Everybody knows the Bronco. Originally, the Bronco was designed to compete with the likes of the International Scout and the Jeep CJ. Until recently, the Jeep was the only one of the three to survive into the modern era, becoming the Jeep Wrangler we all know and love. In typical Ford fashion, though, they saw someone having a good time and came busting in with an incredible product that everyone wants and kinda threw a wrench in Jeep’s works. Values of these things are bound to skyrocket because of the new one coming out… matter of fact they already are. This one can be found here on eBay with a current bid at time of writing of…wait for the dramatic pause…$49,900!
I say in typical Ford fashion because in the very same year the Bronco debuted, Ford came busting into the racing scene and stole the stage from the Italian thoroughbred Ferrari; this story is told incredibly well in the book Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans by A.J. Baime, or of course the Hollywood hit Ford v Ferrari. But I’m getting sidetracked. Sorry, that’s one of my favorite bits of car history. Back to the Bronco. Under the hood, it has a Falcon-derived 170 cubic-inch inline-six driving either just the rear or all four wheels through a two-speed transfer case and a three-speed manual transmission, shifted on the column.
Mechanically, it sounds like the truck is perfect. They have an exhaustive list of every part that has been rebuilt, replaced, fixed, mended, whathaveyou, and just about the only thing that’s not factory-perfect here is the finish. And that’s the way I likes it. It has a perfect patina to it, and patina cannot be faked. If it runs like new but looks like old, you get the best of both worlds. The Bronco’s rugged working-man image can be matched by few vehicles, made only more effective with the faded–original–paint. But then you turn the key and are met with exactly zero problems.
Inside, the interior is mostly original. They mention an older aftermarket radio and a new seat cover. Honestly, with a car like this, the less you do to it aesthetically the better. I know that vintage-style radios with modern Bluetooth are a thing now, and that might be worth looking into. But nothing else, you hear me? Don’t screw around with perfection.
I’m all for keeping it as original as possible, but if the windshield is as cloudy as it appears to be, it should be replaced for the sake of safety.
Don’t remember ever seeing one with a bench seat.
Plenty Of The “P” Word……..RUST.
Love my bench. They may have come thru ’72 when the 1/2 cab stopped. Most went w/the buckets (it WAS the 60s-becoming-’70s now wasn’t it ! and for then “old school”). Had the 170/2.8 (same sz in the BII but i6 not bent6) for 38 yrs. Able to do anything needed (full sno plow of heavy wet sno upa steep hill, “one handed rock climbs”, etc).
Don’t like “pitina”. Silly: rub it w/steel wool, clear over. Y?
Price is nuts…imho…but what do I know these days? I might pay $3000, but probably not. I don’t need another boat anchor in my driveway.
If I knew then what I know now, I would have bought every clapped-out Bronco I could get my hands on.
Steve Clinton, Exactly my thoughts…They were everywhere too.
49 grand is even stupider than thinking Epstein killed himself
I wish I had foresite to buy all the old Broncos and VW vans I could have for $100 bucks what an investment !!!
You’d think that for fifty large the seller would spring for a couple of wiper blades…
This one’s pipe dreams defy description! I don’t know what he’s been “Smokin” But it must be some powerful stuff!!! That or this guy has a gigantic ego,
but there is no way even if I desperately wanted this one would I ever pay that much for a Falcon 6cyl.
Call Austin with any questions. $50k??? What did you get hit in the head with? BTW that is a BIN price, no bids, my faith in humanity is kind of holding in for now.
Item location:
Sarasota, Florida