TEXT BY: Chris Hunter PHOTOS COURTESY: Iron & Resin, New Legend 4x4, Scott Toepfer
he apparel industry thrives on trends, and the biggest trend right now is “fast fashion” — clothing that is designed in a hurry, manufactured on the cheap, sold for a song, and, invariably, ends up in a landfill.
Fortunately, there are a handful of brands that take the opposite approach. And in the USA, one of those brands is Iron & Resin™, based in the sunny Californian beach town of Ventura. Apparel from Iron & Resin is built to last, with robust construction and thoughtful design.
Not surprisingly, founder Thom Hill is a fan of Scout trucks. And he has his father to thank for introducing him to the iconic brand. “Growing up, my dad always had a steady rotation of old trucks and cars,” says Thom. “And when I was in college in the ’80s, I had a girlfriend whose father owned an old Scout II.”
“My dad was into whitewater rafting and outfitted the truck to carry his boats and gear for extended camp and river trips. We did long road trips all over the western US to tackle some big rivers. Lots of good memories in that Scout.”
“It's a combination of the go-anywhere, do-anything feeling you get when riding in one. And the simplicity of that analog connection between the driver, vehicle and the road."
Thom has eclectic tastes in vehicles, both two-wheeled and four. But it’s the trucks from Fort Wayne that pull a little stronger on his heartstrings. “I’ve always loved the rugged, utilitarian aesthetic of a vintage International™ Scout,” he says.
“It’s a combination of the go-anywhere, do-anything feeling you get when riding in one. And the simplicity of that analog connection between the driver, vehicle and the road. Scout trucks are, by far, my rig of choice.”
Thom is an entrepreneur at heart, as well as an outdoorsman. Around seven years ago, he connected via Instagram with Sean Barber, who runs the Scout restoration shop New Legend and the parts supply specialist Anything Scout. Despite Sean being based some 1,800 miles west in Iowa, the friendship grew.
“We shared a common bond,” says Thom, “around a love for adventure and quality things that are purpose-built. It made perfect sense to merge our worlds and do something together.”
The Iron & Resin x New Legend 1972 Scout II™
If you follow the NORRA Mexican 1000 race in Baja, you’ll know that Sean is one of the world’s foremost experts on vintage Scout vehicles. He jumped at the chance to collaborate with Iron & Resin and aimed high with the first build to share the two nameplates.
Thom describes this 1972 Scout II™ as the ‘ultimate adventure mobile’. “If we could build our perfect vehicle, what would it look like? This was an easy one for us.”
The 100-inch wheelbase truck went through a complete resto-mod, with the original paint and pleasing patina left untouched. The Sunrise Yellow paint was a respray done in the 1980s but it still looked good. And it helped that it was a clean, rust-free southern Texas native.
When the truck arrived in the New Legend workshop, it was powered by an International Harvester™ 392ci V8 and a T18 manual transmission. Sean’s crew swapped this out for an even more potent setup: an LS 5.3 V8 engine hooked up to a 4L65e four-speed automatic.
The rest of the driveline and mechanical components were restored or replaced. Then the New Legend crew installed new floor pans, electronics, suspension, tires, and wheels—plus heat- and sound-proofing. The goal was to add modern performance while maintaining the timeless, analog feel of the original vehicle.
“The interior was completely redone, using all our fabrics and materials,” says Thom. That included Iron & Resin bison hide fabric, hand woven blanket material, and waxed canvas—items often used in the clothing range.
A premium sound system with a standalone amplifier, high-end speakers, and a subwoofer was wired in. Then it was time for what Thom calls the ‘must haves’ to make it the ultimate rig.
An aluminum roof rack from Front Runner Outfitters™ accommodates a rooftop tent for weekend camping, with space to spare for surfboards, mountain bikes, and other tools and toys. At the back, attached to the trailer hitch, is a swing-away motorcycle carrier from RakAttach™.
‘Sunrise’ attracted a lot of online attention in the vintage truck scene, so Thom and Sean have reunited for a second build—inspired by the Baja race trucks of yore.
Iron & Resin x New Legend 1976 Scout II™
This time, New Legend started with a 1976 Scout II. They used rare and period-correct Scout parts painstakingly sourced over ten years to evoke the formidable Baja racing rigs from the ’70s, campaigned by drivers such as Jimmy Jones and Sherman Balch.
The engine on this beast is original: a 345ci International Harvester V8, hooked up to a T19 manual ’box and a Dana™ 300 transfer case. “All the best parts!” Sean enthuses.
The vibe is authentic rather than slick, but appearances can be deceptive. This machine has been treated to a complete overhaul, a fresh coat of Grenoble Green paint, and is outfitted with custom soft doors and side windows. New Legend also installed a premium suspension setup from Deaver Spring [est. 1892] to optimize the handling both off- and on-road.
Sean then raided the bin from New Legend sister company Anything Scout. That included a 30-gallon fuel tank, limited slip differentials front and rear, Bilstein™ shocks, and a custom roll cage. The icing on the proverbial cake is a stylish interior crafted from Iron & Resin materials: a mix of chrome-tanned buffalo leather and 14.75 oz waxed cotton canvas.
The steel roof is removable—but when in place it can carry a tent, surfboards, and a cargo box. “You can run this as a full open rig in the warm months or put the top on and load it up for extended adventures,” says Thom.
The appeal of a classic Scout truck is wide, as wide as a desert horizon at nightfall. And we’d put one of these trucks in our garage any day. But who buys a restored Scout vehicle from Iron & Resin?
“Let’s be honest, these rebuilt trucks aren’t cheap,” says Thom. “Each one is bespoke, a labor of love by true craftsman at the top of their game. So our customers are typically people with an affinity for high-quality gear. They love the vibe of an old rig but want the reliability and performance of something a little more modern.”
“These individuals aren’t willing to pull up somewhere in a geeked-out modern ‘overland special.’ They are looking for something truly unique, a truck that speaks to their personality and quest for adventure.”
And above all, a truck that is built to last.
