Winnie the Scout 80 (Australia)

Dude, this is a rad Scout

Really cool, ride!

Always loved those AU grills!

I would greatly appreciate a picture of the data plate of your Scout. I have a couple of Australian serial numbers archived and seeing yours would give me some extra context. Australia used a different serial number convention than the USA, starting with "SC" rather than "FC" and their own sequential numbering. One thing I have wondered about is how the chassis were stamped there. Did the chassis have a USA number or an Australian number. On USA Scout 80s, the chassis number can be found of the left frame horn (on the side a USA driver would sit), just behind where the front bumper mounts. Would you have a look for me and tell me if the number matches what is on the data plate? May require some sanding or wire brushing to bring the numbers up, if the chassis is rusty. If it has a number that starts with "FC" I can track it's USA build date and maybe find it's USA Line Setting Ticket (Build sheet). Another thing I don't know is if the serial sequentials started at "501" as was IH convention here. I suspect they did. The Scout 80 serials I have are SC1162 and SC1820, so if they started at 501, then the lower number would be in the range of that first thousand shipped over (see below). Where does yours fit here? I could also track when the grille began appearing.

From what I see, there is very little correlation in this era between USA model years and Australian model years. A Scout here built for the '63 MY, could have been sold in '64 or later over there.

The grille for the Aussie Scout was only for that market and based on what I've see in the archives, I theorize it was originally developed for possible use here, but rejected. That is my interpretation of many loose clues so it's subject to correction if or when more facts emerge. If anyone is Oz can help with that, chime in!

Apparently, the early Scouts didn't go over so well there saleswise. According to a 1972 report by IH of Australia when they were considering bringing the Scout II over, "...they were unsuitable for sale against Land Rover." Apparently, IH Australia recommended some updates or alterations to the Scout 80 and was not heeded. Some 1,000 were ordered once the RHD version was available in late 1961 (September of 1961). I have seen pictures of them being tested in Oz but without context. Apparently, those first ones had the original USA grille. The report also stated, "In the first instance, sales were almost as rapid as the rate at which the vehicles fell apart all around Australia." Say what? Regrettably, the part of that report I have seen does not detail what they thought was unsuitable vs the Rover, nor what parts were failing. They made it sound like it was a warrantly and sales nightmare. I have my suspicions (the relatively weak Spicer 27A rear axle being one item). I know Rovers of that era very well, plusses and minuses, and see them as pretty evenly matched overall. I know as a fact that the average Rover axle (excepting the later Salisbury type) was somewhat weaker than even a Spicer 27 so there must be more to the story. Home team advantage maybe, despite being from Pommy-land? I wonder if, because Australia was part of the Commonwealth, they didn't have to pay import duties/tariffs? That would have been a cost advantage, even if the shipping costs were comparable.

The Scout II seems to have gone over much better there but faced the same cost problems as before. could charge less.

I have attached a two page brochure from Australia from around 1965 ( I think... I don't have the decoder ring to decode the brochure dates there).

Finally, if you run into someone there with more knowledge on the Australian Scouts, I would be grateful for the contact.