1970 Ford Mustang 4x4: A Coal Miner’s Creation With Scout DNA

1970 Ford Mustang 4×4: A Coal Miner’s Creation With Scout DNA

Ken Brubaker
November 16, 2025

Bob Weiner doesn’t know the meaning of downtime. He worked the third shift in a coal mine and ran a wrecker service and garage. Most folks would crash in their off-hours—but not Bob. Instead, he built this savage 1970 Ford Mustang 4×4. The result? A functional showstopper we spotted at the 2025 Fall 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals in Danville, Indiana.

International Scout Chassis

The story starts when Bob scored a batch of old vehicles. One was a 1972 International Scout that had been rolled but still ran. Another was a thrashed Mustang Mach 1. That’s when the idea hit—to graft the Mustang onto the Scout chassis. The problem? The Mustang’s wheelbase was longer. So Bob sliced the Scout’s frame in half, stretched it eight inches, and nailed the 108-inch wheelbase he needed. Just like that, the foundation was set.

304 Cubic-Inch V8

The wrecked Scout originally ran a 345-cubic-inch V8, but Bob swapped in a newer, rebuilt 304. Some of the engine’s features include a Holley two-barrel carburetor, headers, and Pertronix ignition. Bob even worked in the Mustang’s factory shaker assembly. A copper radiator and high-CFM 12-inch fan keep the ‘plant cool.

Three-Speed Manual, Dana 20 T-Case

Mated to the engine is the Scout’s factory three-speed manual transmission. It sends power to the factory Dana 20 two-speed transfer case.

Wagoneer Axles, Custom Steering, 31s

Bob swapped in a pair of axles from a late-’80s Jeep Wagoneer. Both pack limited-slip diffs and 3.54:1 gears. Up front, Superwinch manual hubs handle locking duty. Bob built the steering system and it includes a 1979 Pontiac Firebird box and a 1965 Ford pump. He even fabbed the pitman arm, drag link, and tie rod.

The ’Stang rides on the Scout’s mostly stock leaf-spring suspension, with Monroe shocks keeping it composed.

Rolling stock comes from 31×10.50R15LT Mickey Thompson MTZs mounted on Mickey Thompson beadlocks. Fun fact: Bob set the Mustang’s body right on the Scout frame—no lift needed, and there’s still plenty of room for the 31s to travel freely.

     

Parts Sourced From 10 Mustangs

Bob’s rig looks as though he set a pristine Mustang Mach 1 body on the Scout chassis. But remember—the car was in rough shape and incomplete when he acquired it. He spent a significant amount of time hunting for parts and assembling the car to create what you see here. In fact, he says it includes pieces sourced from roughly 10 different Mustangs. Custom touches abound, including the custom “Mach 1 4×4” emblems on the sides and tail of the car.  

Factory-Like Interior, Custom Shifter Linkage

Inside, the rig sports factory Mustang front seats, console, and a rear folding seat. There’s also an aftermarket tachometer. One challenge Bob faced during the build was that the transmission sat beneath the center of the dash. He didn’t want to alter the car’s floorboard to accommodate the manual transmission shifter, so he came up with a creative workaround. By designing and fabricating a custom shift linkage system, he was able to place a Hurst shifter in the factory location.

Dirt And Street Friendly

The result of Bob’s vision, creativity, and hard work is a 1970 Ford Mustang 4×4 that’s unique, easy on the eyes, and fully functional. Bob often takes the car off-road and reports that it performs well. It also drives great on the street. For example, he’s not hesitant to hand the keys to his kids and he has taken it on some road trips to include a six-hour foray from his home in Francisco, Indiana, to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.