Preserve or Restore? 1968 Ford Bronco

One of the challenges of the automotive world is determining which currently cheap and cheerful vehicles are likely to become future classics worthy of investment. Get the call right, and a pot of gold awaits the bold risk-takers. Get it wrong, and financial pain can result. Perhaps more problematic is deciding whether a highly-desirable vehicle in the current market will remain that way in the future or whether the bubble will burst. That is a point to ponder with the First Generation Ford Bronco. The desirability continues unabated, but is it sustainable? That is one factor for potential buyers to contemplate before submitting a bid on this 1968 example. The current figure of $10,100 is below the reserve, but it will undoubtedly climb significantly before the hammer falls. If you wish to join the party, you will find the Bronco listed here on eBay in Denton, North Carolina.

The seller is candid about the overall condition of this Bronco, indicating it has all the rust issues we’ve grown to know and love with these classics. They had planned to cut away the rotten floors and weld in new pans, but changed circumstances mean this won’t happen. There are typical rust issues with the front inner fender wells and steel penetration in the pillars. The exterior shows more rust, along with a heavy surface corrosion coating that virtually eliminated the original Sky View Blue paint. However, the frame is sound, the Bronco rolls on its original wheels, and the fender openings are uncut. A complete restoration would seem justified, but addressing the rust issues and preserving the exterior appearance, as the seller planned, would undoubtedly turn heads.

The situation doesn’t improve significantly when we focus on this Bronco’s interior. The painted surfaces are heavily corroded, the dash pad is pretty dry, and the seat needs a new cover. However, it is serviceable for those wishing to bide their time on this build. It is unmolested but needs plenty of love to regain its former beauty. Trim kits retail for under $2,000, and that could be the most cost-effective solution should the winning bidder tread the restoration path.

The drivetrain configuration for this Bronco could be considered the “entry-level” version, with the engine bay housing a 170ci six, which sends 100hp and 156 ft/lbs of torque to the road via a three-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case. The combination provided excellent off-road capabilities, with the Bronco equally comfortably tackling the open road at 60mph. The seller states that this survivor runs, drives, and stops okay, and they include an embedded video in their listing that seems to confirm this. The odometer shows 62,700 miles, and while they don’t hold verifying evidence, they feel the way the engine runs may support the reading as original. However, the bulletproof nature of the Ford six means it could have rolled over and still be in excellent health. My instincts tell me that is probably the case.

The bidding on this 1968 Bronco has been subdued, with only eight submitted in three days. That is not unusual because the action often intensifies as the end draws near. However, it might indicate that while the Bronco bubble may not have burst, it might have developed a slow leak. A spotless example will still consistently command a price over $50,000, but recent sales results demonstrate a fall of over 10% in the past year. Will the trend continue or reverse? Who knows. Sometimes an enthusiast needs to roll the dice in cases like this. If you did and found this Bronco in your workshop, would you restore it, preserve it, or bide your time to see how the market progresses?