Looking straight but with some rust to deal with, this base model 1982 Ford Bronco 4×4 has a 351 V8 and a 4-speed manual to entice you to finish the restoration that has already been started. The seller has it posted here on craigslist in an area that knows a thing or two about 4x4s, Thornton, Colorado, and they’re asking $6,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Mike F. for the tip!
As you can see, this second-generation Bronco has been stripped of most of its trim and is ready to take it to the next level. I’d go back to bone stock original spec, but I’m boring as you know. Or, almost bone-stock, the interior would get some nice Bronco fabric rather than vinyl, and carpet rather than black vinyl. There is a lot of rust to work with first, but if you can do the welding yourself, it will be a fun project – says the guy who hasn’t gotten rid of rust on a truck in over four decades, cutting sheet metal to fit, welding it in with an oxy/acetylene torch, grinding, filling, priming, painting, etc. The wheel covers look Chevy-like, but Ford did offer some similar ones, although these don’t show up on the brochures I looked at. I would keep them and keep the reasonably-sized tires and wheels.
Maybe it isn’t worth the effort, given that it is a base model Bronco, but I like the 351 and 4-speed combo. Hagerty is at $8,900 for a #4 fair-condition example and you can do a lot of bodywork at home for $2,400, most likely, all of it, including paint, if you also do that yourself. Then again, they list a #3 good example as being worth $22,800, and you can do a lot of work to bring this one up to that condition. The seller says they have the trim and some other parts to finish the project. We don’t get to see inside the rear cargo area, unfortunately, or any underside photos.
Given the rust on the floorboards, or at least on the driver’s side, I would love to see the underside of this Bronco. I believe this truck would have had a vinyl bench seat. I like the buckets, but I would want some cool Ford fabric rather than whatever these are from. It looks like I’d have to go back to 1980 in order to get SMS samples of Ford Bronco fabric. The third-generation Bronco was made from 1979 for the 1980 model year until the end of 1986, and they’re sometimes referred to as “Bullnose” Fords for their flat front end.
I believe this exterior color is called Fawn, but I don’t know for sure. In a turnabout not having been seen in eons on planet earth, the seller has provided a VIN in their craigslist ad! First, they provide a small but good range of photos, including three engine photos (!), and then they provide a VIN. This is how you do craigslist ads. I only say that so you can click on it and see that this is, in fact, a factory 351 with a 4-speed, and any other details that may have been a guess otherwise.
And there it is, in all its dusty glory. This should be a Windsor 351-cu.in. OHV V8, as the 351M was replaced by the Windsor for the 1982 model year. This one would have been factory-rated at 136 horsepower (although the VIN says 150?) and 262 lb-ft of torque. It’s backed by a 2-speed transfer case and a New Process 435 4-speed manual, sending power to all four wheels as needed. They say it’s running and fully operational, so that’s good. It isn’t the most glowing report on the drivetrain, so I’d plan on some tinkering here, too. Is this Bronco worth restoring, or would you put the trim back on and drive it as is? Or, don’t even bother with the trim, just drive it!
Good job Scotty. Looks like a very basic Bronco. I’m not the one to comment on re-build-ability, but with the explosion of interest and value for all things Bronco, it certainly may make sense. If you simply like this generation of Bronco, go for it. I’d probably spruce up the interior and install an attractive tire/wheel package (those hub caps look factory Ford to me), and keep the factory color.
Reminds me of a govt truck… Forestry, Parks, Border, Conservation/Fisheries dept type rig that you saw back in the day.
Theres something honest about a base model like this. Whats interesting to me is it was ordered with a 351, and it has what looks like Fords 4 speed Overdrive. ( Non Creeper Gear first). Nice and torquey and long legs with that overdrive. I thought it would have had a 300 straight six in it. It definitely needs some attention in the floor board department, but I think you’d have a great driver here if bought for the right
price and you can fix it yourself.
This is of special interest to me being I have an ‘82 XLT Lariat with the 351 and 4 speed manual overdrive trans with the 3.50 traction-lok rear axle. Mines in much better condition since I sourced it from Santa Rosa, Ca. Two tone paint for the exterior. Just put four new BF Goodrich KO2s on it yesterday replacing the 20 year old tires it had prior. It will be interesting what this one here eventually sells for.
Welding might be just one of a multitude of skills required to get this unit back in shape. The right thing to do would be to donate it to a local high school auto mechanics class.
Looks like an old WCNA (Western Company of North America Ft. Worth TX) salesman Bronco. WCNA was an Oil Field services company.
That Urine Yellow color was special color unique to Ford WCNA vehicles.
Look at the DSO number on the door tag. Most likely a 52 DSO code which is Dallas as all the WCNA Ford vehicles where delivered to Charlie Hilliard Ford in Ft. Worth TX.
The unique yellow color, being a 4 speed which is what WCNA fleet ordered for Bronco’s and confirmation of the 52 DSO code will tell the tale!
I’m partial to Broncos of this era. I had an ‘85 and have to say that it served me well. There were some things I didn’t like, for example, their tendency to rust above the rear wheel wells, and the lower rear quarter panels. When I bought my Bronco I was aware of the potential rust areas and I was determined to keep that from happening. I very carefully blasted out the problem areas every trip to the car wash and still lost.
Aside from that the truck was indestructible. I had (2) kids learn to drive in it; one even tried to drive it home when the block heater popped out. At 250K miles I turned it over to my oldest boy, who ran what was left of the wheels off it. He then managed to get himself in a major scrape and sold it to pay a citation. Good things never last…
geo my mechanic always spoke fondly of the f150s/broncos of this era. Really liked the TTB front end, and manual hubs.
My comments don’t seem to make the cut anymore. Maybe I ticked off someone at Barn Finds? I’ll give it the old college try though. In general I like this Bronco very much. The simplicity of it. I had a 96. Great vehicle but some of the electronics were ‘fussy’ and it was only rusted above the rear wheels. Yes any vehicle is only worth what someone will pay for it and prices vary by regions. In Arizona 3k is all it would bring assuming it runs and drives well. Do I like this Bronco? Yes. At the asking? No.
Your comment was just pending moderation.
Most likely was in-service as a WCNA salesman vehicle based out of the Brighton Colorado WCNA location back in the day given it’s current for sale location today!