Weekend Edition – A Spectacular 1980 International Scout II Diesel Midas Conversion on eBay

Jim Brennan

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I’m going to continue with the Spectacular Weekend with this: It is an International Scout II equipped with a Diesel, that was upgraded by the Midas Van Conversion people in Elkhart, Indiana (which was the center of the Universe for similar Van Conversion companies). This is a total blast from the past, and that’s what makes it so Spectacular…

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According to the listing:

We are very pleased to offer this 1980 International Scout II Diesel Midas Edition 4×4. This rare precursor to the modern SUV is not found in this condition often.

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International for only 4 years contracted with the Midas Van Conversion Company (Elkhart, Indiana) to build special luxury models offered at dealers. The Midas Van Conversion Company makes this off-road beast have a luxury feel to it. The shag carpeting, digital roof mounted clock, deluxe striped paint, spare tire cover, ceiling lights, swivel front bucket seats, & rear reclining bucket seats w/arm rests are all part of the Midas Package upgrade.

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International, at the time, didn’t make a Diesel engine small enough to fit in the Scouts so they used Nissan for this. This vehicle is equipped with the SD33T four cycle turbo diesel inline 6-cylinder. It’s a four-speed manual that is very smooth, and delivers much better than expected mileage.

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Comes with original line setting ticket, and dealership sale details shipped to Seattle. This Scout is truly a collector’s dream.

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With over seven days to go until this auction comes to a close, the bidding so far has topped $12,000, with no reserve. This is a time capsule, with a durable Nissan Diesel, and only 77,000 miles on the odometer. It’s not perfect, but it is damned close. See the listing here: [sc:ebay itemid=”171081773405″ linktext=”1980 International Scout II Diesel Midas Edition” ] And then tell me what you think.

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Jim Brennan

Jim Brennan

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32 responses to “Weekend Edition – A Spectacular 1980 International Scout II Diesel Midas Conversion on eBay”

  1. scoudude Avatar
    scoudude

    Wow, that is one well preserved Midas SII. I'd say it is right around what it will sell for. Interesting thing about that clock is that it was made here in Washington. Not too far from where I currently live. Up until 2 years ago the place where they were made was still standing but now it has been replaced by a shopping mall.

    Reply
  2. skitter Avatar
    skitter

    I was always under the impression the Scout Diesels were four cylinders, and almost got caught out again by the four-cycle wording. Amazingly, I did learn something today.

    Reply
    1. scoudude Avatar
      scoudude

      The were considering and did test a few trucks with the 4 cyl version of this engine the SD22, the same one offered in the Datsun/Nissan pickups. That was one of the options they were looking at to meet CAFE standards for 1981 but it was deemed not powerful enough even with the proposed weight reduction. Of course in the end they decided to try and sell the Scout Business Unit rather than face CAFE and the EPA. One of the early proposals was an all diesel line up with the SD22 and SD33 being the only engine options. That would have met both regulations but they feared that there wouldn't be enough people willing to go diesel.

      Reply
  3. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    That is a freakishly good example of the breed. '80 was the last year of the Scout, and the '80-only square headlights announce to any Binder what you're driving. The SD33T is rare in a sort of unfortunate way, since it was not used in many other vehicles (sorry UDMan) in the United States, this makes it difficult to find mechanics familiar with it.
    The Midas Edition was the Doll-Up of all Doll-Ups, with most being a paint and interior color combination that could be ordered even outside of the Doll Up editions. (That line setting ticket may carry the "Doll Up Scout" rubber stamp that the earlier Champagne, Red Carpet and others had.) This was the whole interior done up in items not available on other Scouts. The Soft-top Safari version of the Scout II (known as the SSII) is the other most desirable edition, but that was made for sport, where this was made for luxury.

    Reply
  4. Rover1 Avatar
    Rover1

    And fast! It's gone to plaid!

    Reply
  5. dead_elvis Avatar
    dead_elvis

    That upholstery makes me itchy & sweaty – not in a good way – just looking at it. Reminds me of an uncomfortable couch at an elderly relative's house. The white wagon wheels more than make up for it, though.
    What's with this dash plaque:
    <img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqUOKo4FG6J,Yr+iBR7v,Ly,y!~~_4.JPG"&gt;
    and the keypad thing (left side of pic, below & right of the steering column)?
    <img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$T2eC16F,!)kE9s4Z-UBLBR7vZqZh1!~~_4.JPG">

    Reply
    1. OA5599 Avatar
      OA5599

      Keypad is probably a period-correct car alarm. That was right around the time when key switches started giving way to digital codes to arm and disarm the alarm, and well before kefob remotes became commonplace.
      <img src="http://retrothing.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/09/29/keypad.jpg&quot; width=500>

      Reply
      1. Batshitbox Avatar
        Batshitbox

        Except the keypad pictured clearly has a "Stop" and "Play" button. This means either a weird tape deck or a novelty comedy horn system. Oh, god I hope this thing has a horn that plays Dixie and Flight of the Valkyrie and La Cucaracha oh please please
        <img src="http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/mediumlarge/wlo-336_w_ml.jpg"&gt;

        Reply
        1. dead_elvis Avatar
          dead_elvis

          (puts on reading glasses) OK, I see the labeled buttons. Gotta love the wiring snaked through the generous dash panel gaps. I'm with you on hoping for a ridiculous novelty horn, but I didn't see any mention of aftermarket toys in the fleabay ad.
          Maybe it's one of the older car alarms that warns away would-be thieves in both English & Español.

          Reply
          1. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
            FuzzyPlushroom

            I'm hoping it's a repurposed VCR remote, myself.

  6. salguod Avatar
    salguod

    Two words:
    Plaid Headliner.
    Wow.

    Reply
    1. dead_elvis Avatar
      dead_elvis

      Vomit-inducing from all angles!

      Reply
      1. Devin Avatar
        Devin

        That's a weird way to spell totally awesome.

        Reply
        1. vroomsocko Avatar
          vroomsocko

          Plaid all the things!

          Reply
  7. 79_conquista Avatar
    79_conquista

    i think that keypad thing is one of those old computers that you hook up to your PA system in your C.B. and it plays little jingles and songs that sound like primitive midis

    Reply
  8. smokyburnout Avatar
    smokyburnout

    "digital roof mounted clock"
    Why is that even worth mentioning?
    <img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$T2eC16ZHJGkFFm2jEOVFBR7v,W!2LQ~~_4.JPG"/&gt;
    Oh wow it's a DIGITAR

    Reply
    1. dead_elvis Avatar
      dead_elvis

      I think you mean, why is it not more prominently featured! When was the last time you saw a padded digital clock with upholstery buttons?

      Reply
      1. vroomsocko Avatar
        vroomsocko

        The alarm is bad ass!

        Reply
      2. LTDScott Avatar
        LTDScott

        Seriously, that thing is fantastic.
        The real reason it's such a big deal is that it was at the dawn of use of LED/LCD displays, so it was a novel feature at the time.

        Reply
        1. dead_elvis Avatar
          dead_elvis

          Yep, I got my first digital watch* around that time, and thought I was THE SHIT. 10 year-olds are such idiots.
          *non-upholstered

          Reply
        2. scoudude Avatar
          scoudude

          Plus that clock was made in the US of A, Maple Valley WA to be exact. I've seen the back of some of those and there is a sticker with the address of the company.

          Reply
  9. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    The plaid material looks like Herculon, the stuff they upholstered furniture with in the '70s. Ah, I remember it well.

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      Seeing the detail around the digital Digitar clock, yeah, it's definitely Herculon.

      Reply
  10. Andy Avatar
    Andy

    I hope the trust fund hipster who wins this auction to complete his kitschy image takes good care of it.

    Reply
  11. jeepjeff Avatar
    jeepjeff

    Today I learned that my wife is repelled by shag carpeting. This Scout is still awesome.

    Reply
    1. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
      FuzzyPlushroom

      I wouldn't want to shag on it, either. It looks itchy.

      Reply
      1. Dean Bigglesworth Avatar
        Dean Bigglesworth

        Someone should really do a study on how itchy carpet affects shagging, for example is there a point where even the itchiest of carpets isn't enough to disturb a really good shag? Is moderately itchy uphosltery acceptable on a mediocre shag?
        I made this graph to illustrate the point.
        <img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/74465213/itchy.png&quot; width="600" </img>
        I say just put a blanket on it.

        Reply
        1. dead_elvis Avatar
          dead_elvis

          That's fancy. You must do graphs for a living. However, I'd prefer to keep Itchy & Scratchy well away from my shagging.
          <img src="http://rt.com/files/art-and-culture/news/simpsons-censored-itchy-scratchy-943/i2e7d255b75c902b89281ab3bfafd3184_itchy-and-scratchy-the-itchy-and-scratchy-show.si.jpg"&gt;
          Note: Metric Fuck Ton(ne) is more accurately deployed to measure quality of shag, not itchies! But +many internet points for its use, regardless. Question is, how does the MFT compare to the Imperial FT?

          Reply
  12. duurtlang_ Avatar
    duurtlang_

    What a sickeningly horrible interior. I like it!

    Reply
  13. Don Bishop Avatar
    Don Bishop

    Funny to read all these posts. I bought that Scout and haven't had it delivered yet. Sight Unseen. I too get a kick out of the carpeting and interior? I have a 79 I'm converting into an SSII. Got out of high school in 79. that's why I wanted that year. I love it. my first memory was riding in the back of a 64 Scout 80. My first vehicle was actually 2 scout 800s I worked for weeks on to get one that would run. I was just a 16 year old Illinois farm boy at the time. Back then I couldn't afford anything. With 6 kids, mom and dad were struggling. Of course, I didn't know it. I just thought they liked having a 5 acre garden. I worked my way through college and was lucky to have the chance in the Air Force. Became a pilot and served 20 years Active duty and reserves. Now I 'm a Captain at Southwest Airlines and run a successful business in Oklahoma. i work every day. Someone posted about the trust fund hipster. Never had one. Never knew until last year why I loved Scouts so much. I was born the day the first one was introduced to the public. January 18th, 1961. weird huh? I can now afford just about whatever I want. could buy a Lamborghini if I wanted one. I prefer an old Scout. Don't give up on dreams.

    Reply
    1. longrooffan Avatar
      longrooffan

      Captain: An excellent tale and congrats on the Scout. I personally want to thank you for your service to our country. I try to fly Southwest every chance I get. Thanks again for sharing with us this story.

      Reply
  14. Don Bishop Avatar
    Don Bishop

    My pleasure. Someday when things kinda settle down, I want to start attending some of these great car shows and hanging out with car enthusiasts like me. I'm flying this weekend so I can't go to the great Scout show in Troy, Ohio. I would have loved to have picked my Midas Scout up in Grand Rapids driven to Ohio and surprised my mom and dad in Illinois. I haven't told them about my new purchase, but they'll both get a kick out of it. My mom is 77 and when I was growing up, she drove us kids to school in a Scout 80 and then taught elementary school all day. She could shift that 3 speed with the best of them. I'm gonna post a video of her driving the Midas. Thanks for the nice post, Don

    Reply