With First Generation Broncos continuing to command respect and amazing prices in the classic market, we’ve recently seen a few tired and weatherbeaten examples dragged back from the brink. The seller suggests this 1973 model could make a great project or a source of parts. A few pieces have disappeared during its life, but its rust issues don’t appear to have taken it beyond the point of no return. If you fancy turning your hand to a classic revival, the Bronco is listed here on Craigslist in Suffolk, Virginia. The seller’s price is $11,500, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Chuck F for spotting this potential project.

Life has been unkind to this Winter Green Bronco, and it requires a dedicated new owner if it is to return to its former glory. There is evidence of a prior repaint in its original shade, but that is the tip of the iceberg. The top disappeared at some point, and the buyer must source a replacement to return the vehicle to a weatherproof state. They may strike gold locating a secondhand one on the usual online auction sites, although reproduction kits sell for $2,700 if time is an issue. It rides on bigger wheels and tires, but nobody cut the fenders to accommodate these. The hood is damaged from a fender bender, and I believe it is beyond repair. Since this is a First Generation Bronco, it is almost inevitable that we must eventually turn our attention to the subject of rust. There is some, which is unsurprising. It has afflicted the places we’ve grown to know and love, including the rear quarter panels, floors, and front inner fenders. Replacement steel is readily available and surprisingly cheap. A complete front floor retails for $600, while the front inner fenders cost around $105 per side. I accept there will be welding and grinding associated with the repairs. Still, an enthusiast with decent skills in that area and a healthy helping of time and patience could tackle most of the tasks themselves. The frame has a heavy coating of surface corrosion, but there’s no penetrating rust that could compromise its structural integrity.

The original owner ordered this Bronco with the optional 302ci V8 that produced 137hp and 230 ft/lbs of torque. They teamed the V8 with a three-speed manual transmission that sends the power to the road via a dual-range transfer case. It is worth noting that although the Bronco is not a high-performance model, it will happily cruise all day at highway speeds. With most of the power and torque delivered low in the engine’s rev range, it is ideally suited for crawling through harsh terrain with that 302 barely ticking over. The seller says the vehicle doesn’t run, with the supplied photos suggesting it could be a few years since it did. The radiator looks damaged, and the air cleaner is gone, but it seems otherwise complete.

The theme of this Bronco is consistent, and its interior reflects it. Once again, it looks essentially complete. A few smaller pieces are missing, but nothing likely to break the bank on a build of this magnitude. The front seats are present, but the upholstery and foam look well beyond their best. A retrim will be the obvious course of action, and the approach will depend on the new owner’s desire for originality. Kits are the most cost effective solution, with a high-quality kit in the correct colors and materials retailing for around $1,600. From there, the cost is only limited by the builder’s imagination, with a wide choice of upholstery types and custom kits flooding the market.

If you wandered out into the current market with $50,000 burning a hole in your pocket intent on driving home in a ’73 Bronco, chances are you will be mighty disappointed. The occasional vehicle appears around that price, but most decent examples start at $55,000. From there, the sky is the limit. Spotless original V8-equipped Broncos regularly achieve $75,000, which is impressive for a vehicle that was essentially unloved when new. This one requires work to reach that point, but the gap between the sale price and the potential financial return leaves plenty of room to move on a restoration. It won’t be easy, but I can’t help but think it would be worth it. The closer I look, the more I believe that it is too good to end its life as a donor. Are you willing to take on this one?