Ever wonder what a second-gen Bronco might look like with an earlier F-Series front end? Well here you go.
Face Swap
Ask any Ford fan what their favorite Bronco is, and most of them will likely tell you the second-gen. The two-year-only big bodied Bronco is an incredible looking thing, without a doubt, but there are at least a couple of folks out there that wished Ford had placed its previous F-Series front end on the 1978/1979 Bronco. Including, it seems, the previous owner of this '78 we spotted at Streetside Classics, who actually went to the trouble of making the swap.
Photos: Streetside Classics
Modern Bronco
Truthfully, as much as we love the second-gen Bronco, we also love the way this one looks. The front end just looks like it came that way from an actual Ford assembly line. But the front end swap isn't the only notable thing about this gorgeous build, which combines some modern styling elements with a vintage flair to truly stand out.
Photos: Streetside Classics
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Clean Shave
As you probably already noticed, much of the original trim was removed for a super clean look. But some of the chrome, including the bumpers, was retained to keep this old Bronco's character intact. The whole thing, including the removable hard top, was then sprayed in an ultra-modern shade of Electric Silver Metallic lifted from a European sedan.
Photos: Streetside Classics
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Nicely Balanced
Capping off the look is a set of polished aluminum 17-inch wheels that feature a more modern design, but not so modern that they look out of place. When combined with a set of Mickey Thompson Open Country all-terrain tires, it gives this Bronco just enough of a stance to balance out the look.
Photos: Streetside Classics
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Top End
Under the hood, you'll find a very clean 351 V8 that's believed to be the original motor. Apparently, the bottom end was still in great shape, so only the top end of the engine was redone. That job included a carb rebuild, new wires, plugs, and coil, pushrods, rockers, gaskets, and a fresh distributor.
Photos: Streetside Classics
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Nice Rumble
The previous owner also saw fit to replace the power steering pump, alternator, voltage regulator, and radiator. A set of headers and a dual exhaust helps the engine breathe freely and undoubtedly generates a nice rumble. And to top it all off, the engine bay is super clean as well.
Photos: Streetside Classics
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Modern Amenities
On the inside, an all-black interior contrasts nicely with the silver exterior. The front seats are from a modern Cadillac and provide a nice upgrade over the originals. The carpet, dash, and door panels were also replaced to give this Bronco a super clean inside to match the exterior.
Photos: Streetside Classics
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Few Touches
Other interior upgrades include things like a modern AM/FM stereo with Bluetooth and USB input, along with an aftermarket steering wheel. But that's pretty much all it takes to update this Bronco and make it more comfortable to cruise around in today.
Photos: Streetside Classics
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Clean and Simple
Overall, this second-gen Bronco is one of the cleanest and simplest we've seen in some time. And while the previous owner made some serious changes to it, they were clearly all done in great taste. If nothing else, it also helps us see what this gen Bronco could have been if Ford decided to do things a little differently back then!
Photos: Streetside Classics
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For help keeping your truck in great shape, check out the how to section of Ford-Trucks.com
