After a decade of sales success, the second-generation Ford Broncos were only produced for two years before the third generation was introduced in 1980. When the full-size Bronco was introduced in 1978 there was no doubt that Ford was trying to compete with the Chevrolet Blazer that had seen wild popularity during the 1970s. This particular Bronco is from 1978 and can be found here on eBay with a current bid of nearly $34,000. Located in Cambridge, Minnesota, there isn’t much information in the ad. The seller does say they will provide more details if contacted. Let’s take a look and see if we can piece together a story based on the photos.
The interior isn’t quite as shiny and polished as the outside, but it doesn’t look bad. The red upholstery goes great with the white and red paint scheme. The bucket seats and console are a nice option to have although it limits your passenger room from five to four. There is no photo of the engine, but the seller says the powerplant is a 351 V8 backed by a C6 automatic transmission.
A stock 1978 or 79 Bronco can fit 33″ tires with the stock suspension. Add new springs and shocks and you could probably fit 35s without much trouble. This Bronco has a 6″ suspension lift that allows plenty of room for the 35″ tires.
Overall, this looks like a really nice driver-quality Bronco. It should provide the new owner with years of fun in the future. With the 6″ lift kit, you could even put larger tires on it and make it a mud-running machine. What do you think?
Heroic , if somewhat generic photo. Good looking though, GLWTA!
Beautiful looking Bronco a d would I to see a 460 or 400 and dual exhaust. Otherwise the lift is a nice height with those tires. Love the rims on it. The automatic step up is a big help getting into the rig. I would add truck mud guards so the beautiful paint won’t get too messy. I would not be surprised is the bidding gets to $40,000. I guess wish we seen the engine and to see how clean it is under the hood. Good luck to the next owner..🐻🇺🇸
These were great rigs, overall, the best Broncos ever made, I had a 79, 400, 4spd, it was bullet proof. This here’s a nice one, but I don’t see any resto mod. Not that I care to.
This Bronco ;1978 &9 are the most popular trucks on the road today ;although sad & true that they all had rust issues but most all did in the 70s ; great design & styling but bad metal, unfortunately ! this truck will do just fine& good w most road conditions & off- road’ing unless like they said in this story your a deep mud runner then bigger tires are required!
I love this gen of the Bronco, almost as much as the late 60’s- early 70’s ones, IMHO the last of the good looking Ford’s…they went way too boxy in ’80. And yeah, I would definitely opt for some more aggressive rubber and paint her brown from time to time, wear it around for off-road credit for a couple days, then shine her back up… I remember seeing a bunch of these with the top ripped off tearing down the beach in Daytona, love to own one, but at that price I’d be really shy with the mud application.
No resto mod to see here, just a slightly restored bronco. 35k and no pictures of the engine bay, unbelievable. Any AD that says contact me for more details should be automatically removed from all selling platforms. Just put the details in the ad, it’s really that simple. What are you hiding?
Agree not restomod, also 3in. Lift would have been plenty ,my dad had one 3 in. Ran 36 grand Prixs .
I agree. Personally, I wouldn’t really want a lift at all. 33’s should fit fine and look good. I don’t see the point of raising it 6” to put another 2” of tire under it, unless you’re really going to off-road it. I wouldn’t off-road one this nice. Been there in my younger days. The cleanup you have to do afterwards isn’t worth it to me anymore.
I lifted a CJ 5 4” and regretted doing it. 32’s fit, but rubbed off-road at full turn. I just had to have 33’s, so the lift kit went on. It looked better with the fender wells stuffed full of tire than with the lift and a 1” bigger tire, in my opinion. And boy, it handled like a roller skate down a flight of stairs with the lift.
had its lill father/grand father 40 yrs. When these came out my buds said “Pig” meaning the lumbering nature, 400M, gas hog, etc. Now I lub em as era representitive (heck if I made my 1st gen into an off rd gladiator I’d get one for tow rig!)
Looking at the pic I think I see the ‘wing window’ as rare option on the lill less rare side slider windows. Thought these things were just for the ’79? Like 1st gen you can do anything (swap out) you want w/them.
I’d never put it in the mud but the 1 suspension pic shows the aftr mrkt extended radis arms w/the “10&10 rule” for more off rd fun. Yes, I’d think abt a taller tire (to fill out the wheel opening for the modern eye or better off rd) or go back dwn to oe hight w/these wheels.
Nice example~