Good morning! For today’s Shitbox Showdown, we’re looking at a couple of open-air fun machines. They’re probably not the sort of thing you want to drive every day, but either one would make a fantastic weekend toy. And they’re not the same old thing you see everywhere, either.
But before we do that, let’s see where you ended up with yesterday’s Hawaii trucks. Lots of you worried about the inoperative air conditioning in the GMC, which may have been a factor in giving the Toyota its easy win. I doubt the AC is a difficult fix, but then, I’m the sort of person who will tear apart anything to fix it – including air conditioning – so I’m hardly a judge of what others consider “difficult.”
All things being equal, I’d take a GMT800 over a Tacoma any day of the week. But these two are not really equal; the GMC is a 2WD with a standard cab and an automatic, while the Tacoma is a stickshift 4×4 with an extended cab. 4WD and a manual are nice, but that extended cab makes it way more useful as an only vehicle, as it’s likely to be, so I’d take this Tacoma over this GMT800. But only just.
So now it’s time to look at a couple more convertibles. Well, really one true convertible, and one sports-utility vehicle with a removable roof. But the end result is the same: Sunshine and fresh air, in forms you don’t see all that often. Let’s see which way you’d rather get there.
1962 International Harvester Scout 80 – $5,000
Engine/drivetrain: 152 cubic inch overhead valve inline 4, three-speed manual, part-time 4WD
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Odometer reading: unknown
Operational status: Runs and drives, but has been sitting
If you think about it, the SUV craze really started when World War II ended, when thousands and thousands of soldiers returned home and discovered that their beloved wartime buddy – the Jeep – was every bit as useful on the farm as it was on the battlefield. Other automakers took notice and started designing their own Jeep competitors, often improving on the formula. International Harvester, already well-known to farmers, entered the fray in 1961 with the Scout, first as a pickup, and later with a full-length roof. In either case, however, you could remove the roof and fold down the windshield for the same open-air experience as a Jeep.
The standard engine in the Scout, for all nineteen years of its production, was a 152 cubic inch pushrod four, but an unusual one. It’s one-half of International’s V8, literally. They just lopped off one bank of cylinders and one head and called it a day, leaving the remaining cylinder head canted over at 45 degrees from vertical. It’s an incredibly durable, if not terribly powerful, engine. This one powers either the rear axle or both through a three-speed manual gearbox.
It runs and drives, according to the seller, but it has been sitting around for many years, so you know the drill – change the fluids, replace everything made of rubber, go through the brakes, all that good stuff. But being able to hop in and turn the key and fire it up is huge.
The seller describes it as “partially restored,” but to me it looks pretty good. It’s a truck; it’s not supposed to be pristine. You can keep your six-figure Broncos and the like. I’d rather have this old “Binder” with slightly mismatched body panels and no rear bumper.
1976 MG Midget 1500 – $4,195
Engine/drivetrain: 1.5 liter overhead valve inline 4, four-speed manual, RWD
Location: Columbus, OH
Odometer reading: 37,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Time for a quick history lesson, if I may: The “Midget” name was first used on pre-war MG sports cars, way back in 1929 with the introduction of the M Type. The name stuck around all the way up to 1955, through the J, P, and T series cars, though the post-war TC through TF cars are not often referred to as Midgets. The name was officially revived in 1961 for a badge-engineered Austin-Healey Sprite, which was produced for nineteen years – coincidentally, the same nineteen years as the International Scout.
The Midget progressed through four generations during that time; this is the final generation, equipped with a 1493 cc four-cylinder engine from fellow British Leyland marque (and rival) Triumph. It’s the same engine used in Triumph’s Spitfire. The Midget 1500, as the Mark IV cars are usually called, had been saddled with the same big black rubber bumpers as its big sister the MGB, but this one has been “back-dated” with earlier chrome bumpers. This is an easy and popular mod for later Midgets, and it really is an improvement. The rubber front bumper makes the Midget look like a stoned frog with an underbite.
That’s not the only improvement that has been made to this car. It also features a really nice aftermarket steering wheel, an electric radiator fan, and a Weber DGV downdraft carb conversion. It all works, it all runs well, and the seller says they have put a lot of time and money into this car to put it in good running order. The only reason they’re selling it is that they’re moving, and can’t take it with them. (Well, not with that attitude, you can’t…)
Not all is well, though: The seller also notes that this car has a fair amount of rust. The non-original British racing green paint is also substandard, though it does look all right from a distance. The number roundels are a nice touch. My advice is to just drive it and enjoy it, and don’t sweat the cosmetics too much.
We’re big fans of open-air motoring around here, whether on or off the pavement. But there’s no reason to limit your options to the common choices, your Wranglers and Miatas and the like. These two, by virtue of being a little more obscure, are relative bargains. Neither one is perfect, but either one could be perfect for you. Which will it be?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
Always wanted an old MG, horrible Lucas electrical and all. It just looks like a fun gearhead diversion to share with friends. Fits me. The IH vehicle is incredibly cool. I’m not worthy but I would love to see one in person.
My step-dad, who I respected a lot, drove an International pickup truck. I always thought that truck had so much character. I went with the Scout.
I’ll take the Scout, I just like those a lot more than the MG even though it’s a decent one besides the rust. The Scouts are just so cool and I’ve always loved the history behind International
Good time to buy a Scout. When VW starts making their Scout everyone will remember these existed and values will go up. Also, I can’t fit in a Midget.
Today was a “both” day but since there was only an option to choose one it would be the Scout.
I’d take the Scout. That’ll give an 80 and an 800. Just need a II now.
Correction – the 152 was only the base engine until ’68. After that it was the 196, which is half of a 392.
I’ll take the Midget just because I already have one. Having driven a Midget and a Scout, neither is comfortable but the Midget is way more fun.
Just remember your govt. work…. You can have both for just twice the price! (and a fifth of what a Bronco or Jeep will cost ya.)
anytime I talk to my father in law about his two Scouts. “Its still good, it was running when I parked it, just a few years ago!”
he parked it in the 90s…
MG for me. I’m guessing it will be more enjoyable to drive than the Scout.
Tough call. I do love a green MG. But anything IH strikes close to home. My dad was the only farmer I know who would send his 12-year-old out to wax the Case/IH combine. Gotta vote Scout on this one.
First of all, Scouts are badass. Love this thing. MGs are very cool too, and I actually own one, unlike any I-H machinery (ATM), but I owned one Midget and one Sprite, and didn’t fit in either (why did I have to acquire two to figure that out again?). So, for this big dawg it would have to be the Scout. But I will smile and wave at your Midget.
I dailied a Datsun 1600 for a little over a year when I was home reflecting on my academic performance at the request of my undergraduate institution. My dad briefly had a red Scout with a white top (he may have had one or two others even more briefly, but this one I ever clearly) that had a little camper kitchen setup with a propane stove, and I remember him bringing it home following my mother, brother and I with his mother on the way back from our hometown to where we lived at the time, probably right after my paternal grandfather’s funeral. I could daily either of these – and I might need to given that my garage is full of my mom’s furniture. The Scout seems bigger than the one I remember and the top would probably have to stay on all the time; the MG has less cargo room and presumably more rust, but it might be able to fit in the garage with some rearranging. The MG will be morefun for me to drive, so, despite the Scout’s profit potential, it’s my difficult-to-make choice. A period (or period-looking) aftermarket air unit could tip it the other way, though.
I would have to really look hard under that scout seat. I am pretty sure I see daylight in at least one photo. the 80 and that lump of a half V8 are certainly intriguing, but I really think that one is a money pit. looks like they maybe rolled on some yellow paint and put it up for sale.
The MG is tiny, Basically a 4 wheeled motorcycle. But surprisingly, i think maybe it is the more reliable option here. Basically I think the majority of the work has been done to make it a weekender that will get you there already.
The Scout or you’re little people.
“No choice, huh?”
“No choice, pal.”
There’s no way my fat ass is fitting in an MG Midget. IF I manage to get in it, you’ll need a freaking engine hoist to get me back out! Scout me in!
I’d buy the MG and drive around with all the badass charm of Tyrion Lannister. I already am a lawyer, so “I drink and know things”.
Rust concerns me, but I like little people too much. Bad life choice MG it is.
With the Express in the background I’d like to imagine the seller and their neighbor were competing to see who had the most yellow vehicle. Although both look neat my vote is for the Scout.
If I don’t get the Scout, I’m just gonna pout!
It’s a cool vehicle that is rarely seen these day as these things had major rust problems and so they all returned to Mother earth long ago!
The moment you said rust and Ohio, I got scared about the MG. One vote for the Scout.
I love MG’s, and the idea of driving a slur excites me.
But I would still take the Scout on this one. I’m legitimately considering buying this one.
I’d never use the Scout as much more than a weekend slow ride to the water’s edge to go fishing, but it’s a good choice for that sort of use.
I’ve had my fill of LBCs, and the MG is the least attractive of them anyway, so I’ll take a pass on the Midget.
The MG is a far better car but I just don’t want it, and the Scout is a far better deal at the moment with much greater potential upside.
I made up my mind before clicking into the article; Scout.
Scout: Beast of UnBurden