WORDS Scout Motors
IMAGES Scout Motors & Courtesy International Harvester
appy Birthday, America. We got you something. A Scout® Traveler™ SUV finished in red, white, and blue that we’re calling the Spirit of ’26, complete with Rallye™ graphics and a patriotic livery that’s a nod to our past.
But to see how we got here, let’s crack open the history books. The year was 1976 and the Winter Olympics were being held in beautiful Innsbruck, Austria. The U.S. Ski Team needed a fleet of vehicles to navigate the rugged terrain and International Harvester™ met the assignment with a capable and stylish package.
Since it was America’s bicentennial year, International Harvester (IH) provided the ski team with ten 1976 Scout Traveler and seven 1976 Scout II™ Traveltop™ SUVs (Get it? Seventeen ’76 models. Clever, huh?). All had 4-wheel drive, V-8 engines, automatic transmissions, and two-speed transfer cases. The trucks were white with sweeping red and blue lines across the length of the body. “U.S. Ski Team” decals were added to the front fenders, ski racks were mounted on the roofs, and some even had electric winches for when the going got tough.
Those Scout rigs became icons, carrying the spirit of American competition and celebration in one unmistakable package. As 1976 continued to be a year for all things patriotic, IH doubled down on the attention it was getting from the Olympic vehicles and released a bicentennial-inspired “Spirit of ’76” factory option.
As 1976 continued to be a year for all things patriotic, IH doubled down on the attention it was getting from the Olympic vehicles and released an official “Spirit of ’76” option from the factory inspired by the occasion.
The trucks were only available in the 100-inch wheelbase, finished in Winter White, with red and blue stripes across the body. The package included a deluxe Wedgwood Blue interior, a matching blue roll bar, a denim blue Safari soft top, larger tires on Rallye wheels, and any drivetrain combination you wanted. Additionally, IH released a hardtop variation of the Spirit of ’76 named the “Patriot”, which was available in both the 100- and 118-inch wheelbase.
Other brands and manufacturers took notice, but none matched the Spirit of ’76’s mix of style, purpose, and timing.
Introducing the Spirit of ’26
50 years after the Spirit of ’76, we’re having another all-American summer, in case you haven’t heard.
The new Spirit of ’26 Traveler SUV is a modern interpretation of the bicentennial trucks. For Scout Motors designer Dongwon Kim, the project was about studying the old trucks, understanding why they worked, and then figuring out how that same energy could live on the modern Scout Traveler.
The red, white, and blue colors nod to America’s 250th anniversary. The graphic layout pulls from the iconic Rallye packages and vintage Scout vehicle design language. A riff on our Harvester™ graphic gives it a modern detail. And the Traveler SUV platform gives the whole thing a new shape to live on.
“We did a lot of different versions,” Kim said. “It’s trying to balance heritage and reinterpretation. Do we try to come up with something entirely fresh? How do we respect the original designs while drawing new inspirations?”
Kim described the design around three main points: the old Rallye graphic; our Harvester graphic; and of course, red, white, and blue. Simple and effective. The Spirit of ’26 livery keeps a clean line without being too obvious. “It’s tasteful,” Kim said proudly. “It cracks open the Scout history books and nods to our roots. A time when the brand did something cool.”
The Spirit of ’76 Capsule Collection
And there’s more where that came from. Scout Supply’s new Spirit of ’76 merch capsule is out just in time for summer. Featuring tees, hats, and coolers inspired by vintage Scout vehicle graphics, a 1970s color palette, and classic, well-worn materials.
John Rock, from the Scout Motors team, helped bring the collection to life with the same attention to detail that shaped the livery. Form and function mattered. So did the small stuff: sleeve graphics, woven patches, embroidery, slub texture, and print techniques chosen to feel more like an old favorite shirt than a standard promo tee.
“We want these pieces to feel significant,” Rock said, “because they are.” The hats and coolers follow the same idea: built well and with purpose in mind.
The original Spirit of ’76 celebrated a milestone in American history. The Spirit of ’26 celebrates the next one. Different era, same idea: build things that earn a little character along the way, whether that’s a Scout® Traveler™, a well-worn tee, or your favorite summer story.
Disclaimer: Scout Motors celebrates the legacy of Scout vehicles and the passionate community that keeps them alive. However, Scout Motors does not sell, restore, or provide parts or services for vintage Scout vehicles. Any modifications or restorations featured are the work of individual owners or third-party specialists.
