1988 Ford Bronco II: Nicest in Existence?
Daily Slideshow: The Bronco II rarely gets any love. But you'll be drooling over this gorgeous example of the breed.
No Love?
In the hierarchy of the Ford Bronco, most place the smaller first-gen and 2nd gen 1978-1979 models at the top. They're followed by the ones from the '90s, which were made famous thanks to the slowest police chase in history.
Rarely does the humble Bronco II get much love, especially in comparison to those other models. But when you lay eyes on this stellar 1988 example we spotted at Gateway Classic Cars, it's hard to see why.
Salesroom Success
When the Bronco II rolled out in 1984, it made a heck of a lot of sense. Gas prices were through the roof, leaving automakers scrambling for more efficient solutions. Building a smaller, more economical Bronco was the obvious choice. And it enjoyed tremendous salesroom success until the Explorer came along in 1990.
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Bucking the Trend
Despite that success, you don't see many of these smaller 'utes on the road today. Whether that's due to their relatively short shelf life or the fact that people tended to drive them until they died. But no matter the reason, this stunning blue '88 is a rare find indeed.
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More Dollars Than Sense?
Besides, when was the last time you saw someone do a frame off restoration on a Bronco II? How about never? But the previous owner of this one took the time to do just that, pouring way more money into it than it'll probably ever be worth. And we're glad he did.
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Dark as a Forest
It may not be stock by any means, but this Bronco II is certainly gorgeous. The Dark Forest Green paint choice is a great one and lends itself well to the SUV's iconic boxy lines.
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Fresh Threads
The refinished interior is a real throwback, but also pretty luxurious for its day. The front seats feature adjustable lumbar support, and elements like the steering wheel and headliner were refreshed with new threads.
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Increase Altitude
To give this Bronco II a little more "altitude," a number of components were installed, including a 3-inch body lift and 2-inch Skyjacker suspension lift. That was enough to make room for 31.5-inch Grabber tires, which are wrapped around 15-inch aluminum wheels.
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New Lease on Life
Under the hood, you won't find a V8 or some newfangled overhead cam engine. Nope, just the original 2.9-liter V6. That little engine has been fully rebuilt, however, along with the transmission and transfer case. So it's good to go for many more miles.
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Underrated Beauty
Overall, this 1988 Ford Bronco II isn't exactly something you see every day. That includes stock, beat up examples and modified ones. But we think that it's time to stop ignoring these cool little pieces of Bronco history and give them the love they deserve!