Why did you pick a Bronco?
 

What finally made you opt to pull the trigger and buy a Bronco? (And don't hand us that "I got a great deal!" line.) If you bought your Bronco because it was the cheapest thing you could find, I doubt your sincerity as a Ford Truck Enthusiast. So, what did it? Not going to limit responses by posting a poll. Just want to see what drives the typical Ford Enthusiast to opt for the venerable Bronco. Maybe you needed the cargo space, the 4WD, or the towing capacity. Maybe it "spoke" to you. Maybe it gets you attention from the ladies... or the men. Maybe you always wanted one like Dad or uncle so-and-so. Whatever your reasons, let's hear 'em.

For me, it was a compromise I made as s result of pressure from friends who all own "early" Broncos (1966-1977). I have never driven small vehicles. (Learned to drive on a '78 LTD and my first car was a '65 Cadillac) so I opted for the full-size and never looked back. I don't regret a minute of it.

Becauze I wants to be like OJ

I have always wanted one since I was a kid. Now I have 2 and looking for more.

Get you an older one like mine.

My story..
 

I had a 66 Bronco, Years ago straight six, 3 speed, loved it for fishing etc. My DD is an 86 now, and my "project" is an 85. I like the low range for parking an RV,, I love the short turning radius. My project 85 (w/factory roll bar) will be topless, with a variety of options for keeping out the weather as well as special camping as time goes on. (in design)

Of course A short wb 4WD is good for those out-of the way camp sites. My wife will most likely drive the "85" for groceries..an of course can use the bed like a PU for garage sale finds (since it's topless)

The best reason is that "2" of these fit in my carport..and since mine are "bullnose" vintage, the electronics are minimal, and repairs fairly simple..and my "86" has seat-belts for "6" (a bench seat). so, I can have ALL of the grand-kids along in that one...the rowdy one (85) has buckets, but I still can leave the back in if desired and seat "5" if needed..

much more room than my Jeep JK....more comfortable too

I have owned 4 ford 4x4's since 1978 but never had a Bronco. I just decided it was time to buy 1 since I had wanted 1. I looked at several early Broncos but they were either too much $$, or too far gone to use as daily driver while being restored. I also looked at some early 80's models but wanted a solid front axle, so steered clear of them. There was a 77 K-5 blazer in good shape at a good price for sale locally but I am a Ford man all the way. Besides they ride like a freight car. When I saw my 78 for sell in Pensacola on craigslist I called about it, he had it advertised for $5,000 and it looked good in pics. This was in Nov of 2011. We talked on phone for about 3 weeks b4 I decided to go look at it. By this time he had come down to 4 grand. I called a guy with a roll back that my Boss uses pretty regularly and he gave me a price of $200 to go with me to pick up the truck if I bought it. When we got there the p.o. had neglected to tell me the rear window was broken out,the power steering pump was non-functional,the tilt steering column worn out and he had recently re-painted it ( with a bad paint job using what I am sure is latex paint). He had also covered up years of rust without doing anything to keep it from coming back. Just typical fenderwell rust for a 35 year old truck.But the thing ran great and has a solid running gear.It has a .30over 351m with an erson r.v. cam,performer 400 intake and way too much carb(which I will change out) His dad bought the truck new in 78 in Montana and he told me it had been above the arctic circle in both Alaska and Canada. I offered him 2 grand ,we settled on $2,500 and loaded it on roll back. Since I have had it I've put brakes on it including everything except the booster. New alum. rad. new water pump,fuel pump,power steering pump,steering column,hoses,p.s. lines,2" phenolic carb spacer,new hubs, front wheel bearings,6 new monroe magnum shocks, refreshed the rear end, new rear drive shaft, replaced output shaft seal in transfer case, changed all fluids to synthetic, and done so much small stuff I cant remember it all. I am currently in the process of cutting out rust around the wheel wells in the rear. I'm not sure if I will buy patch panels or get some 20 ga sheet metal from an A.C. friend of mine and build them. Probably try to build some b4 I spend any $$. When I started grinding paint,bondo and fibreglass off I was pleasently surprised at how little rust I really encountered. The floor pans are in great shape, door jambs have very little rust that I have phospho'ed when I got the truck .

:-X06 First and foremost I've always been a "Ford" man - just a better idea in my opinion!

My first 4x4 was a 1974 Bronco with a 289 cu.in., which I put a Holley aluminum intake manifold and Holley 600 cfm carburetor along with a set of Hooker Headers and dual pipes. It came from the factory with the 4:11 rear differential (and I believe a 4:10 front differential?). Had it painted all one color (green metallic) with the after-market rear wheel cut-outs. Really enjoyed driving this vehicle but my friend borrowed it and destroyed it in an accident. Fortunately, he was not injured.

Next 4x4 was a 1978 Bronco custom with one of those gas station 400M motors. Didn't do as much to this unit - just a paint job, aluminum wheels and a nice 4 barrel carburetor. Ended up selling it for $500 more than I paid for it!

Now I have a 1996 Eddie Bauer with the 5.8L engine (263,000 miles and counting). I would really like a good paint job on it but they are rather expensive now-a-days. I do try to keep on top of the maintenance on this vehicle and plan to keep her - regardless of whatever else I may buy.

I don't believe that FoMoCo has ever built an all around better vehicle than the Bronco - both the smaller and larger sizes. I do think I prefer the larger style though. I can remember the F150 pickup that graced the cover of 4Wheel Drive magazine (?), black with the multi-color stripping in 1976 (?) that Ford based their full size Bronco on!

The power-to-weight ratio, the wheelbase and everything else of the full size are the "selling" points for me. The only way I would purchase a new Bronco would be a six cylinder diesel equipped with the same characteristics as listed above. :-drink

I won't go into all the details, typing them all on my phone would be a pain. I got my bronco because my older step brother had an 84 back in highschool and I thought it was the coolest truck. Then he made the mistake of trading that along with a set of 38" mud tires for a POS jetta. He regrets that, I assure you. Eventually he got a 79 bronco and I absolutely loved the body style and decided I wanted one. After searching and waiting, I finally found TGM. I've done quite a bit of work to it so far and I don't want to ever get rid of it.

I love the unique styling of these trucks and the short wheel base is just an added plus. The interior space is nice, though a bit less than what I originally thought, I can still cram a queen sized box spring & mattress in the cab. It has a lot of its own issues from cancerous rust to crappy paint, and the motor not running the best but I love it all the same.

Before I could drive I always loved trucks, my aunt and uncle always had fords, mainly pick ups. My uncle had a lifted ranger and an old 88 extended cab long bed f250 and my cousin had an 86 Bronco with the straight six. He would always tell me stories of the times him and his friends had in it. I basically got sucked into looking for a 92-97 f250 or f350 but eventually went to looking for a Bronco, youtube was a bad influence to watching videos of Broncos I knew I had to have one. And I began my search and about 2 years later I drove by one for sale in New Hampshire and as soon as I saw it I told myself thats my truck. Bout a month later I saw it show up on craigslist and bought it when I went to look at it. So fords have always ran in the family just keeping the reputation up. I always read that people who sell them regret it, I don't plan on selling mine, I plan on driving it into the ground, if I have to put a new engine nd tranny in one day then I will. I'm hoping once I get a job in my field I plan on buying a pickup and setting the Bronco aside to put some more time into.
Whenever I come across Ford haters I tell them all the time you can hate on a Ford but not a Bronco, hate on a Bronco and your not a real truck enthusiast whether you prefer chevys or dodges.

Here my cousins old bronco
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...00959_7085.jpg

Now mine basically in the same spot that his is in the old picture
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...psce642e68.jpg

My family has also always been ford drivers for the most part but they liked the mustang more than anything. I got into the mustang scene and the members for that group... Well they weren't very nice people. I eventually gifted my stang to my older step brother who then got in a wreck with it and totalled it.

I had a small 2wd ranger after that, which I liked a lot but it was in bad shape and wasn't worth the time and money to fix. So I sold it for +$50 than I bought it for, and made a small profit. But I do kind of miss having a pickup and a 5speed, but that just means I will need to do a ZF swap in the future :D

I never originally intended on buying a Bronco. I was an assisstant scout master in our local boy scout troop, and was starting to take on a more serious role in the troop. The pride and joy of my life, my 1986 Ford Ranger, that I restored in High School was not the best vehicle for the job. It is two wheel drive, could only seat three people, and was not really up for towing the trailer that the troop uses.

So I set out to find a 4x4 F-150 that could hold the kids, and tow the trailer. I did not want an SUV because I felt that would make me look old, too many doors, and I am a hot headed young man. Hard to impresss the senoritia's with a car like their mom drives. I was having a hard time finding what I wanted, too many miles, or too beaten up seemed to be the norm. Durning my search I found a picture of my Grandfather, Uncle, and Father standing next to my Grandfather's old 79 Bronco. It was big, it was Red, It had two doors, and I fell in love. Not to long after that I found my Bronco. It is a 1995, Red on Red, 302 v8, E40d Automatic transmission, no rust (except for the tailgate, odd for an Ohio truck), 80,000 miles, for only 3 grand.

So I bought a Bronco, because it is a BA vehicle, my grandfather has one, it can do the job that I need it too do, the price was right, and of course it is a convertable, how could a truck get any cooler?

The Full Size Bronco (in my opinion) is one of the best Multipurpose vehicles ever built.

It's so adaptable to fit what ever you need. It has all of the comfy inside features available like electric windows and door locks with air-conditioning, cruise, tilt, plenty of room with comfortable seats for a family trip.

Or you can remove the back seat throw in a sleeping bag and cooler to go hunting or hitch up a boat to go fishing. You don't have to worry about getting off road with 4 wheel drive and great ground clearance with a V8 power. I personally use mine to go observing for the weekend with my 14.5" diameter telescope and sleep in the back.

It's short length makes it easy to drive in traffic, park, or maneuver through tight hunting trails.

They are late enough to have fuel injection but not overly complicated with computer controls. Parts a still available because they were popular and interchange with the Ford trucks.

After market accessories readily available like winches, oversize tires, racks, bumpers, lights.

They are cheap to purchase. Insurance is reasonable. Easy to work on. They are built Ford Tough.

Why would you NOT own one ?

Out of my 15 car/trucks.. 12 have been FORD.. 3 were GM..

69,67,65 Falcon
65 Galaxie 500 XL
69 Torino
92,96,2000,2003 Crown Vic
95 Mustang GT
93 F150
93 Bronco XLT..

My moms BF back in 78 had a new Bronco.. had the 351M.. and the plow stuff.. was red and white combo.. went to FL and back and to NY and back in that as a kid (I was 8 in 78).. thought it was neat and beefy and kewl..

The 1993 I just bought in January seemed neat and needed some TLC and I was thinking of using when I get out to my TX property (I have 11 acres and a small cabin).. & for $1200 I figured why not.. I knew going in it was going to need about $1k to get it up to snuff.. currently at like $1200 into it and that with the 4 new tires.. so far I am happy with it..

Just a Ford guy by heart..

OldGrayMare pretty much described my reasons, but I have to add that this truck has been in the family since new, and I've been in love with it since then, even more as my father took me to it (I was 12 back then) and told me: "this will be your ride". I don't plan to sell it for the time being (probably never if I can get away with it), just love the old gal. Just last week the E4OD auto was replaced with a rebuilt/upgraded one and I got it done for $660, ATF and labor included, try to do that with a new car/truck.

For me the Bronco can be described in one word: Versatile.

Why?
- Fast and agile enough to keep up with modern traffic.
- Big enough to carry an average family or a bunch of friends.
- Truck enough to carry your stuff around.
- You can take her top off... and who doesn't like a topless girl?.
- Even stock it's considered a great off-roader (I've proven this time and again on my trips).
- Cheap to maintain and reliable.
- Not overly complicated to work on, it has the advantages of PCM and EFI driven trucks yet it's a simple enough system, and usually these electronics survive harsh enviroments without problem.
- Comfortable, even by today's standards, and upgradeable.
- Long range fuel tank (33 gallons).
- Keep it in fair state and even girls with no clue about trucks/cars will like to ride in it (chick magnet).
- I could keep going, but you guys get the idea...

Dad had one when I was a little guy. Lifted Bronco's are the coolest things when you're only 5 years old. Made an ever lasting impression on me. He ended up scrapping out his 80 for reasons I don't know. Flash forward to when I was roughly 14-15 years old, dad got another Bronco. All stock, wore out engine, wore out stock suspension, but I fell in love with Bronco's all over again. So when I turned 16 me and dad restored his old F150 he had. Shortly after it's restoration, I found my Bronco. Wouldn't run, but was all there. 150,000 miles on it, had the typical fenderwell rust, and the 302 (I much prefer the 351) but for $500 I couldn't pass it up. The day I got it was the day we got it running. Only one cylinder banks injectors were firing, so we threw in a computer that we had laying around and I was driving it that night. I've been modding it and driving it ever since lol

My daughter in law's mother is a travelling saleswoman. Her children wanted her to replace here EB she had bought new because it had 152K miles. I drove it and found it to be light years ahead of my Cherokee which is built for smaller people, had the "death wobble" and a carburetor.

I have liked my Bronco so much I have done everything possible to make it last my lifetime and have worked on it more than all the previous vehicles in 56 years of driving. It has 197K and will be fine into the 300K's

A sad and difficult time is coming in about a year when a son gives me his loaded Z** Sub***** ( trying not to be blasphemous). Selling will be very emotional.

When I was stationed at NAS Keflavik Iceland in the mid 80's, someone brought over a lifted 80-86 model with 33s or 35s. Had a row of Desert lights across the grill and above the cab. He took the roof off during the only nice day we had that year and I was jealous. Decided I had to have one when I grew up. I did buy a 85 with 300 and granny 4 speed, but got rid of it when the little ones came along and I had trouble reaching the back seat with the car seats. Once the little ones were big enough to strap themselves in, I bought my 94. I'll never get rid of this one.

What about you Grey? time to share more! is there nothing else?.

I went out specifically in search of a replacement for a 1988 Cherokee (yes, alas I was a misguided youth). Knowing that several of my friends were collectors and adamant supporters of the Ford brand and specifically the "early Bronco" (1st gen. 1966-77) I decided to seek one out... in February of 1999. Well, as you can well imagine, a recent stint back at college and a part-time job weren't exactly helpful in preparing my wallet for the purchase/restoration of a 22-33 year-old vehicle especially if I was to drive it daily. I had learned my lesson years prior when it came to the prospect of driving AND restoring a vehicle at the same time. (My poor 1965 Cadillac suffered a fate I will forever regret). So, instead I turned my attention to the very recently discontinued full-size model... or a Suburban... yeah, I still had some learning to do.

I found three options in the full-size realm. A bargain-basement 1986 with a 300 and a C6 painted in what appeared to be Chrysler Competition Orange that needed a helping hand just to make it off the dealer's lot when I test drove it, was the first option. The second was a heavily faded blue Suburban from 1987 with a 350 and 400TH automatic. It shifted oddly (a 400TH definitely should NOT) and lost even more luster when I found option number three. You all remember (or at least have seen photos of) Greystreak92. She was a 92 with the 5.0 and E4OD. Her grey body sides and matching interior were in far better shape than either of the other two I had looked at. At $7500.00 and just barely under 100K on the ticker, I fell and fell hard.

In spite of the fact that I took delivery on my girlfriend's birthday AND she co-signed the note on it, I drove home happier than a pig in $#!†. (That GF is now my wife of 12 years). It became the single most reliable, sturdy, and stable vehicle I had ever driven... and it was the 11th vehicle I owned. The Bronco was my pride and joy and NOTHING was too good for it. Tough Country 4" suspension lift, 33" BFG's, Bassani Street Thunder Xhaust, Mickey Thompson Challenger wheels, tune up components and fluid replacements that cost twice what the standard stuff did... such was my first experience with the full-size Bronco.

When vandals burned her to a crisp in August of 2003, the same wife/girlfriend and I went out that very day and found the black '93 that can be seen in my profile/signature. Spent $4000.00 less on it and the ONLY difference between her and GS92 was the lack of grey body sides. I swore that day GS burned that I would always have a full-size Bronco and even though its taking me forever to finish the 302/300 & E4OD/ZF swap and I do not currently drive it daily, it will be a family member for life.

You know GS, I feel the same way about my TGM. My pride and joy, though I don't have the funds to put everything into it, I plan to get a second vehicle and retire TGM to the side of the house for some "reconstructive" surgery. The old bird is finally going to get some attention but at a slower rate than most. With a second vehicle in my mitts I don't have to worry about TGM not running or driving.

I wish I had a second vehicle now, with this recent... Issue, with my tire falling off, I have been driving my moms Chevy van and, though I'm a Ford guy, this Chevy is a Ford incognito ;) we have had it since it was new and it hasn't let us down. Anyways, I don't like to drive it because my mom might need it for something and having it with me at work kind of makes things difficult. It's been a stressful few days.

I bought mine 'cause it makes the girls do this:
<a href="http://s775.photobucket.com/user/philstrong/media/funstuff.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i775.photobucket.com/albums/yy39/philstrong/funstuff.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo funstuff.jpg"/></a>



:-jammin:-X04

Send the one on the left to my garage! I've got a Bronco in there.

Nah!, gs, too high maintenance, see the necklace for warning signs.

The real reason I bought my Bronco is because since 1980, I've wanted one. In 1980 a high school friend of mine had a 1978 Bronco "ranger" package, with a 400 and an automatic, dual exhaust, air conditioning, and the slider side windows. I was sure it was the baddest machine at high school. He drag raced another guys K5 Blazer in the school parking lot at lunch time and flat kicked the K5's ass!!!
My Kids are grown up and I can finally have the rig I WANT.:-X06..The 78/79's are cool but as I was looking, I decided I wanted the comfort and reliability of the newer models,with EFI and all the comforts of a 92-96 model.
If they come out with a new one---I hope it looks likethis:
<a href="http://photobucket.com/images/Ford%20Bronco" target="_blank"><img src="http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii188/josh1978_2008/ford_bronco.jpg" border="0" alt="Ford Bronco photo: Ford Bronco ford_bronco.jpg"/></a>

b4hntn, who said anything about maintenance? Maintenance is for the Bronco. She's in the garage to get dirty... er um, I mean check fluids... no wait... I'll get it right here in a minute. (I am so dead when Tina reads this).

True that, this is more like it, im sure you will all agree hah
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...psa43ca954.jpg

Trying to focus on why I bought a Bronco... after much refocusing, I stuck my 4WD ATV in a creek and used the Bronco to extract it out of mud so slippery you could not stand up....but that was after I bought it. Thoughts? I'm sure you noticed the ear ring.

Hahahah....I wouldn't be surprised if it took a while to refocus. Hmm never noticed the ear ring :-X04

Broncos are serious panty droppers.
There's no telling how many guys have lost their virginity in the back of a Bronco

Damn, you know I wish this forum had a like button haha :-X03

I wish I could say TGM is a panty dropper.... Most of the girls around here are to hoity toity for a redneck mud rig...

Yeah, I heard they like horse and buggy up yer way.

Not sure where you got that from, maybe the Eastern washatonians do but on the west side they like their imports and expensive cars... There are "redneck girls" that would like my truck but most are.. Well, big enough to break the chains I got hanging from the bottom of my truck... And if they happen to be, slimmer, they usually smoke like a chimney (cigarettes) and drink like an Irish man. Though they might be "fun" Not the kind of girl I want.

You'll find one just like maybe one day I will. I aint hurrying. I want to fix my Bronco.

I hear ya. I just ran some numbers and came with a crue result of $726.77 to fix this damn wheel issue. That includes the price of 4 new steel rims.

Damn. Watch the lug nuts next time!!!!

No kidding. The large part of it is the rims, 4 black steel rims for something like $450 or so... Then there is almost $300 in brake parts alone. Brake drums are crazy expensive...

Here is my story on the bronco.

I just finished the 8th grade and during the summer I had a low paying job, I stashed money away and sometime in late July I bought the bronco. Carsoup was still a hot website for used vehicles and craigslist was very young and unpopulated. The tables have turned for both websites.

Anyways, I wanted an F150 but they were way more money then I had to spend. I only wanted something to work on for my first vehicle.

The bronco was listed for sale as a repairable and I was a good candidate for the job. The body was near mint (lots of dings but no rust) and the drivetrain was tapped out. I bought it and loved every minute of it. that winter I put a low mile motor in and did all the gaskets bearings and seals with a few coats of paint.

It was a good vehicle to learn to drive and mild off road. It is time for it to go, it does not fit my needs anymore so hopefully I can get someone to buy it from me. I have a little over $3k total invested in it and trying to sell for $1800.

contact me if interested. located in minnesota

I always had a hard on for fullsize broncos. I had a bronco ii for a little while. It was fun, but not enough snort. 2011 i started my bronco search, looked at many, wasnt pleased by any of them. I wanted one with a 351w. One day, one popped up for sale in my home town (a toen where if ya were to blink, ya'd miss it) and i went to check it out. Gave the guy $900 cash for it and drove it home with no power steering. 255k on it when i bought it in august 2012. 259k and hit 2 bucks, bambi, and a bird. Going onto its 5th set of tires already. I beat on it but its honestly been my second favorite rig (next to my 77 f150).

You and me both!