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Rusty Bronco: Is It Worth it?

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While this 1972 Ford Bronco has it’s share of rust problems, I’ve seen worse restored. The good thing is that almost anything you would need to fix it is readily available. It’s located in Du Bois, Pennsylvania and is for sale here on eBay, with bidding currently under $500 but reserve not yet met.

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I mentioned rust, didn’t I? Here’s some of it. The seller doesn’t give us much history of the vehicle, only that they don’t have the title for it and that it will roll freely. Oh, and that payment is cash only!

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Moving over to the passenger side, we see that some creative usage of sign material has been employed here. It’s a good thing all the panels are available. I don’t know what it is about these first generation Bronco’s that causes so much rust, but you hardly ever see a non-rusty one around where I live in North Carolina.

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Under the off roader, things aren’t a whole lot better. Basically, this is either a parts car or a really ambitious restoration. I sure wouldn’t want to drive it very far with the frame rail looking like that.

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Under the hood, we find an inline 6, but apparently not the original one, as the seller thinks it’s a 1970. No radiator either. The seller states that it turns over but won’t fire at this time. I realize this one’s ambitious, but if it stays under $1,000 is there anyone out there that would try to refurbish it?

Comments

  1. Avatar Chris in Nashville

    Looks like 29 cents a pound to me…

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    • Avatar JamestownMike

      29 cents a pound?? Current scrap metal prices in my area are 3 cents a pound!

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      • Avatar Chris in Nashville

        I meant to put a decimal point in there… It is only 2.9 cents a pound here…

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  2. Avatar Todd Zuercher

    Time to part this one.

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    • Avatar JamestownMike

      Parts!?!……..What parts are good??

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      • Avatar Rancho Bella

        The Vin?

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  3. Avatar Jason Houston

    Anybody who has the cajones to put a reserve on something this rusty needs to have his head examined. PA is a nasty place for cars.

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    • Avatar JamestownMike

      I COMPLETELY AGREE! It isn’t even worth the $499 opening bid!……..not to mention a “reserve”!

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  4. Avatar randy

    The biggest problem it has, is that it is not a Mopar! I would really like to have one of these Broncos, but I missed the window, about 15 years ago.

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  5. Avatar JW454

    The top and the front / rear axles may have some value but I’m not sure what could be done with the rest. I hope someone does.

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  6. HoA Howard A Member

    I agree, I think it’s time to blow taps on this one. Major frame rust. Sadly, this is what happened to most Broncos, as many were subjected to plow duty, and melted away, as evidenced here. ( and it wasn’t just Bronco’s, but all 4 wheel drives) These do come up from time to time from out west in good shape, where they lived on a ranch, or something, but any northern or eastern truck, I’d stay clear of. Somebody may want the top. About all that’s good. Of course, without the top, it will probably bend in the middle.

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    • Avatar geomechs Member

      Hi Howard. I’m really getting a Bronco education. Out west they rust to some extent but nothing compared to what I’ve seen in the Midwest or further east. I can’t believe the body cancer east of here!

      There was a ’69 or ’70 Bronco sold a couple of years ago and it had a couple of rust-thru’s just behind the front wheels and a couple more under the taillights. That was it. But then, there is very little salt used on the roads out here. So many Chinooks blow in during the winter and sometimes the roads are bare and dry for the entire winter. Of course it isn’t all glamor; you can get pretty fed-up with the wind blowing siding off the house, blowing shingles off the roof, and blowing trucks off of I-15, not to mention having one leg longer than the other because you’re always leaning against a 40 mph wind.

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  7. Avatar TBall

    I love these early Broncos and this one is close by. So, do I bid on this one at $500 with a reserve – not today. Unfortunately, I cannot imagine the undertaking to save this one. Agree with Howard A – take the top off and she most likely folds in half like a cheap footstool. Too bad, too sad.

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    • Avatar Larry M

      Step away from the keyboard. Take a breath and think about this. Too Much rust, too little steel. same thing happened to my 94 w/66K on the “clock”. Drove perfectly into the junk yard for $600.00. East Coast = Too Much Salt.

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  8. Avatar Barry T

    The seller better move it fast before it falls into a big pile of rust. Hold on, I think that has already happened.

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  9. Avatar junkman Member

    For the hot rodder these usually had the posi rear end and with the 6 cyl it most likely has a nice gear ratio. No pics of the grille, but certain trim parts of these are always needed. Get the right 2 guys that need the same parts he may just have an auction on his hands. Most of it is going to the shredder

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  10. Avatar JW

    I’ve had 2 of these early Broncos, a 68 that was a daily driver and weekend warrior that I didn’t worry about beating it which would look like a show truck next to this thing and a 73 that had a 351W and a friend built it with all kinds of aftermarket stuff from KbarS and it was super clean no rust anywhere. This guy would have to pay me $500 to haul this POS away.

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    • Avatar Rancho Bella

      KbarS………..man, there is a name from the past

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  11. Avatar Tundra/BMW Guy

    I don’t think I have ever seen a frame rusted out that bad!! If I understand correctly, frames tend to rust from the inside out?! I wouldn’t even slam the door without being prepared to run!

    Like 0

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