There are some distinct advantages to buying an older off-roader. They are typically cheaper than those bought off the showroom floor, and it is common for owners to find themselves with an appreciating asset if they choose the right vehicle. This 1979 Ford Bronco ticks both those boxes as a one-owner classic in impressive condition. It has no immediate needs, although the winning bidder might choose to address its few minor cosmetic flaws in their quest for perfection. However, its greatest claim to fame could be its VIN, which confirms this is only the fifth Bronco to roll off the line in 1979. The seller feels the time has come to part with a vehicle that has been their pride and joy since Day One. Therefore, they have listed the Bronco here on eBay in Lakewood, Washington. Bidding has raced to $21,300 but remains below the reserve.
This Bronco makes a positive first impression with a combination of Antique Cream and Gold paint gracing its panels. It would have turned head in 1979, and certainly, it would still do so today. Its presentation is consistent with a classic treated respectfully, with no evidence of abuse or neglect. The paint is patchy in spots, and there are a couple of minor panel and trim imperfections, but the overall condition would make preservation a viable option. However, the VIN suggests this could be the oldest remaining 1979 Bronco, which some might view as justification for returning the vehicle to its former glory. Rust is not an issue, with the supplied photos confirming this classic is as strong and structurally sound as the day it was born. There are no glass issues, and apart from the mentioned minor damage, the trim and chrome are in excellent order.
If the Bronco’s exterior makes a positive impression, its interior lifts that a notch or two. The seats wear Beige vinyl covers that are free from problems, with the same true of the carpet. The dash is excellent, and the faux woodgrain shows none of the typical fading or lifting. The pad and plastic exhibit no signs of sun damage, and the only genuine flaw worth noting is the sagging door pockets. The factory radio has made way for a Sony radio/cassette player, but there are no other aftermarket additions. The factory air conditioning doesn’t blow cold, but the power back window and cruise control work as they should.
Bronco buyers in 1979 could choose from two engines, with this vehicle’s owner selecting the range-topping 402ci V8. This motor couples to a three-speed automatic transmission, a dual-range transfer case, and a Detroit Locker rear end to feed 156hp and 277 ft/lbs of torque to the road. Ford developed this engine for applications where torque was king, making it the ideal choice for the Bronco. With maximum torque delivered below 2,000rpm, revving the heads off this motor is unnecessary to extract the best from it. The V8 might not be a high-performance model, but it should still sound tough exhaling through its Flowmaster dual exhaust. The seller claims it has a genuine 71,000 miles on its odometer, and while they don’t mention verifying evidence, it may exist due to the ownership history. The Bronco runs and drives perfectly, with no mechanical needs or issues.
Ford experienced a record sales year with the 1979 Bronco as 104,038 buyers handed over the cash to take one home. It is unknown how many still exist, but with the VIN confirming that this is the fifth one to drive off the line, it could be the oldest remaining example. That fact will hardly impact its potential value, but it would be a conversation starter in most circumstances. It has already received seventeen bids, and history suggests that figure could climb significantly as this auction draws to a close. What do you think the price will be when the hammer falls?
U15HLEF0005
I hate to debunk the seller’s theory….. no, that’s not true…. I enjoy debunking the seller’s theory. A VIN ending in 0005 doesn’t make this the fifth Bronco off the line. The “EF” is part of the sequence number, and 1979 truck sequence numbers ran from DC0001 to FK9000. If the seller had included a photo of the truck’s data plate, we’d probably see a build date well into the 1979 calendar year.
Nice work! We can also add that there are other vehicles in that VIN sequence as well so we have no way of knowing whether it was the 5th Bronco off the line for ’79 or not.
Also, the “H” in the VIN indicates that this vehicle left the factory with a 351, not a 400.
Nice set of photos on a nice Bronco. Another of the many two-tones available back in the day. A Marti Report would identify the exact date it was built, which would shed further light on its production timing. But frankly for me, for a vehicle like this, when in the two-year production run it was produced is a fairly trivial piece of info. These have really exploded in popularity in recent years.
Agree. I’m not sure I’d prefer an early build date on a new model vs an older build date anyway. Might have a little better fit and finish on the later build. Either way, still looks like a nice one. Is that a bench seat up front? That might be kind of a rarity.
I don’t think that old theory would apply here, the 79 wasn’t a new model, it was identical to the 78s, with the exception of round headlights on the 78 base model. I’ve never seen many with a bench seat, I had a 79 with buckets, I believe most were
“returning the vehicle to its former glory.”
It’s almost there as is.
Probably the 351M…shared deck height with the 400. Both can now finally be upgraded with aftermarket parts as the 351 Cleveland’s lower deck height made high performance manifold upgrades not possible until recently
My cousin fixed his back in the 90s by dropping in a 460 and adding 31 spline axles and lower gears
Had a ‘79. Yellow, white top, 400/C6. Gorgeous truck. Got 8mpg. Uphill, downhill, parked, or pulling the race car. Shoulda kept it & got rid of the first wife…..
Me too
I bought my 1977 GMC K-35 “lightly wrecked” way back in 1984 as a high school sophomore. I rebuilt it and drove my high school sweetheart to senior prom in 1986. I still have both the truck AND the girl! I’ve done the typical rust repair on the truck 3x and rebuilt the original drivetrain twice (454, 4 speed manual w/deep low) but, I’ve never touched either axle. The sweetheart, now wife of 36 years, still has her original parts too. OUR truck gets 10mpg loaded or empty but, I’m pretty sure that the wife gets better mileage after a few cups of coffee lol!
Beautiful vehicle whatever the build date. They haven’t made trucks like that since 1979. The next year didn’t come close and never have since. Beautiful bronco!!!!!
1979……..one of the worst years for ford in that gov Regs were targeting horsepower with power sucking environmental mandatory adds.. as my father said “ the damn thing won’t out of its own way”
Beautiful bronco, I’ve had 66,67,78,79
I don’t think 5th 1 made in 79 would even be significant enough to raise price..but I’d love to have it..
Don’t you just love date code nerds.