The law of supply and demand remains as relevant in the classic car scene as in any other retail sales segment. The First Generation Ford Bronco demonstrates this clearly because while they weren’t the most popular off-roader when they were new, they have experienced some incredible growth in potential value in recent years. Coupled with the low production numbers, it means that even the roughest project vehicles can attract impressive prices. Finding an affordable project can be challenging, but that could be what is on offer with this 1973 Bronco. It is an essentially complete example that runs and drives, and the owner’s decision to list it for sale here on eBay with No Reserve could see someone score a bargain. It is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and twenty-three bids have pushed the price to $3,600. With No Reserve in play, it will be interesting to see if the bidding heats up as the listing draws to a close.

There’s a bit to consider with this Bronco beyond its tired Bright Lime paint. The panels look straight, with no significant dings or dents. However, that is seldom the major concern with these vehicles. Ford’s rust prevention processes were not the greatest during this period, making it common to find these classics riddled with rust. I wouldn’t rate this as the worst Bronco I’ve seen, but there are some critical factors for potential buyers to consider. There are the usual problems with the floors and the front inner fenders, although a previous owner replaced parts of the floors with flat steel plates. The finish isn’t that great, so I suspect that the buyer will probably spend the cash to fit new floors right through. There is also some present in the rear quarter panels, and while the buyer might be able to address these with patches, spending $80 each on lower quarter panels could be a wise investment. Probably the most challenging issue will be the rust in the B-pillars. It’s pretty extensive, but as with most of the steel for these early vehicles, replacement parts are easy to find and affordable. New B-pillars are available in pairs for around $300, and all that the Bronco would need would be someone handy with a welder for that problem to disappear. There are a couple of positives to consider in this case. The first is that the frame is rock solid, while nobody has ever cut this car to accommodate bigger wheels and tires. The back bumper is bent, the front is an aftermarket unit designed to hold a winch, but the remaining trim, hubcaps, and glass seem to be in excellent condition.

While buyers could order their new Bronco in 1973 with a six under the hood and a manual transmission, the original owner pushed out the boat with our feature vehicle. That means that its engine bay is occupied by a 302ci V8, while there’s also a three-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. This is often the moment in the story with project builds of this type where I reel off a long list of tasks facing the buyer before their new toy is fit for the road. Today, you get a break from that level of predictability because apart from potentially needing a new muffler, this old Bronco is in sound mechanical health. The owner has recently installed a new carburetor. After thoroughly inspecting the braking system, he added new lines and other items that included a master cylinder and a shiny new booster. The Bronco runs and drives nicely, and as you can hear in this YouTube video that the seller provides, that little 302 sounds as sweet as a nut.

While the buyer might not need to spend a fortune on this Bronco’s drivetrain, they will need to open their wallet to bring the interior up to scratch. They will probably remove the interior trim to attack the rust in the floors and B-pillars, which would provide the perfect opportunity to refresh the interior painted surfaces. The seat upholstery, foam, and dash pad are all looking pretty secondhand, but spending around $1,600 would have the interior presenting in as-new condition. Given how original this vehicle is and its potential value if the restoration is of a high standard, spending that sort of money could be easily justified.

As a project build, there’s a lot to like about this 1973 Bronco. There’s no denying that its new owner will face some work if they wish to return it to its former glory, but the parts required are readily available and affordable. The original V8 under the hood increases its desirability and raises its potential value by around 25% compared to the equivalent car that an owner ordered with a six. If the buyer performs the work to a high standard, a value beyond $50,000 is achievable. A perfect restoration could easily see that figure blow out beyond $80,000 in the current market. With those thoughts in mind, are you tempted to make a play for this classic?