Gents,
New to the classic truck scene and on the look out for a late model Early Bronco. I am looking for something that runs strong that I can learn to work on over the next few years, but want to drive in the mean time. I would like to purchase something in as good of mechanical shape as possible since I do not have the skill of working on cars. Any recommendations, tips or advice are more than welcome. I am sure once I make the plunge I will come looking for a lot of advice on how to rebuild something very simple, but how else am I going to learn? Located in Southern Georgia.

 

Welcome to Early Broncos and to FTE!

Expect to pay a bunch for an Early Bronco in good shape. They've become "classic" and the resale value has climbed. Nice if you're selling...

You're in the south so hopefully rust won't be a big issue on anything you find locally. Check out the "thinking about buying a Bronco" thread for more specific thoughts on rust. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-a-bronco.html

Figure out what you want from the Bronco ahead of time and try to buy something that's close to that. Do you want it to look stock? Better find one with uncut rear fenders. Do you want it lifted with big tires? It'll be cheaper to buy a complete project than doing it yourself (and you can leave the ones with uncut fenders for the purists).

Beyond that, just keep in mind that you're looking for a 38 - 49 year old truck that's like new. If it's in good condition it's because of what the previous owner did, and the quality will be at the mercy of how well he did it. So do your homework and ank lots of questions.

 

I should add not to buy a 40+ year old truck expecting it to just be reliable transportation. No matter how good it is when you get it, you better expect it to be a project. I'm not saying you can't count on old trucks. I've taken my '71 Bronco on out-of-state trips with no concerns. But I do expect to have to work on it periodically. It's not like buying a 5 year old used car with 50K miles and not expecting to do anything more than change the oil every so often. I think you recognize that from some of your last statements. So I'm not trying to scare you off, just want to make sure your eyes are open.

 

I would advise finding one that is already tagged and being driven. It will retain your interest if you can enjoy it while learning/working on it. Too many people bite off more than they can chew for a first project.