David EilersSeptember 28, 2019

1967 Four Wheel Drive Rocky Mountain Test Article

The May 1967 issue of Popular Mechanics includes the article "Four-Wheel Safari Test In the Rugged Rockies". The article covers a two-day test in the high mountains of Colorado from Telluride to Ouray. The main goal was to see if the Ford Bronco and/or the International Scout could compete with a V-6 equipped CJ-5. The conclusion was interesting.

1967-05-pop-mech-four-wheel-safari-cover

18 Comments

Craig BrockhausSeptember 28, 2019 at 2:36 PM
Gotta love their proving grounds! Nowhere better place to go with your Jeep.
MikeSeptember 28, 2019 at 5:28 PM
Although the Scout came in as somewhat under powered un-flattering review, International Harvester must have taken this personally, a couple of years later, they stuffed that V/8 under the hood. If memory serves me correctly, wasn't that an AMC engine? This happened right around the time Jeep became part of American Motors, (AMC).
scoutingranchSeptember 28, 2019 at 8:41 PM
What a dandy Dennys combo plater, the Jeep with that V6.
SE Pennsylvania SteveSeptember 28, 2019 at 9:05 PM
A nicely written easy-to-read article. Thanks, Dave.
David EilersSeptember 28, 2019 at 10:57 PM
Mike, Good question. It turns out most of the Scout V8s were manufactured by IH (an IH304 and an IH345), but occasionally a scout was outfitted with an AMC 304: https://itstillruns.com/identify-international-scout-v8-7929458.html - Dave
MikeSeptember 28, 2019 at 11:16 PM
Thanks Dave, always an informative answer. It's amazing how much I've learned by following EWILLYS.
DaveSeptember 29, 2019 at 2:15 AM
The V8 was available in the Scout in 1966 I believe. Maybe 67. I owned a 67 with a 266 V8 in it. A friend owned a 66, also with a 266 that he later swapped out for a 345. 266, 345 and 392 (available in Int. trucks and travellers) were IH engines as far as I know. They replaced the 266 with the 304 in like 1969 or there about.
Dave from MnSeptember 29, 2019 at 12:17 PM
Hey Dave all scout v-8’s were IH, even says so in the article you referenced. The six cylinder scouts used the AMC 258.
MikeSeptember 29, 2019 at 1:27 PM
So the sixes were AMC engines, thanks for that info, I had a sense that there was a AMC connection somewhere.
David EilersSeptember 29, 2019 at 3:26 PM
Dave: That's a good point, but Scouts were sold well beyond the article date, which is why I was looking outside the article. I could not find a source that corroborated the use of the AMC 304s (so who knows if there is any truth to that claim), but several sources show that the AMC 401 was an optional engine in the 70s (which was an upgrade of sorts from the IH 392).
Dave from MnSeptember 29, 2019 at 4:19 PM
The 392 and the IH 400 (AMC 401) were not offered in scouts. Only the 304 and 345 in the 70’s. The 400 was in 74-75 full size and some say due to a shortage of 392’s. Liked the article and hope someday to check out those trails. Would have been embarrassing to be the Jeep driver that ran out of gas and not know what the problem was.
1. David EilersSeptember 29, 2019 at 4:37 PM
  Dave, thanks for hitting me over the head. I see what you are saying. Some Travelalls had the AMC installed, but there appears to be no evidence the Scouts did (I was blurring those models in my head).
MikeSeptember 29, 2019 at 8:35 PM
After a while, this gets confusing, reminds me of an old Abbott & Costello routine; "Who's on first, NO, who's on second". etc, etc, it goes on and on. Glad we all have a good sense of humor...
David EilersSeptember 30, 2019 at 3:29 PM
Mike, Well, my goal is to get it right more often than I get it wrong. Thankfully, when I get it wrong, you all correct me. It also helps that I'm well-prepared to be wrong as I've been married several times and have children. Nothing like wives and kids to keep your ego in check! :-) - Dave
MikeSeptember 30, 2019 at 5:39 PM
Dave, and that is why we all value EWILLYS as the source for Willys information. Your knowledge, and your honesty are both impressive. -Mike
1. David EilersOctober 1, 2019 at 2:13 PM
  Thanks Mike!
ChuckOctober 1, 2019 at 12:51 AM
Having owned Jeeps and Broncos my whole life; I knew how this was going to turn out before I read the article. Hard to believe, but a 66-77 Bronco will turn a circle INSIDE a 46 Willys circle. But still love my flatties!
TerryOctober 1, 2019 at 1:39 PM
I read this article in 1967 ( I still have the mag. ) bought a used CJ 5 in 1968 ,but bought a new Bronco in 1969 when I could afford one .