This 1971 Bronco is an Off-roader Mad Max Would Kill For

You decide: a hot rod for a post-apocalyptic landscape, or a classic off-roader on the cheap?

What do you get when you cross a classic Ford 4×4 with Mad Max‘s post-apocalyptic aesthetic? We’re not entirely sure, but we think it would come out looking a lot like this early Bronco.

Located in Phoenix, Arizona, this 1971 Ford Bronco that we spotted on ClassicCars.com puts the “rough” in “rough and tumble.” The off-roader isn’t like the SEMA show trucks and restored trucks we’re used to seeing.

Instead, it looks like it’s actually been used and enjoyed. We wouldn’t say it’s been abused, since the overall condition of the truck actually looks pretty solid. Maybe “neglected” if we’re feeling mean, or, if we’re feeling generous, “used exactly as intended.”

We get spoiled by seeing beautiful show trucks all the time. While they may look aggressive, they’re far too pretty to get dirty, or worse – scratched. That’s not a concern with this Bronco.

This Bronco is powered by a 302 V8 backed up by an automatic transmission. Up front, you’ll find a Dana 44; out back is a beefed-up Ford 9″ with a locker and disc brakes. According to the seller, the 37″ all-terrain tires are brand new.

Further off-road upgrades include the roll cage that gives this Bronco its signature wasteland-ready look, fuel cans, and a spare tire mount. Those who plan on using the Bronco on the street may be happy to learn that a pair of doors are included.

At $15,900, this may not be the prettiest Bronco in the world. However, it’s a truck that can be used off-road without a care in the world.

From the look of things, this Bronco can take you all the way to Thunderdome, beyond, and back again. No matter what it faced while it was there, we’d have our money on this tough-looking off-road machine.

If you’re looking for a restoration project, this may be one of the cheapest ways into a rust-free early Bronco. Our advice? Drive it and enjoy it for a while before you make it pretty. Trust us, it’ll be fun.

Photos: ClassicCars.com

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Cameron Vanderhorst

Cam VanDerHorst has been a contributor to Internet Brands' Auto Group sites for over three years, with his byline appearing on Ford Truck Enthusiasts, Corvette Forum, JK Forum, and Harley-Davidson Forums, among others. In that time, he's also contributed to Autoweek, The Drive, and Scale Auto Magazine.

He bought his first car at age 14 -- a 1978 Ford Mustang II -- and since then he’s amassed an impressive and diverse collection of cars, trucks, and motorcycles, including a 1996 Ford Mustang SVT Mystic Cobra (#683) and a classic air-cooled Porsche 911.

In addition to writing about cars and wrenching on them in his spare time, he enjoys playing music (drums and ukulele), building model cars, and tending to his chickens.

You can follow Cam, his cars, his bikes, and his chickens at @camvanderhorst on Instagram.

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