We’ve seen our share of First Generations Broncos over the past decade at Barn Finds, with most being riddled with rust or heavily modified. This 1975 model has avoided both issues and is a solid and unmolested classic. It presents nicely, and its most pressing need is a new home. The current owner listed it here on Craigslist in Madisonville, Louisiana. They’ve set a price of $68,000, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting this tidy classic.
The seller admits that although this Bronco is essentially unmolested, it did receive a repaint in its original shade of Medium Green Glow around twenty-five years ago. It retains a healthy shine and few imperfections, suggesting the painter completed their work to a high standard. The panels are impressively straight, and I’m sure those with experience are waiting for me to discuss its rust issues. There’s nothing to say because this classic remains rust-free. The usually prone areas like the rockers, rear quarters, and front inner fenders are spotless. Many owners elected to cut the fenders to accommodate larger wheels and tires, but the ones on this Bronco are untouched. The only mystery with the exterior surrounds the factory hubcaps. They are present on one side but missing on the other. If they aren’t all there, locating replacements via the regular online auction sites should be possible. The remaining trim looks extremely good, and the glass is flawless.
The interior shots reveal the original Parchment vinyl front buckets, although I think the back seat with a different pattern might be a later addition. The seats exhibit some dirty marks, and it would be interesting to see how they’d respond to a deep clean. Regular products may not shift the spots, but there are heavy-duty alternatives that might produce positive results without damaging the vinyl. The mats look good, as do the door trims, dash, and pad. Someone cut the dash and doors to install a CD player and speakers, with the included Marti Report suggesting the ice-cold air conditioning is also a later addition.
The engine photos tell us little about this Bronco, but we know the original owner ordered it with a 302ci V8, a three-speed manual transmission, and power steering. That V8 should produce 125hp and 225 ft/lbs of torque. Combined with the dual-range transfer case and assisted steering, the Bronco should be an effortless and accomplished off-road raider. It is unclear whether this vehicle’s drivetrain is original, but the V8 wears a collection of aftermarket cosmetic additions. Removing those to achieve a factory appearance is possible, and I believe the new owner may choose that option. The seller just fitted new tires that have done no miles, and they say this Bronco runs and drives perfectly.
If you’d told me in 1975 that the First Generation Bronco would develop a cult following within the classic community, I would have had my doubts. Sales that year were the lowest in its twelve-year lifecycle, with only 13,125 people parking one in their driveway. Ford had only persevered with the Bronco for two reasons. The first was that with initial development costs at a record low, the Bronco effectively paid for itself within a few years of release. Any ongoing updates to comply with legislative changes were absorbed across multiple models within the company’s range, meaning the Bronco cost Ford virtually nothing to produce. More tellingly, it didn’t have a replacement ready for release until 1978, so they kept rolling the First Generation off the line to maintain a presence in the market sector. Today, tidy and rust-free examples command impressive prices, and the seller’s figure for this one looks highly competitive. It has only been on the market a short time, and I suspect someone might grant themselves an early Christmas present by taking it home.
$68k for a Bronco with a “malaise era” engine? It might be reasonable for a pre-’74 Bronco in excellent original shape, but not this one.
Uncut, yes.
True survivor, not really.
68k? This bubble should pop soon…
This is what they look like when they’re left to sit outside for years, I always wanted one and found this 73 in the Blue Ridge Mountains, even had a 302. I found a 67 Camaro project instead so this one went down the road for $8500.
Probably worth the 8500 if the other side is that good.
Definitely a “Look honey, I TRIED to sell it …” price.
I know this is an obvious statement but maybe it’s good to just name it here. The prices of these nice old rigs (broncos, FJ40’s, land rovers, non-rust bucket scouts, etc.) have eliminated probably 99% of potential buyers. This sad trend constitutes a major loss for most of us. Many of us looking at and dreaming about these vehicles on Barn Finds, BAT, and Hemmings grew up with these vehicles, and have some wonderful memories sitting in them, working on them, going cool places, and buying them for a few thousand dollars. It’s so ironic that they were originally built for the lower/middle class individual to make lives easier and more fun. Now they just adorn the lifts of affluents’ multi-car garages. Ah, such is life I guess.
Yeah,I miss the days when the average person could buy
one for a reasonable price,enjoy it for a while,& move on to the
next interesting vehicle,without losing their shirt,or expecting to
make a huge profit on it.
Again,I wonder how many of these will be bought,& then come
up for sale in a short time when the buyer finds out that they’re
not very comfortable,& not a lot of fun to drive?
I’ve wondered that too. Idealized objects can lose their power when the grit of reality sets in.
I sure wish I would have rented a garage, back in the 80’s. And filled it with immaculate $1500 Bronco’s, $2000 Trans Ams, and $2500 Porsche 912’s. No one wanted them, back then. Who knew?
It wasn’t even that long ago. In 1993 I bought a clean ’69 bronco with a new 302, rebuilt 3 speed, extra motor and new tires for $4300.
Do you still have it? I’ll give you $8600, no questions asked! LOL
Not that long ago? 1993 was 30 years ago. We can all thank Jonathan Ward for inflating prices on classic vehicles like Broncos and Land Cruisers. He saw a market though….
Do you wish you’d bought them just to make money,or
would you keep them?
I look back & wish I’d been smart & bought the one (or two)
cars back then & kept them.I could have bought them new,or in
like new condition.Something like a Escort Mexico comes to mind.
On the other hand,I’d have missed out on owning a lot of
really cool cars.It’s not always about making money,at least to me.
Wish I would’ve kept them… unfortunately money doesn’t interest me that much!
I’d have kept one T/A and a Bronco. The rest I’d have sold to feed my Mustang addiction.
Like the Superbirds and Daytona Chargers. You couldn’t give one away and now they start at $100,000.00 for a nice one. I passed up a Sublime Superbird , black bench seat, auto with a 440 4bbl with 14,000 miles in 81, when I was a teenager, for $14000.00, a dollar a mile per the owner. I also passed up a Vitamin C Superbird around the same time for $1000.00. No nose(was stolen years before), rusty, 440 6bbl, four speed black bucket seats. I had way to many cars (6) at the time and mom said no more. I didn’t have the coin for the Sublime one but could have bought the Orange one.
The could have, should have, would have rear view logic is nothing new. Back in the ‘70’s you could buy tri-five Chevies for what is pocket change today. I know because I bought a 1956 Belair convertible for $50. Yeah, it had more than a few needs but it was all there and you could move it around the yard. I tinkered around with junkyard parts and nascent mechanical skills and got it driving. Sold it for $500 only because Dad wanted his driveway space back. I tried to talk him into bankrolling me into further acquisitions but he wasn’t interested. Twenty years later I’m at Carlisle and see a practically identical car sitting on a rollback in worse shape than mine was with the asking price of $14,000. Better ROI than my IRA that’s for sure!