TEXT & IMAGES BY: Scout Motors
Revealing The Connection Machine: The Scout Motors team pulled the sheets off of the Terra & Traveler concept and threw a celebration for the ages.
As guests arrived at Southall Inn just outside Nashville, Tennessee, they were welcomed by an impressive lineup of beautifully restored International™ Scout® trucks. Among these were iconic vehicles, including the very first and last Scout vehicles ever produced, restomods from New Legend 4×4, and Jason Jackson’s meticulously restored a1979 Scout II™ for his father. Spanning multiple generations, the gathering truly exemplified the new Scout vehicle’s purpose as a “connection machine.” Scout enthusiasts and tastemakers, including YouTube personalities like Grind Hard Plumbing Co. and The Fast Lane, legendary designers like Dick Hatch (designer of the original Scout 80), and International Scout historians John Glancy and Jim Allen, joined together for this shared celebration.
The Scout brand’s script logo and signature orange branding led attendees into the lobby, where familiar faces awaited, including the Scout Motors team, VW execs and Scout Motors CEO, Scott Keogh. Guests received their credentials and schedules for activities that embodied the Scout spirit: outdoor cooking, woodworking, axe throwing, and guided off-road excursions in vintage Scout models around the Inn’s 325 scenic acres. Chef Derek Wolf guided participants through the preparation of an apple cobbler cooked over open flame, which would be served later at dinner.
As the sun began to set, shuttles carried guests up a steep, narrow road to a lookout atop a hill overlooking Southall’s luxury cabins and expansive landscape. At the summit, they found a stage built just days prior, highlighted by a Scout-branded entryway. An immersive timeline honored Scout brand’s history, culminating in the last Scout vehicle produced—a symbol of a legacy reborn in 2024.
The excitement grew as Scott Keogh took the stage with Tennessee’s golden sky as his backdrop, unfazed by the October weather risks. “Scouts are either lucky, crazy, or clairvoyant,” he joked, capturing the adventurous spirit of scouts. His presentation drew the audience into the vision behind the brand’s revival, emphasizing scout’s foundation in connection and exploration.
“Connection is at the core of our brand and DNA,” Scott said as he left the stage. Two large screens then lit up, sharing the story of a family growing up with a Scout—a testament to Scout Motors as a brand of connection, family, and the future. As the video ended, both Scout prototypes rolled onto the stage, greeted by applause.
Chief Design Officer Chris Benjamin took the stage to present the new Scout Terra™ truck and Scout Traveler™ SUV, explaining the thinking behind their design and engineering. He highlighted nods to the original Scout vehicle aesthetic—features like the iconic rounded wheel wells, rear window upsweep, and rugged yet classic front fascia. Benjamin shared that Scout truck and SUV designs were about more than style; it was about building a community connected by their love for the outdoors, with a focus on “multitool” functionality in the new design.
Following the reveal, guests descended to the design center for cocktails, where they explored the new Scout vehicles finer details, including materials, interior features, and innovative touches. As the craft beer and cocktails flowed, so did the conversation, with optimistic discussions about Scout Motor’s future.
This event was more than a reveal; it was a rekindling of a passionate community and hopeful expectation for the future.
Dinner was a feast—a spread of appetizers, steak, chicken, and sides, finished off with the apple cobbler prepared earlier. As the band played, guests gathered around the vehicles, exchanging stories, peering under hoods, and admiring the craftsmanship. This event was more than a reveal; it was a rekindling of a passionate community and hopeful expectation for the future.
Scout Motors is deeply grateful to everyone who attended, bringing along their beautiful classic Scout vehicles and, most importantly, their passion and enthusiasm. Here’s to forging the future together.
