When you think of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) you probably think of the plethora that are on the automotive landscape these days and have been since the ’90s. Actually, the term SUV dates to the mid-’60s and was used by Ford Motor Company in their marketing material to reference their first-generation Bronco like this 1971 version, located in Hawthorne, California and available here on eBay for a current bid of $4,000 or a BIN price of $4,500. Zero bids have been tendered so far.
When I first saw this Bronco’s listing, I immediately thought about my neighbor who just happens to have a non-running 1971 Bronco sitting in his driveway where it has been languishing for the last four years. He brought it from across the country from Southern California and it wasn’t running there either. He’s trying to adapt a Fox-body Mustang wiring harness to it so that the ’93 5.0 liter, fuel-injected engine, currently residing in its engine room, will operate. Let me tell, I’ve never seen so many wires that don’t seem to have a destination. He’s a great wrench so he’ll figure it out. But I am digressing….
Our subject Bronco has a 302 CI V8 engine (5.0 liter) and it is a carbureted version that is good for 205 gross horsepower. The seller tells us, “I was told by the previous owner that the truck ran some time ago before it was parked. Based upon the newer ignition components I would guess with some service and some fresh gas it would fire up”. Yes, the old, “ran when parked” yarn. The engine appears to be intact from what the images reveal but clearly there isn’t a lot known about its condition. The mileage for this Bronco is listed as 2,851 so I imagine that it’s at least 102,851 but that’s not known for certainty either. This Ford is equipped with a manual transmission so once it’s running, it’s probably a spirited drive.
The interior is pretty well sacked. The back seat is missing and the front seats, which the seller refers to as “decent” need a complete redo. The images don’t give any clarity regarding the condition of the floors or whether the dash instrumentation works. I’m taking a poll on what the box with the attached hoses running up the A-pillars does, home-made AC?
The body of this Bronco is shot – there’s rust everywhere, even the rust has rust. There is so much cutting and replacing that would need to be done that there’s no telling what, if anything, would be left. There is no reference to the underside/frame condition but I have no reason to assume that it is in any better condition than the body. The seller does suggest that this Bronco would make, “A good parts truck, a donor for a new tub or project”. And that maybe all this old Ford is destined to be at this point.
First-generation Broncos are collectible, their values have shown a strong upside over the last several years. This one, however, maybe a bit too late to the party. It will be interesting to watch the bidding action, assuming there is any. My thought is that the opening bid amount is too high for a Bronco in this condition. So, is it fixable or just parts at this point, what do you think?
$4500.00 for a VIN tag and title!
Aw, come on folks, don’t let a little surface rust scare you. Funny, this is how I remember 90% of the Broncos up north. I think the top and the Hurst T handle could be saved. Very nice,,,again, I can hear it now,,,,”A hey Pa, see what them old Broncos are going for? Fire up the tractor and let’s go get ours”,,,
these things were cheap rust buckets the day they were built! no better now!
I owned a number of these. The old saying of “unsafe at any speed” still applies and that is before they put on giant tires and raise them. Ford made over 200,000 box top Broncos from 66 to 77.
The majority of them aren’t rare.
I had to laugh Howard, you are probably right. The owner saw what others are selling for & wanted to cash in.
I remember as a kid seeing these & various types of Jeeps with big shovels hanging off the fronts of these. Every filling station had one, along with other people who would plow for money. They were all as rough as this one.
They have a lot of snow in Hawthorne, California?
That’ll buff right out…
Not the biggest piece of junk I have seen on here, but a contender
I have a parts car behind my folks barn in KY that i need to get on here if this sells.
My 64 chevelle wagon my dad gave 50 dollars in the 90s for the bumpers. The behind the front seat was sliced for a mud buggy with good bumpers and a steering wheel and seat and engine and trans 😏. the rest is rust.
So should it list fist for 3000 or 5000. 😏😎🤪
To me its a POS with two bumpers and engine parts but my trash could be someones buried
treasure 😉
Maybe a case of 🥃 bourbon would assist the crazy bids or a gift certificate to a legal pot state as just like
this sale is a vin and title 😮
I honestly think that hose is for interior exhaust ventilation. I’ve driven a couple of stinkers in my life.
Wonder where it is originally from. Looks like it sat in the ocean for 35 years. Background in photos is nowhere even close to Hawthorne, Ca. Maybe taken where the flipper got it from.
It says it has a Michigan title in the ad. That looks like where it came from to me. And the door sticker clearly states it’s a 72, not a 71. Sheesh!
Didn’t see that..the door decal i saw said march of 71……
Oops – I need to blow up the pic the next time – it is 3/71!
Biohazard.
“Ran when parked”
(In the lake)
Gets the ” You’ve got to be kidding” of the week award.
Hey BUBBA look what we found in de crik…deez is going fer biiiggg money!!
This is a really crispy critter, I don’t believe you could even winch this up onto the flatbed in one piece. It’s too much money for just the hard top being the only save able part. I pass.
Swamp Find
I need a tetanus shot from just looking at the pics…
2851 miles on it? It does even have 2851 miles left on it. Let alone even 51 or 28.(I thought of that comment a few weeks back and I just now found the right vehicle to use it.) Did anyone notice the dimmer switch relocated to the left side of the steering column? The gauge mounted on the column might be a tach, but it maybe a vacuum gauge. If it is, I think the needle will peg out before it registers how much this thing sucks.
RUSTY RUSTED RUST!
I own a vitage 1971 Jeepster Commando for 48 years. If the body looks this bad I am very confident that the floors will qialify as a Flinstone mobile. Run in any direction as long as it’s 180 degrees from this Rusto-Mod-Bronco!
Nice patina.
1 of 3 or 4 that contributed to my ’69/70/77 back in ’83 when I built it.
I see lots of prts I ‘stole’. Of course not for 4K$…
@Bob Hess,
Though this is a prime candidate for the “You’ve got to be kidding” award of the week, I think it has been surpassed. Check craigslist San Diego for a 1972 GMC Jimmy for $275,000. Not a misprint, two hundred and seventy five thousand dollars.
Any vehicle named “jimmy” automatically lands in a category of
“you’ve got to be kidding”. I can recall when GM came out with that foolish name. No wonder the tax payer had to bail them out…
I have no words for that one….
I just got a tetanus shot after looking at the post!!! If I bought this heap I might have to go on a low iron diet!!!