Daily Slideshow: Bronco Barn Finds 1970-79
The beloved multi-purpose vehicle is getting a lot of press for its upcoming rebirth, so it's worth looking back at some of the coolest of the brand to have been pulled out of barns, garages, and fields for resale.
1966 Ford Bronco U14 Half Cab
The Ford Bronco was first introduced back in 1966 as Ford's answer to other small four-wheel-drive compact SUVs such as the Jeep CJ-5 and the International Harvester Scout. Built on its own platform, it underwent a major design change in 1978, when Ford enlarged the Bronco, dropping it onto a shortened Ford F-Series chassis, and suddenly it was competing against the likes of the Chevy K5 Blazer and the Dodge Ramcharger.
But the most classic Bronco trucks came in the 60s and early 70s, like the 1966 Bronco U14 Half Cab pictured above. The value of these first-generation Broncos have definitely skyrocketed over the last couple of years and this one doesn't look like it's seen many Minnesota winters despite the fact that the Land of 10,000 Lakes is where it calls home. The seats need some work and so does the odometer. The floorboards and the inside of the fender skirts under the hood show some rust, but if you can't see it, who cares, right? The engine is Ford's 170 cubic-inch inline-six that would have managed 105 hp. This one was selling for $9,000, but with some work, it could go for as high as $25,000 to $30,000. Not a bad investment.
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1967 Ford Bronco-ish Thing
Hmmm, not even sure where to begin with this one. My first question is certainly "Why?" But then again, in this age of you-never-know-what's-going-to-happen-next in this world, "Why not?" might be the better question. This personal assault vehicle probably inspired by Mad Max or the Walking Dead turned up in Denham Springs, Louisianna, and hopefully, that's where it stays. It appeared on eBay with an opening bid of $500. We're not sure what it went for, or what the buyer planned to use it for, but whatever fate befalls it, the owner has a clean slate. The interior is completely devoid of anything but sheet metal. There is no dashboard, no steering wheel, no seats. In fact, the eBay description pointed out that the vehicle sports a "Custom handmade one piece all steel body." I'm not sure it would be feasible to get this thing on the road, but it would make a super cool play structure for my kids.
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1969 Ford Bronco Sport
This 1969 Bronco Sport that hails from Pennsylvania carries its original sheet metal but it's been repainted at some point in its past. The sheet metal is a concern because first generation Broncos notoriously succumbed to rust early in their lives so original sheet metal means lots of rust-colored patina underneath. This one has, fortunately, avoided harsh weather as it's been in storage for 35 years. Under the hood is a Ford 302 V8 with aftermarket headers, dual exhaust, and a two-barrel Holley carburetor installed. Originally a 3-speed, it was converted to floor shift with a Duffy floor shifter. And it runs pretty well, too. Don't believe me? Check out this YouTube video.
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1970 Ford Bronco with Pop-up Camper
Did you ever say "Boy, I wonder what a Bronco would look like with a pop-up camper on it?" Neither have I. But the original owner of this 1970 Ford Bronco pickup asked the question and then thought it might be a good idea to try one on for size. This camper was found on Parkersburg, Florida's Craigslist site with an asking price of $24,000. Yes, you heard that right. Twenty-four thousand dollars. It's original, I'll give it that much, but I prefer to keep my Broncos one story high. This one is actually a four-wheel brand unit, one of several made in the 1960s to 1980s for backwoods truck camping. What's interesting is that the camper expends precisely to the length of the dropped tailgate. Overall, the camper is in good condition and has only seen 17,000 miles of backroad adventure, meaning that many more adventures lie ahead for future owners.
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1972 Ford Bronco Explorer
This 1972 Bronco Explorer is my favorite of the bunch and I can see that I have exceptional taste. When I learned it was going for over $72,000 I almost hit the floor. Yes, it's mostly original. Yes, it comes in that great butterscotch yellow color. And, yes, it has AC. But $72K means we're talking Porsche money here. Obviously, the folks in Fairhope, Alabama know what they are doing when it comes to their Broncos and how to preserve them. This Factory 302 with a three-on-the-tree gives this horse a lot of muscle. It's 4x4 is in working condition and the truck has been lifted to a more modern height. The color scheme with a yellow body and white top contrasts nicely with the chocolate brown interior. I can't stand how much I like this Bronco. Even more than that, I can't stand how much I can't afford it.
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1978 Ford Bronco 4×4 that's not been off road
If I love the butterscotch yellow Explorer, I like-like this clean green 1978 4X4 that is actually in superb condition. The odometer shows just 21K miles and despite its rugged appearance, it's never been off-road. It was going for $9,500 on eBay, which seems like highway robbery compared to the Bronco in the last slide. The truck is well optioned with the 302 V8, 4-wheel drive, and vinyl turquoise and lime green seats that are in excellent condition. It does not have AC which might explain why it's not been off-roading in the hot deserts of Las Vegas, where it was found. I might have actually put in an offer on this one, but it's already off the market.
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1979 Ford Bronco Freewheeler
The Ford Bronco Freewheeling edition was so popular in the late 70's that not only did I own a die-cast version of it, but my Big Jim action figure had one to match! The Freewheeling factory package came with black bumpers and orange and yellow reflective decals. One of the big selling points of this truck was that the decals were, in fact, reflective, and Ford salesmen were instructed to use the "flashlight test" to demonstrate its effectiveness to prospective buyers. The Freewheeler in this slide was found in New Mexico with an asking price of $6,500. It carries a 400 cubic inch Ford V8, and upgrades include a Weiand aluminum intake manifold, a Holley 4bbl carburetor, a K&N filter, and an electric radiator fan. Unlike the Bronco on the previous slide, this one has seen some serious off-roading and some of the drivetrain upgrades include new shocks, a slight lift, new axles, and a custom exhaust.
In honor of the Freewheeler and it's reflective decals, we thought it would be nice to "reflect" on some of the classic Ford Broncos that got us to 2020, the year when Ford pulls its great big garage doors open and gives us something new to drool over.
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