While the First Generation Ford Bronco failed to make a significant impact in the new car market, they are highly sought today. This is especially true if the vehicle in question is original and unmolested, and nobody has hacked into its panels to accommodate larger wheels and tires. That undoubtedly explains why this 1972 example has generated so much interest since the owner listed it for sale here on eBay. Located in Sugar Land, Texas, the owner has set a BIN of $33,950. With plenty of time left on the listing, there are already 115 people watching the action. It makes me wonder whether one of them might blink first to park this classic in their workshop.
This Bronco is a three-owner survivor that wears its original Winter Green paint. Nobody has ever treated it to any restoration work, but more importantly, no one has cut the fenders to accommodate larger wheels and tires. This is a common modification, and while the ready availability and affordability of replacement steel make this modification easy to reverse, it is one less task to add to the list for this Ford’s buyer. There are a few changes that the new owner will probably choose to reverse, including removing the additional fuel tank and filler, along with ditching the bullbar on the front. Considering this Bronco has spent its life in Texas, I’m slightly surprised by the amount of rust that the buyer will need to tackle. Externally there is very little that has penetrated, with the most obvious being some repairable spots in the lower tailgate. Any other exterior rust seems to be essentially surface corrosion, although the news is less favorable when we delve below the surface. It is no surprise that it has impacted the floors and the usual rust trap in the front inner fenders. None of these problems would pose a massive challenge for anyone with reasonable welding skills, but the rust in the lower A & B Pillars on the passenger side should be left to a professional. These represent structural issues, and the repairs would need to be completed to a high standard to maintain vehicle integrity. It appears that most of the trim is present, with the damage-prone hubcaps appearing excellent.
The Bronco’s interior is complete, and while it has seen better days, it represents another aspect of this classic that remains unmolested. It features dealer-fitted air conditioning, but nobody has hacked into the dash to fit a stereo in place of the original AM radio. The buyer will undoubtedly refresh the painted surfaces, and then they will need to consider a retrim. How they tackle this and how much it costs will depend on how expensive their tastes might be. Trim kits that include standard upholstery and rubber mats will lighten their wallet to the tune of $1,900. From there, the sky is the limit. Some companies offer different seat foam and matching upholstery to improve comfort and lateral support, while many substitute carpet sets for rubber mats. If I found this classic parked in my workshop, I would opt for standard trim and possibly carpet because this would be the best choice to maximize the Bronco’s potential value in the future.
Powering this Ford is a 302ci V8 hooked to a three-speed manual transmission. That V8 would have produced 140hp and 230 ft/lbs of torque. When combined with the dual-range transfer case and four-wheel-drive system, it would allow this classic to work its way into some pretty inaccessible locations. It isn’t clear whether this classic is numbers-matching, and the relative health of that 302 is a further unknown. The Bronco doesn’t currently run, and the owner has resisted the temptation of coaxing it back to life. He does suggest that potential buyers brace for the cost of a rebuild, which is not a bad thought. While it may not run, it does come with some welcome documentation. This includes the original Owner’s Manual, dealer paperwork, and a “thank you” letter from the dealership dated October 1971.
In 1972, there were 21,115 buyers who happily handed over their cash to park a Bronco in their driveway. This figure was well below Ford’s original projections, but the company persisted with the First Generation vehicle until 1977. Only once during its entire production run did sales top 25,000, but that changed significantly when Ford introduced the Second Generation Bronco in 1978. A vehicle that was largely unloved when new has become one of the “must-haves” of the current classic market. Values have skyrocketed over the past decade, and it isn’t unusual to see spotless examples sell for prices beyond $50,000. Perfection comes at a steeper cost, with pristine examples regularly changing hands for $70,000 or more. This Bronco isn’t perfect, but its ace is that it is original and unmolested. That is why it has attracted plenty of interest and why I believe that someone will hit the BIN button sooner rather than later.
So, for $34k you get a vehicle that needs rust repair, new paint, a new interior and possibly/probably an engine rebuild. I’ll pass.
While I couldn’t care less( anymore) if someone wants to spend their “kidney money” on crap like this, I do want to say, this was indeed a game changer for Ford. While initially, Ford took a gamble, only a select group would want a vehicle like this. But for the 1st time, Willys and IH began to sweat. Here was a viable alternative, with Ford truck parts, it was a hit right from the get-go, ever since the Hank Kimball showed up in one on Green Acres in late 1966, which was a huge TV hit at the time. I remeber these, a HS friend had one, and I think how awful a vehicle it was, compared to say, my seemingly mundane YJ Jeep. The Jeep is a CADILLAC compared to this. I always say this, kind of my trademark, but I’d love to see the face of the buyer that shows up in a new Bronco thinking, how different could it possibly be?
Removing the second tank might not be a great move with our present day increase in prices for fuel and the possibility of shortages. As a lot of you probably remember, in ’72 we were hit with astronomical fuel prices which turned into huge shortages. We had just bought our ’72 Blazer and got transferred to Key West, Fl. We quickly learned that we couldn’t make a complete run to and from the mainland on one tank of fuel. Installed a second 15 gallon tank and never missed a chance to top off the tanks. We’re in that mode right now with prices approaching $5 a gallon and talk of shortages. This Bronco indicates that the extra tank was part of that era’s fuel situation and is a bit of history I’d leave in it to keep it’s part in that time intact.
I grew up in a family of avid downhill skiers. I remember us all piling into the family Buick station wagon for the ride to ski-country every weekend. The drive was often harrowing with cars getting stuck on hills, and spinning out all over. Back then, almost nobody had 4WD vehicles except gas-stations, landscapers, and construction companies.
I still remember friends buying a Land Rover in about 1973 so their ski racing sons could be sure to make the races. In the following years, I started to notice more 4WD vehicles in the ski club parking lot. A few Jeeps, and a Suburban or two. I really wanted one, and after a few years of begging, my dad leased a new ’76 Blazer for my final year of high school.
The first gen Broncos just were not popular. They were cramped compared to Blazers, Suburbans, and Wagoneers. They also were not good on the big multi-lane , high-speed highways leading to the hills. I did not know anyone that actually bought one as personal transportation.
When I see a first gen Bronco, it reminds me of a fatal crash I investigated early in my police career. A guy from the East Coast had pulled the body off of a rotten early V8 Bronco, and replaced it with a Dodge Omni/Horizon body. The “custom” work was primitive, at best, with pieces of wood used for body-mounts. The owner/operator had apparently been drinking heavily before driving it on a major expressway late one weekend evening. Witnesses and physical evidence suggest he got it up to 75-80 MPH when he lost control. As the contraption rolled, he was partially ejected, and he was partially decapitated. He died instantly.
In examining the wreckage, it was obvious that the brakes and suspension also had numerous defects prior to the collision. He also had no insurance.
John Bronco would disapprove.
Hmmmm, does not run..Perhaps the coil wire cut in half makes it less likely.
There’s no prices that would startle me any more. If the seller offered this for double the price, I wouldn’t have been surprised. Everything is insane.
Thank-you,,
Broncitis
We had one for a while and it road quite nice compared to a jeep. Not great on the highway but that was not what it was for. Old wagon trails and such in the Smokey Mountains was where they were golden. Narrow width could fit where the Blazers and full size vehicles could not fit without caving in body panels. Short turn radius also helped deep in the woods. None of those trails were wide, Landcruiser, Jeeps and Broncos where the only ones that fit on those trails.
Ford Bronco failed to make a significant impact, but I don’t think that was their goal. They wanted to compete with the likes of the IH Scout and Jeep.
We are restoring a 72 for a customer floor pans, rocker panels, quarter panels,
new frame he will have 50k in it by the time we are done
I think the Bronco/Blazer bubble has burst!
I bought a 75 in 85 for 2k. No rust, but it had been a security vehicle in a chemical plant, so not much love, I treated it to a complete refurb inside and out. A few years later I traded it for a 89 Bronco, think I got 3k trade in, which means I probably gave it away. Boy I would like to have that one back! I haven’t seen on as nice for under 50k. Anybody have access to a time machine?
In early 1983 I bought a straight NON rusty 1970 Dodge Charger for less than $2,500. It had a 318 in it and an automatic transmission. I thought it was boring to drive so I sold it a couple of months later. Boy, IF I had the money I do now back then I could have had some really nice trucks and cars.
“… failed to make a significant impact in the new car market…”
I think it significantly boosted the current suv craze we R still in, even in Oz (some got down there).
The ’65 bronk option to above listed rigs was road AND trail. Foreigners (& early scouts) might even out chug it on trails (this did provide a superior bent8 tho) but so low geared, they had no real ‘merican hwyway-ability. True multipurpose w/a lill more room than the jeep. Still a tight turning radius needed back East.
Cant C well but looks like a dash cut just left of cluster, this 1 has the rare trinket “Ranch Hands” on the pass’s rear 1/4 to hold spare for tailgate access.
The spare tank I would remove, mig over & add the oe aux tank, 5 hub caps there go for re-dick-U-loss money. The dealer ac’s a nice touch. Final price?too much, but such is the auction sales and the net sales. Outrageous when combined. The 3 I built started worse & sold B4 the craze brought these prices (late 80s/early 90s). The current has 5 speed & 4.1L~