Of course, we can't fully appreciate the unquestionable magnetism of this Scout II without understanding its roots.

International Harvester produced the Scout from 1961 to 1980. Upon its release, which predated by several years the now-legendary Ford Bronco and Chevrolet Blazer, the Scout 80 squared off against the Jeep CJ and offered the very first of what would be later popularized as the Sport Utility Vehicle.

Subsequent generations of the Scout include the Scout 800, Scout 810, and Scout II.

The Scout II, the generation to which this particular example subscribes, was originally offers as a standard 100 in. wheelbase variation. A longer model with a 118 in. wheelbase was offered starting in 1976 either as a pickup truck (Scout II Terra) or, like this one, with a third row (Traveler).

In total, 532,674 Scouts were produced. Of that, an estimated 272,711 were the Scout II. Unfortunately, the last Scout rolled off the line on October 21, 1980 as International Harvester wound down its road vehicle business following a crippling union strike. Before they ceased production for good, it's documented that International experimented with a plethora of Scout-based spin-offs like a minivan, station wagon, dune buggie, and motorhome. Given International's reputation for innovation and challenging conventions employed by the biggest makers at the time, one can only help but wonder how they would have left their mark on those kinds of variations, as well.