UPDATE – This “rust-free” 1979 Ford Bronco is for sale again with a lower asking price. It can be found here on eBay in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the seller has lowered the buy-it-now price to $16,500! How much would you pay for this 4×4?
FROM 12/24/2023 – I’m a huge fan of the second-generation Ford Bronco, they’re somewhat rare to see today on the street and were only made for two model years. Another interesting thing is that when a lot of other vehicles were shrinking because of gas prices, the Bronco got bigger. This one is listed here on eBay in Las Vegas, Nevada, the bids are at $11,000, and the reserve isn’t met yet.
Ahhhh… a rust-free vehicle, what does that even mean? Those of us who grew up in snow country with tons of road salt being dumped everywhere can only dream about a 44-year-old vehicle with no gaping rust holes in it. Or a 10-year-old one with no rust. This Bronco isn’t perfect, there are various dings and scratches here and there and it’s been repainted, but the underside sure looks solid.
The second-generation Bronco was made from 1977 for the 1978 model year until the end of 1979. Just two model years, who does that anymore? Can you think of an automaker that doesn’t keep vehicles around for years and years today? It seems as if vehicle technology changes more often today than the exterior design of vehicles does. The second-gen Broncos were huge compared to the first models, about a foot wider and two-and-a-half feet longer.
The seller says that this Bronco came out of Arizona and you can see how the Arizona sun snuck inside and worked its magic on the dash and other parts. Vehicles may not rust as much in the desert southwest but that dry heat sure is hard on interiors. The seats have been redone both front and back, as well as new carpet having been added. A few other tweaks and it could look pretty tidy inside again. I may have gone with fabric seats but that’s just me. The rear cargo area is certainly much bigger than it would have been on the original Bronco.
The engine is Ford’s 351-cu.in. OHV V8, which would have been factory-rated at a mere 156 horsepower by this time. This one is said to run “well and strong” and the three-speed automatic transmission also works as it should, according to the seller. Hagerty is at $14,500 for a #4 fair-condition Bronco and a whopping $37,400 for a #3 good-condition Bronco! How much is this one worth given those values?
Good job Scotty. Not a perfect Bronco but not bad.
I too have wondered about the development timeline of these big Broncos. It would have been introduced in Fall 1977, which means the development work would have been in progress in 1975-1976? A time of high gasoline prices, though by the end of this time they were easing a bit? I’ve always assumed that a Bronco spin-off was probably part of the plan for the revamped 1973 F-Series, and Ford just carried through with the plan. Though I’m suspecting there were heated discussions in the board room.
Which in hindsight was the right decision as it sold well, as did the Bronco variant of subsequent F-Series generations. They are now collectible (and pricey).
A little bit of finishing development work in 1975-1976, but in reality a lot of it was done much earlier – as early as 1971-1972. It was called Project Shorthorn. With the oil embargo and a generally bad economy in the mid-70s, Ford kept the early Bronco soldiering on for a few more years. Up until the release of the 2021 Bronco, the 78-79 Broncos were the best selling years of the first 5 generations of trucks.
Thanks Todd. That pretty much confirms my suspicion, that there was a plan for a full-size Bronco long before it actually appeared.
These were great vehicles. My brother in law had a 78 and in 87 he let me, my little brother and his best friend borrow it to go to Georgia. That was a fun trip until the two of them got me so mad I had the truck stopped in the middle of Alabama and I was trying to push them out of the damn thing. I was going to leave them there on the side of the road, couple of little a-holes, they would have deserved it to but I calmed down and let them live. That was the same truck that when my BIL rebuilt the motor he put the passenger side head gasket on upside down so it was torn back down and gasket replaced. When he couldn’t get it running again, I looked at it and told him the distributer wasn’t in time correctly. I had him bump it over to get it up on TDC popped the cap off and told Ronnie, my BIL to turn the key off cause I needed to pull the distributor, He did NOT turn the key off, when I pulled the damn thing up I completed the ground. That hurt a lot, I laid there over the radiator for awhile after that one. Fun times
It’s a decent looking Bronco. It would be a good one to repaint and and get the interior in a little better condition. Hide all of the wires that’s hanging down underneath the dash etc. The seats must have been really ragged out if the seller changed them and never bothered to touch anything else?
The seller seems honest enough, although most people can see what all it needs anyway.
True Milage is probably unknown, at least it is unknown to me. Perhaps a hundred thousand more than what’s showing?
I respect the seller for not trying to pass it off as a low mileage, doesn’t need much vehicle.
That still would not stop me from owning it, because that really isn’t a lot of miles anymore?
I like it!
Just my oponion!
Nice dream on price about 10000 on a good clear day especially if your a thousand miles away.
I had a 79 with a 400 4 speed and that was the one to have, I miss that Bronco
we called that model “pig” in the day Matt. I’d like to have 1 (same, w/400) today to haul my 42yr owned 1st gen. They were responding (late as ALL say) to the K model, a real winner too.
I differ (almost a contrarian in all my haunts, cyber or otherwise) in that to me the nxt gens were all as this (‘who builds a 2 yr-only model’). It seemed more an 18 yr run for me. Add a ft to mine’s bed, supply it w/the ’96 efi from the beginning (o0OP, history duz not go backwards) and I’d buy that 8^ )
Auction update: this one ended at $14,059, which didn’t meet the seller’s reserve. They have it relisted with a buy-it-now price of $16,500.
Did the heat wear off on these ? Chevy and for full size were the draw for the older stuff. Only 5k bid ? For a Nevada truck ?
Painful auction update: this one ended at $11,800 and the reserve wasn’t met. The last time through it made it up to $14,059 and that wasn’t enough to meet the seller’s reserve. I don’t know if it’s going to sell on eBay if it keeps going down every time it’s shown.
I learned from being a car dealer, something you just to take your spanking and try to do better next time.
Just my oponion!
Auction update #1,000,0001: this Bronco has supposedly sold for $15,750 after several tries.