• Seller: Nic P istolesi (Contact)
• Location: Enfield, Connecticut
• Mileage: 96,000 Shown
• Chassis #: U15GLS52227
• Title Status: Clean
• Engine: 302cui V8
• Transmission: 3-Speed Manual

In the world of first-generation Broncos that haven’t been dolled up to cross a spotlighted auction stage, this one is bound to be a star, because it’s a solid 1973 model with all the right options, including a V8 engine. It clearly hasn’t been messed with, so the buyer doesn’t have to worry about what’s hiding beneath that shiny paint (which, on rust-prone Broncos, is bound to be something you wish you hadn’t seen). And finally, if you’re a fan of the ’70s and its aesthetic ideals, it’s wearing a coat of Sequoia Brown Metallic with white accents. Is it the jackpot Bronco? Well, if you like them, this one has to get you at least a little excited, and it’s being offered as a Barn Finds Auction.

The original owner of this ’73 decided late in the year that they wanted a Bronco; the Marti Report says that it was ordered in June and not built until August of 1973, which is getting quite late when it comes to model years. Regardless, there must have been a giant “X” on the order form, because it has most of the “luxury” options one could choose in a truck that was not inherently luxurious. It has dealer-added air conditioning (the seller claims the system blows cool!) and power steering, both powered by the top-of-the-line 302 V8, which made 139 horsepower in 1973. Given the Bronco’s relatively light weight, there’s plenty of punch under the hood for everyday collector-car fun. You also will have a hard time finding a more reliable powerplant; with its so-simple-it’s-brilliant Motorcraft two-barrel on top and proven small-block architecture, it’s easy to work on and easy to find parts for. The seller states that the engine and transmission are numbers-matching.

The interior has the “Ranger Package,” too. That included a color-keyed instrument panel, full carpeting (missing here), cloth-and-vinyl seat trim (in ginger on this truck), hood and lower bodyside tape stripes, swing-away spare tire carrier, and more. The interior will need some work, but the Bronco is so popular that you’ll spend days flipping through parts catalogs from various suppliers. One option that the original owner did not order was the automatic transmission, meaning that you’ll get a fully synchronized three-speed manual.

That power is channeled to a 3.50:1 axle ratio in the Ford 9″ in the back, and what should be a Dana 44 up front (with a Dana 20 transfer case in between). It was also factory equipped with skid plates, such as the one you see above. Compared to many early Broncos, this one is fundamentally rust-free (of course, I’m exaggerating, but just a bit). If you’ve shopped for them online, you know that many of them are patched together in a variety of creative ways (no judgment, just the reality of the Bronco world). You’ll notice an aftermarket floor pan in one of the pictures, but otherwise this has been amazingly well-preserved.

Although there’s a place in the world for all those patched-together Broncos (hey, they’re fun!), finding an original example of a highly optioned ’73 is a special treat. If you think it’s finally time to buy one of your own, make a bid!

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