Despite an age difference of almost 60 years, the 2017 Jeep Wrangler and the 1961 IH Scout actually have a fair amount of things in common. You may think that it would make more sense to compare this Wrangler to a CJ-5. However, these two vehicles both represent the top end of luxury in their segment. The CJ-5 was not exactly designed with comfort in mind. Furthermore, both have removable roofs, removable doors, folding windshields, and all wheel drive. Plus, you can get to the engine bay of both these vehicles without having to go inside the car. From there the similarities stop. Check out TFLnow’s latest old vs. new video above to see other differences and just how far SUVs have come.
The Jeep
[photo: FCA]The 2017 Jeep Wrangler has a 3.6L Pentastar V6 that makes 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels through a 5-speed automatic transmission. This Jeep, of course, has a rather sophisticated all-wheel drive system, plus locking front and rear diffs and a disconnect-able front sway bar. All of this helps to make this Jeep one of the most off-road worthy vehicles you can buy from the factory. Simultaneously, this Jeep comes with a number of luxury appointments to make it a fairly comfortable place to be. Leather seats, leather steering wheel, and a plethora of technology features help make this Jeep a nice place to be. However, Tommy notes that some of the interior finishes feel a bit cheap when compared to the Scout.
The Scout
[Photo: TFLtruck]The Scout, by contrast, has a 152 cu-in (2.5L) carbureted four cylinder engine that makes about 90 horsepower and a roughly 100 lb-ft of torque. This engine is exactly half of a 304 V8. Of course, power from this four cylinder can be sent to all four wheels through a 3-speed manual transmission (with granny gear). Like the Jeep, the Scout has locking diffs to help with off-road capability. Of course, these diffs have to be locked from the wheel hubs, whereas the Wrangler has a convenient knob. The Scout seems unrefined when compared to the new Wrangler, but for its day it was actually quite luxurious. It has a nicely upholstered bench seat, and even climate control (although this is a bit complicated to use).
To see what other similarities and differences there are between these luxurious off-roaders, and to see how much technology has advanced in almost 60 years, be sure to watch the whole video!
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