Sometimes you will look at a classic barn find and be unsure where it sits in the desirability stakes. Other times, it is simply a matter of looking at its bidding history to gain a clear insight. That is the case with this 1971 Ford Bronco. Since it was listed for sale here on eBay, it has attracted an impressive thirty bids. This action has pushed the price along to $5,300, but this remains short of the reserve.

It’s pretty common to find these Broncos where an owner has performed a color change. That is the case here because the vehicle rolled off the line wearing Astra Blue Metallic paint. However, the color change is the least of the issues that potential buyers will have to consider if they wish to regain this Ford’s former glory. The panels sport a few repairable dings and dents, but at least this one hasn’t had its fenders cut to accommodate the larger wheels and tires that it now wears. This is a 1st Generation Bronco, and that inevitably brings us to the question of rust. This one doesn’t disappoint on that front because it has impacted all of the areas that we have grown to know and love. Externally, it seems to be confined to the tailgate and the edge of the top. The rockers look clean, as do the doors and front fenders. Inspecting the underside reveals plenty of surface corrosion, along with some penetrating rust. The front floors have their share, although it isn’t particularly bad. Patches could be the answer, although it would be worth investing $500 on a complete front floor to banish the rust permanently. The rear floor has nothing but surface corrosion, but the front inner fenders have copped the normal levels of rust. The upside here is that replacement panels are easy to locate and relatively inexpensive because this is a known trouble spot. At $130 per side, that’s not an investment that would empty an owner’s wallet in a restoration of this type. The driver’s side glass is missing from the hardtop, but the rest looks okay. The buyer will need to invest in a new pair of bumpers, but the remaining trim and chrome look restorable.

When we turn our attention to the Bronco’s interior, things aren’t as bad as they could be. It appears to be essentially complete, and apart from a swap from a column to a floor shifter, it is original. Put simply, the interior will require a full retrim, and how this is tackled will depend on the buyer’s budget and preferences. The easiest path to follow would be to outlay around $2,000 on a trim kit. That’s not a cheap option, but it would provide a factory-fresh appearance if installed correctly. However, the buyer might consider custom upholstery, which will potentially cost more. Regardless of which path they follow, the interior should never need to be touched again if treated with respect.

The “nose-up” attitude of the Bronco in the exterior photos should mean that it’s no surprise when we lift the hood to find an empty engine bay. A 302ci V8 that produced 205hp used to occupy this space. It might be gone, but the 3-speed manual transmission, transfer case, and the rest of the drivetrain is intact. With the V8 on-board, the driver had an impressive 300 ft/lbs of torque at their disposal. When combined with the versatility of four-wheel-drive, it meant that this Bronco could’ve crawled into some relatively inaccessible locations. This represents another area where the buyer will need to make some choices. Locating a date-coded 302 is possible, and many potential buyers would follow that path. Another alternative could be to consider slotting something much newer into the engine bay. I’ve never contemplated it before, but the idea of investigating how hard it would be to install a 5.0-liter fuel injected HO V8 sounds tempting. Not only would that motor provide a power and torque increase, but the engine is unlikely to starve for fuel if the vehicle finds itself on a steep angle. If complete originality is not an essential part of this restoration, it is an option that could be explored further.

I’ve previously talked about the potential value of the 1971 Bronco and how this is increasing far faster than almost any other vehicle in the classic market. The harsh reality is that they are inching out of reach of the average enthusiast, and we are fast reaching a point where it will only be the well-heeled that will park one in their garage. If you head out into the market today, you will be surprised how many are offered for sale with price tags beyond $60,000. That is why potential buyers clamor for projects like this one. They know that it will consume time and money to return it to a pristine state, but they are also aware that it represents one of the most cost-effective options open to them. I won’t be surprised if the bidding goes significantly higher before this listing ends, which means that it should be worth watching.