In 1965, Ford introduced the Bronco to compete with Jeep’s CJ-5 and International Harvester’s Scout. The company did not waltz into this market unprepared: it helped develop the Jeep during World War II. When the war ended, surplus Jeeps were popular among drivers with a yen to drive over rocks and through creeks; Ford took notice and interviewed users about the best and worst qualities of existing utility vehicles. In 1963, the Product Planning Committee issued the G.O.A.T. memo: circulated internally, it was a proposal for a “Goes Over All Terrain” compact four-wheel-drive vehicle that Ford code-named “Bronco”. This 1969 Ford Bronco wagon is an uncut survivor clothed in original paint. With a three-speed manual on the tree and a floor-mounted transfer case shifter, the crown jewel here is its 302 V8 motor. Find it here on eBay, with spirited bidding up to $18,100. This Bronco is located in San Andreas, California.

The seller points out rust in the floors, sills, and driver’s side pillar; the windshield is cracked; rust coats the bumpers and the undercarriage. The interior shows worn bucket seats, cracks in the dash pad, and an unfortunate enlargement of the radio cavity. The ashtray and some control knobs are missing. Miraculously at least one door check strap survives. Other than a couple of photos showing rusty floors, the dash, and a slice of the front seats, we aren’t given other interior photos, so it’s hard to tell if the vehicle retains its rear bench seat.

The motor does not run but we are assured it is not stuck. There are no brakes, either. When new, the 302 V8 would have produced about 210 bhp, with a zero to sixty time of about 9 seconds. Broncos prepared by Bill Stroppe achieved notable success in off-road racing, with luminaries such as James Garner and Parnelli Jones racing versions in the Baja 1000, Mexican 1000, and Riverside Four Wheel Drive Grand Prix. Today, you can choose from several dozen Bronco clubs and participate in events from Concours shows to ice racing.

The seller supplies the VIN which indicates this Bronco was indeed a factory 302 vehicle, born at the Michigan plant in October, painted in Medium Ivy Green Metallic paint. Parts are available for restoration from a variety of sources, and then there’s good old elbow grease. The values of these early SUVs have skyrocketed in recent years. What do you think – is this one worth rescuing?