You probably haven’t noticed over the years, but I don’t like to have the title roll around to a second line. I like to keep it at just one line, nice and clean. This 1978 Ford Bronco XLT Ranger Free Wheeling Package 4-Speed has so many features that I couldn’t help it. This patina-heavy 4×4 is listed here on eBay in Vienna, Virginia, and the current bid is $9,500, but the reserve hasn’t been met.
I like gritty, faded vehicles as much as the next person, but in case you’re wondering what this Bronco would have looked like new, here’s one that sold at a Mecum Auction for just under $50,000 a year ago. That’s quite a difference. The Free Wheeling Package (sometimes seen as Free-Wheelin’) added the tri-color stripes in this combination of orange/tan/cream, or blue/white/green, depending on what paint color a customer chose.
Black bumpers were also included, along with black mirrors, 15×6 wheels – could you imagine a new, full-sized SUV with 15″ wheels today?! – along with white-letter tires. There were also a couple of interior features. The second-generation Bronco was made from 1977 for the 1978 model year, until the end of 1979, and they’re coming on strong as a nice go-between from the early, fairly primitive small Broncos and the ones known by social media commenters as the O.J. Simpson Broncos that followed in the third generation. Hagerty is at $19,300 for a #4 fair-condition Bronco and $37,400 for a #3 good Bronco, as a general reference.
Some of us oddballs prefer the base Custom model in 1978, as they had round headlights. Are you one of those, too? That being said, it’s hard to beat the nice interior of an XLT Ranger, as with this example. The seats are beautiful in cloth and vinyl, and they look almost like new, both front and rear. We don’t get to see the rear cargo area, but I’m assuming it’s just as nice. The underside has the usual surface rust, and I don’t see any body rust. There are a lot of dings, and, of course, the faded paint. You can see the 4-speed above, a fun feature.
The engine is Ford’s 400 (402-cu.in.) OHV V8, which would have been factory-rated at 158 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque when new. Backed by the 4-speed manual and a two-speed transfer case sending power to all four wheels as needed, this one is said to run well. The seller has included an invoice for lots of recent work along with a Marti Report, so please check out the eBay listing to see everything. What will the final price be for this Bronco? $25,000? More?
Good job Scotty. This generation of Broncos has really taken off in recent years. This example looks reasonable overall. Very well-equipped. I know some like the patina look, but considering how terrific they look when restored (like the one referenced which sold at Mecum), to me it begs for a nice paint job and fresh Free Wheeling stripes. Bonus, for me: manual transmission, cool striped upholstery, and Ford’s all-time best steering wheel.
Aside: the original selling dealer in small town Chandler, OK was in the proverbial downtown brick building, now occupied by other businesses.
Bob, I’ve been meaning to tell you this for a while now, but I really like it when you hunt down the original dealerships, the buildings, where they are, and what they’re doing now. Thank you. It kind of give a little snapshot of history to each car or truck.
Thanks again, Dave.
Here’s a Google Street View of the former Taylor Ford in Chandler, OK where this Bronco was bought new.
Thanks Scotty. Buildings like this, as car dealerships, bring back good memories. Squint just a little and you can imagine looking in the windows at a couple new cars in the showroom. And new inventory angle parked on the street, maybe even a car parked on the sidewalk. The entrance to the service area is along the side street, up the shallow ramp. With new and used inventory in the parking lot behind, or maybe across the street.
I bought my first new car from a dealership which looked much like this.
I agree with Bob. It would be nice to see this Bronco restored. As a plus you don’t have to rechrome the bumpers, thats money saved right there. You almost never see these with the 4 speed, most of them were automatic or at least so it would seem. This Bronco looks a like a great solid starting point for a restoration, and I think it would really be worth it.
Thanks, guys! I agree on restoring it, and it seems doable if a selling price would be around $50,000, depending on the seller’s reserve, of course.
That engine must be the 400M (not sure what the M stood for, probably Meager, for the amount of horsepower an engine that size produced). Those were early emissions engines meant for ‘clean”, not power. And I have to be honest, I don’t understand the love for this generation Bronco. Compared to the first generation, these were overweight and under-powered, and I wouldn’t trust one going deeper off-road than a well traveled fire trail..
400 Modified. I had 4 of these broncos, 3 with modified, but did not move well, but looked great.
The engine is a 400, the 351M is its own designation, but uses the same block (tall deck Cleveland). Whoever buys it should restore it as soon as possible with special attention to rustproofing the snot out of it. I have a 79 F250 and it’s a rust bucket.
“m” = michigan casting center (’72/81) where
it was 1st made, now known as Flat Rock.” said ‘da ford-guy’.
Sold on 5/12/2025 with a high bid of $16,100.
Steve R
Thank you, sir!