Question for the IH addicts

[fredsterra]

Anyone can collect a Ford or GM !

It takes a special knack to collect and keep up an IH.

It's like a family friend said one time, When I ask him why he pulled an Oliver 2255 vs. a 1466? He said "anyone with a check book can have an IH or JD built to pull. But the Oliver I am a lone wolf doing it my self my way."

He was so proud when the would beat the "Factory built tractors" from Hypermax and others.

But he was about 50-60% IH on his farm at the time. Now it's 90% Agco/Cat.

[Scott L]

I see a lot of the reasons represented here in association with why I like the breed the way I do, along with a couple of others.

1. Rare - at least in these parts, anytime you see another it is a noteworthy event. Get to know where each of the ones you know of "live". Always checking to see if they are still there any time you pass by.

2. Character - a description coined by one of the Binder's "more seasoned" members in describing his 800 - "looks like death sucking on a Lifesaver"!

3. Function over form - I think there is something so cool about how they built them using whatever was handy. "Bob" in purchasing scored a landmark deal on green wire....but ONLY green wire. No problem, we'll use only green wire. Need a distributor cap for the "new" 152 we made out of the 304...no problem. Just use the 304 cap and only knock out every other hole.

4. Industrial application - first time I had to get a water pump for my 152. Guy at NAPA slid the box over the counter and said, "First time I've seen one of those in a while." Opened it up and I'm sure my face said, "where's the rest of it." What a great design. Trucks were made to be used, to work. Gotta keep downtime to a minimum. Make the water pump itself a metal plate, with the impeller on one side and pulley on the other. Make it bolt to the front of the housing so hoses can remain installed. Easy off, easy on, out the door you go, back to work.

[robrob]

Couldn't afford a Bronco heheh


*runs for cover.... J/K

[murfman55]

When I was 15 going on 16 I just had to have an old bronco. My dad searched trying to find one that he could afford at the time. One day he comes home and says I saw this 4x4 forsale I'm not really sure what it is but lets go take a look. So I reluctantly went just knowing I would hate it since it wasn't a bronco. I don't know what it was exactly but I instantly fell in love. 1971 Scout II with a 258 in it. I was born in 71 so it was clearly destiny. Both my dad and I loved them ever since. I'll walk before I buy a bronco.

[Peter Albrecht]

A big amen to everything previously mentioned !!! Still laughing about the " couldn't afford a Bronco " one ! I love the no nonsense, plain jane, rugged built dependable vehicles taht IH's are. My owning these is part appreciation and part protest. I appreciate the fact that they are American designed, manufactured and assembled by Americans. I respect the fact that they were built to last. If you had the old school mentality of buying a good vehicle, maintain it well, pay it off, and have years of service from your vehicle minus the car payment, your plan would be successfull with an IH. That shows respect for the consumer and our hard earned cash. The protest part: I won't spend the ridiculous sums of money that new cars/ trucks cost nowadays. Included in the price is built in obsolescense in componetry and electronic gizmos. Me driving my Binders is a big FYou to most of the domestic automobile manufacturers of today. They are definately not " me too vehicles " OH, Did I forget to mention that they are just plain COOL !! Rust be damed ! Long live the Binders !!!!!

[Greyguild]

I think I get it now, for me when I bought it it was for 3 reasons :

1 - I'm a big guy ( 6'1" and 260 lbs ) and I had a Suzuki Sidekick, wasn't for me, I wanted something more imposing...

2 - I wanted somthing rugged preferably with a frame and solid axles, seemed more "easy" to customize...

3 - I had a J**p Grand cherokee that was "prune" colored and there was AT LEAST 7 others the same model and color as mine in my 25,000 population city, wanted something different...

And my girlfriend saw an classified titled "J**p"...

One look at it and I knew it was a Scout II... Traveled 300 Miles "one way" to go see it and I already had the car dolly behind my Father Silverado, No matter what, I WAS coming home with this Scout... Over my Girlfriend complaints

Already cut it in half, rebuilding everything.. Drove it no more then 75 feet in 1 year, but already I wouldn't trade it for a "Next year" Model....

I think I am doomed, specialy since my Scout is far from being finished, I'm already thinking to get a 70's 1110 Series Truck with stepside

Help!

[harvesterman93]

the first thing that turned me on was the uniqueness of them very few around and they all just look so damn cool lol im still in high school so you can only imagine some the crazy questions i get from class mates about it lol but i love riding around town turning heads no matter where i go i literaly caused an old man to hit a sign one day bc he jerked around to look at my scout lol but man there is no greater feeling then a sunny summer day around 80 degress and taking the top off filling up the tank and just goin for a drive new cars you get in to go somewhere old fords and chevys you get in to hope you make it to where you wanna go internationals you get in just to be in doesnt matter where your goin or where you been all that matters is the rumble in the engine radio blastin and wind in your face

[binderbeast]

Originally Posted by robrob

Couldn't afford a Bronco

I had to quote this even though others have mentioned it.

All I was looking for was a smog exempt 4x4 and really had a bronco in mind, but alas... $$$$

Found my (first) Scout II nearby for a decent price and soon realized that this relatively small 'SUV' had the same engine that my first wildland fire engine had in it. I was hooked.

Not only for that fact and most of the points made above, but it just felt right!

I have since bought a parts Scout to go farther with my plans than I had ever envisioned and am meaning to look at an original Scout a friend told me about.

{shhhh... don't tell my gf}

Bottom line is that they are tough, unique and a ton of fun!

[Scout Driver]

I had the good fortune to grow up surrounded by IH on the farm. There was a time when there were 3 Scouts in the extened family. I have been around IH equipment and trucks from day 1. My first Scout has been in the family since it was nearly new. My second Scout arrived later and was a service rig for a nearby IH dealer. To be totally honest, I really haven't know anything different. Same goes for my fondness for Oldsmobiles.

On another note, IH people have always been good company. Loyal and tight-knit.

Scott

[sparkydog]

Driving an IH is my way of "sticking it to the man". By that I mean that I am driving something hardly anyone else has. It is sooooo butt-fugly that on the "wheel of design-fortune" it flirts with landing between a "normal" 60's US pickup truck and something just shy of a Citroen or an Aquacar (or whatever they call them).

(Basically I am an attention whore but I can't do it tastefully.)