While a popular choice for consumers seeking a soft-roader in the 1980s, the Ford Bronco II is essentially extinct today, with few surviving examples still seeing daily use. This one bucks that trend, as it has just 24,330 miles and is a desirable final-year edition with the high-zoot Eddie Bauer trim. These compact Broncos are part of the emerging class of affordable 90s collector vehicles and a classic square-body design, making it worth a look here on eBay.
Bidding is over $16,000 but the reserve remains unmet. I’m not surprised the seller is holding out for more, as a vehicle like this is somewhat unrepeatable. To find a low-mileage Bronco II is one thing; to find one with the luxurious Eddie Bauer trim is quite another. The seating surfaces and carpets appear mint, as you’d expect, and I’m digging that very 90s upholstery pattern. Still, this is a handsome design that has aged surprisingly well for a short-wheelbase SUV.
The 2.9L six-cylinder is barely broken in with mileage this low, and while the seller doesn’t offer much in the way of detail about its maintenance history, it’s easy to assume based on these pictures that it’s been loved. The last time I remember seeing a Bronco II this nice was the short cameo one made in the classic John Candy film Uncle Buck, when his love interest mistakenly “catches” him with another woman and leaves rubber in anger while peeling out of a swanky suburban neighborhood.
The Eddie Bauer trim has spelled luxury across Ford’s 90s product lineup, at least until Eddie Bauer the brand began to lose relevance among consumers. Regardless, even without the retail affiliation, this low-mileage Bronco II would still offer immense eyeball appeal to anyone who has given up on finding one that hasn’t been needlessly abused or has rust penetrating both rear fenders. While I suspect the pool of buyers willing to spend $20K on one is small, these have become so obscure that I’m sure someone out there is.
I usually have all of 10 minutes to look at BF, because my main function is a babysitter, driver and entertainer for grandchildren in the morning. They like these and call them an “eeep.” Without insulting anyone, they are very attractive and in some ways better than an XJ, since they have a real frame, whereas the XJ has a unibody. Everyone argues about the value of a car, but it only matters to the buyer. I am doing fabrication to a 911, to help build a rally car. Makes no sense to me, but it isn’t my money and I am glad to help someone in their dream. Dreams are a good thing!
Huge fan of the Bronco II and I’ve not seen one on the road in years. Most of these served their purpose and were driven into the ground, those remaining are now commanding pretty decent prices. Not sure how rare the Eddie Bauer package is, I recall these and the full size Broncos to be fairly commom in EB trim back in the day…the F150 in EB dress however, that was a rare observation.
Very, very nice. Someone babied this one. Good to see a II in great shape, I too haven’t seen one in years. The price surprises me, but not really given the rarity and the increasing interest in trucks and SUV’s.
I had an Eddie Bauer Bronco II, 1985, dark blue/tan. It was a sharp little rig. Served me well for seven years, mostly as a daily driver plus some light off-roading. I ordered it expecting it to be the family vehicle, thus automatic transmission. Circumstances changed and it ended up being my daily driver, and I missed having a manual transmission. Eventually I traded for something which could double as a family vehicle but was a manual…. Taurus SHO. Now that was a change.
Glad to see these finally getting some $$. One sold on the ‘other site’ for over $22k a few months back. They weren’t a bad little rig for the time.
Seller is going to suck every dime out of this. Won’t surprise me if reserve unmet and goes to BAT
I’ve had the dishonor to have messaged this seller on another one of his auctions for a full size Bronco.After questioning him in a way not of his liking he got nasty in a way when I asked if selling price was negotiable.Guessing he feels his Broncos are worth the high prices and bad on me trying to get it cheaper.So I would never buy from this guy who basically is a Bronco flipper.Still I admit his stuff does appear nice but he doesn’t corner the market on nice Broncos either.
Nice little truck. I almost bought a brown and tan 85 back in 1997. The clickty clack tappets were making a lot of noise and I passed on it. I ended up taking out a note instead on a new XJ and never regretted it. This is another one of those vehicles that I wish I had owned and now the prices are beyond anything I would pay. GLWTS
The CarFax Report shows it has a salvage title..
That’s an eye opener, hopefully anyone interested in this car will do similar research prior to exchanging money for the title.
I’d rather have the VW camper van featured yesterday. It’s not that much more money and will always have a large built in following. These were disposable when new, that’s why so few exist today, Jeeps will dominate this spectrum of the market leaving little to no real buyers for these in the future.
Steve R
Interesting. The Autocheck report shows duplicate Title, but no brand.
usta call’em ‘the larger cab’ Ranger. 1 friend put a hot Lima in his (D shaped heads’n so forth) & road runs it in the wide open spaces (“out West”) eventho 4WD (some tow duty). Nother bronco-i-zed his (pick up like) welding in reinforcement behind seats. It is a very capable off roader even w/the same 170ci bent6 OEM motor.
Some came 2WD (fewer? only early models?). I heard they just left the 2nd DS off & the T-case wuz empty….
This one’s the ‘executive model’. A lill tippy 4 a DD if U ask me~
I bought a 1988 ‘II right off the showroom floor of the Frederick Motor Company, Frederick Md, all black, red interior, push bumper, round back and front bumpers, with chrome wheels. Loved that little truck, sadly lost her in a rollover crash in NC in 1999.
It seemed like these were everywhere (here in the Pacific Northwest) when new, but they didn’t age well. They were spendy, especially with the EB trim. Now you only see one rarely, beat to hell and driven by meth-heads. Way more XJs still on the road, some looking mighty fine!
Nice to see a clean, well-maintained example on here! I owned an 89 Bronco II XLT Eddie Bauer edition, and I loved that truck. It was a loaded 2WD with a 5-speed manual.
I drove 110 miles a day to work in that truck for about 8 or 9 years and it had well over 200,000 miles on it when I finally traded it. It still had the original clutch in it when I traded it away and had never left me stranded. Even with RWD, it never had issues getting around in the snow.
It had a nice ride for such a short wheelbase and relatively high center-of-gravity and it had the tightest turning radius of any car I’ve ever owned!
It’s interesting that the Seller wants a ridiculous number for a salvage titled car. It would really help us all if people would stop hiding and disclose properly regarding what they are selling.
Love these but this is one of many vehicles that must have a manual transmission. Auto-box SUVs are as common as tattoos today and about as original.
A manual gear box is so rare today that any car sporting one is a novelty. Plus engines back in this era were not power houses and they need all the help they can get.
I would love to bag one of these.
I owned an ’89 ($300) that had a bad AT. Was given ’90 parts truck(bad motor) & put that 5-speed in it. I loved that truck. Never needed 4wd with the short wheel base. Tightest turning radius ever! This 24k mile is something I would love! My favorite truck of all time (I’ve owned & driven about every make/model out there.)