When you talk about classic off-road, there are two trucks that come to mind often: The Ford Bronco and the International Harvester Scout. Both trucks look similarly identical that which has given enthusiasts a difficult dilemma.
Which one performs better though? It seems like the two 4x4 vehicles have been head-to-head with each other during the years both were competing in the market. This comparison has continued to exist even during the years that the two automakers discontinued their famous two-door off-roaders.
To give you an idea, we're going to break down both the Bronco and the IH Scout to see what they bring to the table. There are a bunch of similarities and differences too when it comes to its technologies.
Let's break each one down first and decide which one is the better off-roader between the two seemingly identical SUVs.
What Makes The Ford Bronco Special?
The Ford Bronco is arguably the most recognizable off-road vehicle out there. Unlike the upgraded trucks and SUVs, Ford wanted to make one that has off-road capabilities from the start.
It is a compact off-road vehicle using its own chassis, meaning it's built with a rigid reinforcement on its bone stock alone. Upgrading parts with off-roading mods only means it has a higher ceiling for hobbyists and dirt drivers alike.
The Bronco held its own as it stood toe-to-toe with the Jeep CJ-5 and the aforementioned International Harvester Scout. Ford stepped up in competition when it released bigger-bodied Bronco models in 1978. It was now competing with the likes of the Chevrolet K5 Blazer and Dodge Ramcharger.
The sport-utility vehicle lasted five generations and ran from 1966 to 1996 before being discontinued in favor of optimizing other SUV lines. It came after demands for large two-door SUVs declined. The Ford Expedition and Excursion models became a more popular choice.
The Bronco will make a comeback with its sixth generation for the 2021 model year.
What Makes The International Harvester Scout Special?
The International Harvester Scout is another off-road vehicle that was made for its purpose.
The manufacturer made a name for themselves producing bigger-scale machinery such as agricultural and heavy equipment to name a few. IH also built vehicles for the US military which is why it became expected that they would be able to come up with the same quality for their other automobiles.
True enough, the IH Scout delivered as it became the precursor for more sophisticated SUVs to arrive in the market. The company hit gold with their Scout line as they were able to compete with the Jeep.
The scout was built to be a more versatile machine than the military vehicles it succeeded. It came in travel-top hardtop, sport-top soft top, and cab-top roof models. Each had a pickup style bed too.
The Off-Road SUV pioneer had a good run from 1961 to 1980. Factors such as labor strikes and the inability to keep up with competition were the reasons for its demise.
Sadly, the company was defunct in 1985.
Bronco Vs Scout: Head-To-Head Comparison
Final Thoughts
Choosing between the Ford Bronco and the IH Scout will boil down mostly to preference. Both already have aftermarket products that customizers can add to reinforce their old-school off-roaders to meet modern-day demands.
Ford is definitely going to take a win here only because it's still operational while International Harvester is no longer in operation.
The Bronco is coming back for a sixth-generation next year but that doesn't mean the International Harvester Scout is completely dead. Custom shops still continue to bring new life to the once glorious SUV.
The best part of all this is we get to see more competitions and comparisons between the new Broncos and the tuned and customized older models.