Home At Last: Son Locates Late Father’s Ford Bronco II
It took decades, a lot searching, and many miles; but one man finally tracked down his late father’s beloved Ford Bronco II.
Totally worth it.
That was our first thought after hearing the story of a son going to incredible lengths to find his late father’s Ford Bronco II. Some vehicles just come across your path and–for any number of reasons–remain utterly unforgettable. Maybe because the performance blew you away, the way it handles, or that first sweet taste of real, rumbling power. Or, its value might be found closer to home. Who can forget the pride of driving your first car, the truck you learned to drive stick in, or the old faithful family ride that saw you grow from backseat naps, to vacations, to first dates … those special vehicles that hit on a personal level. In the case of this Ford Bronco II, it is indelible on both counts.
ShakinNotStirred shared his incredible tale on Reddit’s Car Talk in a post entitled “Just bought back the last truck my dad owned.”
“So, a bit of background. My father passed away before I was born. And ever since I was little, I always loved cars; and wanted to find an old vehicle he owned. At the start of the pandemic I found some old documents that had this vehicle’s VIN number. After talking with my mom I found out this is the vehicle they met each other in, fell in love and got married in.”
It is the very definition of a valuable family heirloom. Only adding to the vehicle’s already rich history is the vehicle in question: a Ford Bronco II.
Ford produced the Bronco II from 1984 to 1990. The Bronco II was a separate model from the concurrent third-generation Ford Bronco. Built from the Ford Ranger platform, the compact SUV never found solid footing in sales figures. But it became (and remains) a favorite among Bronco, truck, and off-roading fans.
ShakinNotStirred was determined to get his father’s specific Ford Bronco II. With the new documents, he found solid leads.
“Right before [my father] died he sold it to someone in North Carolina, and got a 1994 F-150. … After running Carfax, and with the help of some friends, we tracked it down and I was lucky enough to get in touch with the current owner. We arranged to go down and bring her home. I had a trailer booked … then U-Haul was completely shut down and they couldn’t give me the trailer I reserved. We ended up driving 11 hours down through the pouring rain.
Once we got to the owners house the sun came out and there was a rainbow … couldn’t honestly even make that up. I didn’t even look it over I just matched the VIN and paid the man.”
Now there was the issue of seeing how this Bronco II would make it home. Especially given that the current owner has only put about 500 miles on it since 2008. “We then got temp tags, new tires, and this little truck did the 11 hour drive home without any issue whatsoever,” he marvels.
“It still doesn’t even feel real to me,” he adds. He plans on doing a full restoration. We hope he updates at the end of that also sometimes harrowing journey.
“I hope to someday pass it down to my kids when I do have them,” ShakinNotStirred adds. But now, the Bronco II is back where it belongs, ready to embark on a new chapter as part of the family again. And the journey to get there? Totally worth it.
Got a truck from your past that you can’t forget? Let us know about it!
Photos: Ford, ShakinNotStirrred
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