There’s a lovely orange and black machine waiting for me in my email inbox. It’s something I didn’t see coming, but based on everyone’s current love affair with classic SUVs and trucks, I probably should’ve expected this to happen. This, friends, is a fully restored and upgraded 1979 International Scout II.
This pumpkin paint scheme suits the old brute. As do the beefy tires and blacked out interior. The best part though sits under the hood, because that’s where Velocity Restorations stuffed a 430-horsepower 6.2-liter LS3. Other modern goodies include Wilwood disc brakes, a clean gauge cluster, and plenty of forward lighting.
This is a restomod done properly well, but it’s one that commands …insane money. Hold on to your hats here folks, because this one will cost you $229,000. I’m pretty sure you could’ve purchased every Scout every built for that price at one point during the late 90’s.
This Scout appears to be very well done. You can see many more photos at Velocity Restoration’s website. But that asking price is wild. This isn’t an Icon build. We’re not looking at the Singer of the International Scout world. This is a cleanly restored and upgraded Scout II from the late 1970’s.
Have there been other resto modded vehicles out there that have surprised you? Good or bad… we’ll take all answers here.
Hooniverse Asks: Has there been a resto-mod out there that's surprised you?
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15 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: Has there been a resto-mod out there that's surprised you?”
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There have been a few restomodded 1970 Dodge Challengers hitting the roads since around 2008.
http://www.440magnum-network.com/mopar-news/uploads/vanishingpointchallenger2.jpg -
When I grew up, restomods were generally frowned upon. A classic should be original, or go home. I got my first taste of how this could not be the entire truth as a kid, seeing my first Sugga (Volvo TP21) with a V8. The audio was just right, and the weird smile of whoever drives these says everything I need to know.
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I’m as “‘Murica muscle car!” as they come, but there was that dude that swapped a Toyota turbo I-6 into a ’68 Mustang, which I liked a lot more than I thought I would.
http://www.speedhunters.com/2018/07/2jz-well-put-that-six-in-anything/
http://speedhunters-wp-production.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/13124657/Keiron-Berndt-2jz-Mustang-Speedhunters-7-8-2018-3723.jpg-
Beau! I follow him on IG. I still want to drive that thing…
https://www.instagram.com/gulf_stang_2jz/ -
A guy at work wants to put a 2JZ in a Factory Five Cobra, complete with a single side pipe.
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The AC Ace had an I-6 originally, it would be as legit as any of the thousands Cobra replicas out there with a small block Chevy.
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Actually, you might be surprised how few SBCs (or LS V8s) find their way into Cobras. Hot rodders have no issue stuffing them into all kinds of pre-war Ford street rods, but using one in a Cobra is generally frowned upon. Of course it’s done, but not very often.
Small block Fords, old school FE Fords or the new Coyote are the go to engines for kit Cobras.-
I only recalled seeing them though I have no idea what proportion of builders go that route. Certainly the “heritage” is with the Ford engines and SBC’s/LSx’s would be considered gauche in polite company. But if you’re knocking off a car in the first place, I personally would not be a stickler for authenticity. Didn’t the Australians use a turbo I-6 in their Falcons? There’s your bridge!
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ICON’s done some great work, but I was really impressed by the Ring Brother’s Javelin. They took a car that I loved already and fixed its biggest problem– the excessive front overhang. They added Mopar mechanicals, which is grudgingly appropriate, and painted it a garish color that fortunately didn’t hurt its appeal.
https://st.hotrod.com/uploads/sites/21/2017/12/032-1972-AMC-Javelin-AMX-Ringbrothers.jpg
https://ringbrothers.com/1972-amc-javelin-amx-defiant-
The front chin bit is wacky, but the rest is awesome.
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Agreed. The chin spoiler is overly-complex. Unusual for RB, because they usually have pretty restrained designs.
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It fits in with the Javelin, though, which has matching ‘overly complex’ wheel arch treatment. I like the way there is a panel joint line, connecting/separating the new spoiler from the original guard. It gives it a factory look. The ‘C’ pillar/rollbar delineated by the black roof is a great touch as well.
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While I have to admire a lot of the metal work that most people won’t have a clue is something custom, like the dash panel to hold those round gauges and the engine compartment covers that are integrated so nicely into the cowl cover, I do think the price is well beyond what anyone will pay. Real Scout people are way to cheap, most would rather buy a whole collection with that much money, and still have enough left over for sending one to one of the IH specialty shops for a full build. Someone looking to spend this kind of money on a 4×4 are much more likely to pick a better known vehicle like a Bronco, CJ, or FH.
The thing that really kills it for me is the filling of the holes along the windshield header where the front of a top would bolt down. The roadster was dropped long before 1979 though I guess they could have picked up a windshield frame from an actual roadster. But for me and all my love of driving my Orange Scout sans top I still would want at least a bikini top to keep the sun off on the hottest days. -
“Resto-Mod” is up there with “Lake Forest” on the can’t-be-both-and scale. It’s either restored or modified. Throwing an SBC in it and tarting up the bodywork is not a restoration, it’s a modification.
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Make my resto mod a Range Rover classic 3 door. Make mine a six speed manual with a 5.5 Rover V8
http://www.kingsleycars.co.uk/images/2/5e38c_mg_6942-jpg.jpg
http://www.kingsleycars.co.uk/images/2/f083bf97image-15-jpg.jpg
http://www.kingsleycars.co.uk/for-sale/restored-land-rovers/1992-range-rover-3-9i-se-2-door_1.htm
Or just assemble the bits yourself.
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