First-generation Ford Broncos came in several cab configurations. Most of them had a full top while some were roadsters and some were half-cabs. There are a lot of half-cab Broncos that weren’t born that way from the factory, but this one is a real-deal. It is from 1969 and can be found here on eBay with a current bid of $16,000 and the reserve hasn’t been met yet. Half-cab Broncos are about the smallest U.S. built “pick up” you can get. This one is located in Haleyville, Alabama and is in great condition. Have a look!
Unfortunately, this is the only decent picture of the engine. As you can see from the air cleaner, it is a 302 cubic inch V8 mated to a 3-speed transmission on the column. The seller says it runs like it did when it was new and runs very smoothly. It’s a little hard to tell from the photos, but it looks like routine maintenance items like hoses, plugs, and wires may have changed over the years, which is a good thing.
The interior looks clean and original. Even the dash pad and seat cover look like they don’t have any cracks or real wear. Of course, these may have been replaced since new. With the popularity of these early Broncos, there are tons of aftermarket sources for replacement parts. The seller says the odometer reads 93,000 miles and is “likely correct.” Not a very confident statement, but based on the condition of this one, I’d say they are probably correct. Even the bed only shows a bit of surface rust and not much damage from hard use.
As mentioned before, this is a real factory half-cab. How do you know for sure? The first three digits of the VIN are U14 which indicates a half-cab model. According to earlybroncoads.com, the half-cab for 1969 was extremely rare with only 2,317 being made compared to 18,639 wagons. Along with the rarity, the rear quarter panels haven’t been trimmed for larger tires. This is a huge plus for the originality of the truck and maybe why it is seeing very strong bidding.
Other than a few paint blemishes, this seems like a nice rare survivor. What do you think of this one?
Looks like a decent rig – I wish I fit in the half cabs.
I am not trying to insult but curious on comment.
Is it just to tight or a height thing?
I am 6ft3 and 185 but some cars are just built for 5ft8 or less.
I test drove the new style Camaro a couple years back and my head barely cleared the roof and i had to leaned down to see the red light through the windshield when first in line 😔. Needless to say I passed on it.
I have an early Bronco on my bucket list but never drove the early models.
Fyi
The new one is delay on reveal
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/ford-bronco-reveal-postponed-coronavirus/
I’m 6’4″ and was probably 140-150 lb. when I tried to fit many years ago. I’m more like 195-200 these days. I didn’t have enough legroom. Depending on the seat height, seeing lights, etc. through the windshield can be tough. I’ve always had pretty low seats and mine sit back further than stock now and my steering wheel is a smaller diameter than stock and I think my aftermarket column is a little closer to the dash too.
Yeah I couldn’t pull that off either, Todd. I test drove a full top version with a 302 in 79 and it felt like it was running on 6-7 cylinders, rougher than a cob. When I got back, the owner(said he was the original) told me it always ran like that. I just walked away w/o saying a word. Even at 19, I was insulted.
Bringatrailer has a Bronco with the properly installed rear wheel openings and it really makes a nicer looking unit. They are pretty stogy stock but it doesn’t take much to make them look like they should. I’m 5′ 6″ and after sitting in one for a couple minutes decided that the full body model was the only one I’d consider. Rare but small.
We’ve had an uncut stock 72 standard cab (no half cab) 302/ 3-spd for decades. Im 6’0” and 200# and I can drive it all day by pushing the (original) seat all the way back. The geometry of the steering wheel is wrong for me in that it sticks out way too close to the driver. But leg room is adequate. We have 10X15 tires on 8″ rims as the only mod (no lift) and though they’re close to the fender lips in back, they dont hit. The rear fender openings probably should have been larger from the factory but that was before big tires showed up and there was no need then. Im not cutting them now and it doesnt have any rust so it should last that way for next generations in this family. They’re a good $7000 small utility vehicle in excellent shape. $40K that is routinely seen now is nuts.
When I moved to the Kansas City area in 2000 I could have bought a blue one of these half cabs just as nice as this one for 4K, kick myself for not buying it, not for investment but to drive. If you seen the new ones you must have noticed even the big boys at Ford figured it out that the Bronco’s rear wheel openings look better opened up to match the fronts. I love the looks of both the 4 door and the shorty models but I’m sure the price will kill me buying a new one. 20K and reserve not met they can keep it as far as I’m concerned !!!
I always liked these. In 4wd they could crawl through anything.
I had a 68 with both style caps that I would alternate between. It was black with the white stripe and 32″ tires. It needed a rug so I put an oriental from my house lol
302 2bbl and 3 on the tree. It had seen salt water and sat for a while,so it started to have the mechanical rot problems; brake lines and the windows would roll down automatically when it rained
The column broke so it only had 2nd and 3rd. Which actually wasn’t bad cause it was so light that it had no problem starting off in 2nd.But I did have to get out and push for reverse
It met its end right after the perfect storm in 91. The ocean made one side of the sand dunes like a7 ft cliff face
On my second jump run I hit the sloped side of dune at about 30, flew about 20 ft and nosed in at around a 60 degree angle.
Both seats sheared their bolts, the columns guts disintegrated and my toolbox launched from the very back, it split my brothers head and then shattered the windshield.
That was the end for Pepe “my little mule”
“What do you think of this one?”
W/the prices as they R right now ppl do all sorta things w/them.
Don;t look loke a ’69 grill, air cleaner, no w.shield fold dwn stuff, etc…
Looks solid tho…