This 1966 Ford Bronco Pickup might look a little bit baked, but below the surface, it is a solid and clean survivor with minimal rust problems. It would make a great project vehicle, although there is no reason why it couldn’t be driven and enjoyed immediately. It is located in San Antonio, Texas, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding sits at $20,600, although the reserve hasn’t been met. There is a BIN option for those who want to avoid the stresses of an auction. This has been set at $29,500.

The Bronco is finished in a combination of Arcadian Blue and Wimbledon White. The paint has begun to develop the sort of baked look that you might expect to see on a classic from Texas, but it is still presentable for an original survivor. Life in a drier climate has paid dividends when it comes to the question of rust because although the floors have a coating of surface corrosion, there isn’t a lot of penetrating rust for the next owner to tackle. It is confined to the common front inner fender area, and these will both require repair or replacement at some point. Thankfully, replacements are readily available and sell for about $120 per side. The rest of the body looks sound, and the bed wears a coating of surface corrosion only. One of the great things about this Bronco is that it has remained unmolested. It is not uncommon to see the fenders cut and fitted with extensions to cover a larger wheel/tire combination. Such changes can be reversed, but if you don’t have to tackle that job, it isn’t bad.

This is as close as we get to a decent photo of the engine. What we know is that it is the standard 170ci 6-cylinder that produces 105hp. A 3-speed manual transmission backs this. When it was introduced, the Bronco was designed to be utilitarian, although buyers could pick from a decent list of optional extras to personalize their purchase. In March of 1966, this included the choice of a 289ci V8 to provide more power and improved torque for when the going got tough. This engine looks extremely clean, and it appears that a new radiator may have recently been fitted. The owner claims that it has a genuine 87,000 miles on the clock but doesn’t indicate whether he holds evidence that can verify this. What he does say is that the Bronco runs and drives beautifully.

For an off-roader of this vintage, the condition of the interior is actually quite decent. Some of the painted surfaces show some wear and would benefit from some attention, but the rest of it looks promising. The seat cover has been replaced, although it is slightly stretched. Pulling it tight again would not be a hard job. I am somewhat confused by the supplied photos because it almost looks like some duct tape is on the seat. I’m not sure whether there might be a tear under there or whether it is just there as a coincidence. The dash cap is free from cracks, while the rubber mat on the floor doesn’t seem to have any tears or significant wear. The steering wheel has a crack and some edge wear, but I think that restoring this could potentially be tackled in a home workshop.

When the Bronco arrived in Ford showrooms in 1966, the company found that it had another hit on its hands. The motoring public embraced this 4×4 and managed to sell 23,776 Broncos in that first year. The 1st Generation soldiered on until 1977, by which time sales had tapered off significantly. Unmolested early examples are now highly sought, and the bidding on this one reflects that fact. Depending on where the bidding heads in the near future, I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone hit the BIN button fairly soon. If they do, I believe that they will become the proud owner of an iconic off-roader with the potential to increase in value with each passing year.