Tim Walz, the Democratic VP Nominee, Drives a 1979 International Scout

We don’t do politics at CARiD Drive, but sometimes, the stories just write themselves. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who will be Kamala Harris’ running mate under the Democratic ticket in the 2024 United States presidential election, drives one of the coolest cars of any politician out there. His 1979 International Harvester Scout II is a surprising and interesting choice for a daily driver.

As reported by The Autopian, the restored Scout is Walz’ only vehicle, though he often finds himself either driving or being driven in state-owned SUVs. The governor has also showed up to local events in the International 4x4, and it makes occasional appearances on his social media (usually alongside a black Labrador who is also called Scout).

The International Harvester Scout was built in Fort Wayne, Indiana, from the 1961 to 1980 model years. Entering the market after the Jeep CJ-2A and before the first-generation Ford Bronco, it never achieved the cult-like status of either. Regardless, it has the the same reputation for ruggedness and reliability as International Harvester’s tractors, pickups, and commercial trucks, and the Scout benefitted from those vehicles’ tough, torque-rich engines.

It’s not clear which motor is under the hood of Governor Walz’s rig, but the 1979 Scout II offered a base “Comanche” inline-four displacing a tractor-like 3.2 liters, which made 77 horsepower and a stump-pulling 153 pound-feet. International was known for high-torque, low-rev engines, and the 196-cubic-inch Comanche four has possibly one of the most extreme power-to-torque ratios out there. From the base engine, one could make the jump into a 5.0-liter International V8 producing 122 hp and 226 lb-ft or a 5.7-liter making 146 hp and 265 lb-ft.

Although this won’t play into my voting decision at all, I’m glad to see the Scout II getting some attention on a wider scale. My grandpa owned an early Scout 80 in baby blue with a white roof, powered by a gutless but reliable 2.5-liter Comanche inline-four. As a result, I’ve always had a soft spot for any International Harvester. Governor Walz can drive what he likes – unless he and Harris are elected, in which case his driving days are over for security reasons. At least until he decides to apply some ballistic armor to his old Scout II.