly restored Alameda Theater, which had been closed for 30 years and was showing an Indiana Jones premiere. Sure, this International normally lives in a museum, but I caught it parked on the street- it's fair DOTS game!


Why Red Army soldiers plan to ride to the movies in a truck done up in USMC colors is a bit hard to figure out, but the costumes were quite good and this truck looks reasonably complete.


I'm hoping that military-vehicle expert (and my ex-coworker) Clinto can give us some more details on this old soldier; I'll need to head down to the ANAM later on and see what other vehicles they've got.

You don't see a lot of Alaskan plates in Alameda (Hawaiian ones used to be fairly common, with the huge Navy base on the island and many sailors bringing cars from the islands); this truck seems to have become a permanent resident, so we'll probably see boring ol' California plates on it one of these days. I like to imagine this thing grinding down some icy dirt road with a bunch of tools rattling in the back. I'm not sure whether "Scout II Traveler," "Scout Traveler," or just "Traveler" is the preferred nomenclature; you Scout guys can weigh in on this issue.


It's even a diesel (or at least has diesel emblems). The diesel engine for '77 was a six-cylinder, 92-horse Nissan unit.


Looks like the oxidation brigade has been at work here; the Alameda climate will slow the rot to a crawl. I think Jack London himself would have driven this truck, had he lived long enough (102 years) to buy one. In fact, London probably used IHC farm machinery at his Beauty Ranch in Sonoma County.

And, since we're in a Huntington Beach sort of mood now, let's catch the Vandals' performance from Suburbia, as our favorite OC boys explain why Patrick Edward Brown is no zero:

Though the overall look of this truck is incongruous in a neighborhood full of crypto-Mission style turn-of-the-century bungalows, but wait until the Final Days are upon us and the atomic fire rains from the skies! Then this Scout will be full of freeze-dried food and ammo, headed at top speed for the compound in the mountains and leaving the rest of us to fight over charred rat carcasses in the rubble.


And what better soundtrack for that drive to the compound than a little Bad Religion?


Or maybe it's just an especially menacing commuter vehicle with single-digit gas mileage.

You figure the IH Scout was a nice simple machine, built to be repaired out in a cornfield with baling wire, so where's the hell? Just buy a case of Milwaukee's Best (plus the Extra Large spool of baling wire) and you're ready to turn the most decrepit basket-case Scout into a poor man's Post-Apocalyptic Survival Vehicle, right? That's why this '67 Scout should be as easy to whip into shape as selling your corn crop to the hurriedly-built ethanol plant in the next county! There's no price, and no description other than "Does not run," but the seller thinks you should know it's a "Good hunting machine." Maybe it has an engine, maybe not... but your local junkyard offers hundreds of engine choices, from that sweet Nissan V8 out of an Infiniti Q45 to a Mopar Slant Six. It's in Minnesota, so horrific rust is an absolute certainty you might discover a bit of corrosion here and there, but you can always melt down your baling wire to make sheet metal!

Maybe you like to go into your Hell Projects with a somewhat less hazy idea of the excrement-smeared punji stakes that lay in your path, or perhaps you just prefer the thumb-nose-at-Malaise spirit of the late-70s Scout II. Either way, this 1978 Scout II meets your requirements. As tipster kleinlowe says: "He's practically done nearly almost some of the work to get this baby up and running and is already eager to bail. Chicken." Another Minnesota machine, this one has had some- but not by any means all- of its rust replaced with new sheetmetal. It has a 304 engine, which may or may not run (and don't think that it's the relatively easy-to-find AMC 304, folks; that there engine is an IH-only unit), and you get some extra parts... and no title. But don't think about the endless months of trying to replace rusty metal faster than new rust can form, or the time you'll spend arguing with DMV clerks. Think about how much fun you'll have slogging through the mud in this baby!

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This could be a '47, '48, or '49 model truck, those being the years of the KB-2; I'm arbitrarily choosing 1948.


The KB-2 came with an 82-horse flathead six, no doubt the same engine installed in their Farmall tractors. You could haul equipment around the farm all day and then take the KB-2 into town for some honky-tonkin' good times.


But... where's the cup holder?


A cement mixer and a gas can in the bed. The cumulative cargo hauled by this truck in its lifetime would probably sink a container ship!