On many accounts, Germany is quite different from the US.
When it comes to cars, it boils down to applicable laws and taxes.
Cars older than 30 years can get a large tax exemption, compared to the usual taxation by displacement. They only cost 190€ a year - but only if they are in their original state with only contemporary modifications allowed.
Also, cars are checked by the officials every two years whether or not they are roadworthy.
Thus, I wouldn't have been able to register the car as I received it. It wouldn't have survived even a basic brake test.
This also means a limit on what I can do to modify it. I think I can get away with a five speed, but an EFI would hardly go unnoticed.
But then again, I will not have many opportunities to go hardcore offroading with the Bronco. We have some places to go to, but as with drag racing, these spaces are few and far in between. So I'm building it more for the road than anything else.
What I have learned restoring or working on my other cars is that original does not necessary mean bad. The Mustang has drum brakes all around, and also stops on a dime - even with the considerably higher Autobahn speeds over here. I drive it 80mph all the time. I will leave the drum brakes on the Bronco, and might not even switch to a 4v carb. It will mainly be a fun cruiser, and I do not intend to over restore it. But I think I have learned which areas need attention, and which things I do not want to go over twice...