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American Graffiti

An IH in Urban Camouflage

By Christian Hazel
photographer: Ed Fortson

 1973 Scout Front Driver Side
 1973 Scout Rear Driver Side
 1973 Scout Interior
 1973 Scout Engine
 1973 Scout Rear Axle
 1973 Scout Rocker Panel
 1973 Scout Front Passenger Side

Did you ever get in trouble as a kid for drawing on the walls? We’re guessing that Randy Castle of Silverthorne, Colorado, must have spent most of his school days with his nose in the corner. Randy offered the IH as a canvas for the technicolor imagination of his friends and their rug-rats. Perhaps the most striking feature of this Scout, the paint job, is only the icing on a very formidable cake.

Randy wanted a vehicle that could do it all—from rocks to mud to snow, and everything in between. As a previous owner of three Scout IIs the choice was obvious. He bought the ’73 mostly complete and began improving on what he had. Lack of bolt-on parts availability forced Randy to make or design many of his own parts with the help of friends. The spring-over lift with dropped drag link and International/ Toyota leaves, a custom aluminum front bumper, a six-point cage, and four-wheel discs from a mid-’80s Chevy are but a few of the tricks to be found. A full complement of gauges, fuel and ignition cut-off switches, extraction tools, and even a compass ensure a successful return from the wilderness. As with any project the buildup is ongoing, but one thing is for sure—Randy is off with flying colors.


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