From: Jasper
Date: 7/14/01
Time: 12:32:21 AM
Kari,
The Scout was the first SUV, although the name didn't come into existence until much later. Its history can be traced back to the original Jeep. In the 60s it was a well-known vehicle, among a small number of people. It stood out because it was so different from anything on the road-and because it was so ugly. You sure got that right. But by the time Ford, GM and Chrysler (who bought Jeep from American Motors in the late '70s, I believe) got into that act and started making their version of the vehicle more attractive most people who were attracted to them were still a small percentage of the population.
If you get a chance to see Three Days of the Condor again you will have a hard time telling if Faye Dunaway's vehicle is a Bronco or a Scout. Apart from the B-pillar they were almost identical. Both of them were ugly (the early '70s). It wasn't until the '80s and '90s that the SUV began to attract large numbers of buyers. Precious few of them were interested in a Scout, which didn't update its style to be more in line with the popular Jeep, Bronco and Blazer until its last year of production, 1980. That was Fuhrman's Scout.
The Scout has always had a small, loyal following. It still does. But unless you know someone who owns a 1980 Scout, chances are you wouldn't know what it was if you saw it. And unless you were standing right on top of it, you could easily mistake it for a Jeep, a Blazer ore a Bronco. The power of suggestion could easily take it from there for the vast majoryity of people. --Jaser