The Bronco was Ford’s first Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), and it enjoyed a 30-year run from 1966 to 1996. At first, it was a smaller vehicle that was designed to compete with the Jeep, but later it grew to be a variant of the company’s full-size pickup. After a 25-year absence, the nameplate recently reappeared on a new compact crossover. With few details and almost no photos, we’re told this ’86 Bronco has been in hiding for the past decade and may not need too much to get going again. Located in Dallas, Texas, the bidding has reached $2,591 here on eBay with just one full photo.
Ford repositioned the Bronco in 1978 for it to do battle with the Chevrolet K5 Blazer and Dodge Ramcharger as a short-wheelbase F-Series enclosed truck. A redesign came in 1980 that carried the vehicle through 1986, which includes the seller’s hideaway edition. When the Bronco disappeared after 1996, the Expedition and the huge Excursion took over but were built with multiple doors for family use. Of the 1980-86 Bronco’s, the last year of that generation turned in its best sales performance at more than 62,000 copies.
We’re told the seller’s truck was treated to a rebuild of its 351 cubic-inch “Windsor” V8, which included some upgrades, but that could have occurred as long as a decade ago. A new 4-barrel Edelbrock carburetor was part of that deal. The vehicle doesn’t run now but the seller has optimism that not a lot will be needed to change that.
According to the window sticker from this Bronco, the SUV was a $20,000 purchase when new in 1986. It was a well-equipped 4WD that even has/had factory air conditioning. It was also a thirsty way to get around, rated at 12 mpg for city driving. The seller is anxious for the truck to sell as he’s set a specific date for it to be off the property (about two weeks after the close of the auction. The last photo here is of the all-new 21st Century Bronco which is considerably more friendly when it comes time to look for fuel.
Russ – the picture you posted is of the Bronco Sport, a small Escape-based vehicle that was introduced in 2020 as a 2021 model. There of course is also a regular Bronco, introduced shortly after the Sport, which is a more traditional SUV with body on frame construction, etc.
Good catch. I swapped photos for illustration.
With one pic who knows what condition it’s in. If it was really close by I’d take a look at 2500.Too many unknowns.Terrible one pic and description.I’ll pass imo.
$2500? That’s about right- no decent pics, dirt covering who knows what, I wouldn’t go any higher.
A little bit of work- clean it up, air up the tires, take some good pics all around and it would be easy to get a lot more.
Could be a good project if it’ll start. I imagine if it’s been sitting 10 years you’ll have to change…pretty much every seal, gasket, and rubber part, though.
I’m in at $2500, if he’ll ship it from Dallas, to my driveway, for free.
If its a California Bronco it will be fuel injected which will make it more fun to get started.
It has the 351W so no EFI regardless of where it was sold. Only the 5.0 had EFI when this truck was sold. The 351W got EFI in ‘88.
How about that? This is almost the identical twin to the ‘85 model I had. XLT, silver and black paint job, red interior, 351 HO. Since I didn’t see the interior I don’t know if this one has the captain’s chairs. The one I had was a great truck.
I would’ve kept it except that my oldest boy needed a vehicle so the wife thought I should get a new truck and turn the Bronco over to the boy. Never was too happy about that decision as the ungrateful twerp turned around and sold it to pay off a lawyer for getting him off a DUI.
Like I said, it was a good truck. Fuel economy was actually in the mid to upper teens as long as you kept it under 65. Get it up past 75 and you were down to single digits.
Edlebrock carburetors, I’m not fussy about; for these a Holley 600 works well. Of course that’s just a matter of opinion and there are many bound to disagree.
The A.I.R. system, now there’s something you’ll grow to hate. There’s a connection pipe between the heads and it’s attached to the BACK. And it rusts and breaks, the engine becoming loud and fumey. Fortunately for me I had to pull the engine about that time so that piece of smog equipment disappeared, never to return.
Lots of memories with that truck, some good. Wish I still had it…