My first choice of years would be '75 through '78 - '75 was the first year for a Dana 44 with disks up front (might have been '74 1/2), and in '79 they started adding more smog stuff (catilytic converters, air pump, etc.). But you can always swap in a Dana 44 and power brakes into an earlier Scout. I've heard that the way the Colorado smog law is written, all Scouts could be eligible for collector series plates (apparently a vehicle has to be more than 25 years old OR a discontinued model or make (not sure which) - I haven't tried to get collector plates for mine yet, but I will next renewal). Anyway, collector plates would make the emission testing less of an issue or no issue (either test every 5 years, or test once and you're done as long as you stay current on your registration).
Later, /\ curt_cleavinger@stortek.com Curt /\/ \ /\ / \ /\ / \ /\ .===============. \/ \/ \/\ / \ || || \ / \/ \ []_||_____________||_[] \ \ \/-----------------\/ \ ________ ||( )| | | | | |( )|| ___/___|___,| | ----------------- | | _ ' _ | [/\_@@ ==== ==== @@_/\] `' `-----' `' [/>#################<\] `-' `-' [/] \_/ [\>\] '75 Scout II - the Family Truckster [/>/] [\<\]Gettin' a Scout