Please Share Your Marti Report Statistics With The Bronco Community

[House]

Looks legit, but Andrew can confirm if it is part of that VIN group or not…
I am sure he will get back to you.

 

[broncojack]

There is no doubt that it is not a Baja, it's been on the Registry for around 18 years.

I think Marti just doesn't know about the different DSO's for the Seattle Baja's.
They seem to know about the 870 and 860 DSO.

The thing I find strange is all the Baja Seattle DSO's I have seen have 3.50 gears in them.

 

[Rebuilder]

Looks legit, but Andrew can confirm if it is part of that VIN group or not…
I am sure he will get back to you.

Mine is definitely an outlier because it's a March build but the VIN # is higher than all the April Baja's on Andrew's registry. In fact it looks like it's the only one on the registry that's out of order. It's almost like it was rushed through production.

 

[Rebuilder]

There is no doubt that it is not a Baja, it's been on the Registry for around 18 years.

I think Marti just doesn't know about the different DSO's for the Seattle Baja's.
They seem to know about the 870 and 860 DSO.

The thing I find strange is all the Baja Seattle DSO's I have seen have 3.50 gears in them.

You meant no doubt it is a Baja right?

It's been on the registry but I remember Andrew saying something about the VIN or DSO being strange when I sent it to him back then. I didn't put much thought into it until I got the Marti Report recently and started to look into it.

 

[broncojack]

You meant no doubt it is a Baja right?

Yes, it's a Baja.

 

[C_Man69EB]

Hey Rebuilder and Todd and guys...

Rebuilder I got your PM, thanks for reaching out. Count on me to help wherever I can. Attached is my Marti for L22491. I agree, it does NOT call it out as a Baja or equipped with the Stroppe Package. I asked Andrew the exact same question, actually right after buying my truck, and it was a truck he was deeply familiar with. I don't want to misquote him but the very earliest Baja's were considered "pre-consignment".. so they were ordered directly from Stroppe by Ford...before they sent over a "consignment lot" of Broncos for conversion. So built by Stroppe, in the Stroppe shop, for new sale, but before Ford had the paperwork worked out to have Bill convert them in groups.

My truck is like the 4th on the registry, and the earliest, or second earliest true 71 model year, so the earlier ones are more like prototypes. This explains why it was so early, just after the prototypes, and before Stroppes process was full swing.

... and to be clear, this is not the same as a "Kit Baja". I believe those started out life as production Broncos and were owner, dealer or Stroppe converted after being sold to the consumer. Not born as a Stroppe truck when sold new. Kit Bajas are still cool, but not the same, and the records need to make a distinction of all these different scenarios.

Again, Andrew can explain it best and any more detail should be from his authority because authentication is very critical to the preservation of these trucks and if the water is muddy, it hurts my (our) investment for the trucks that apply.

Rebuilder, I recommend you spend the money to have Andrew provide a letter of authenticity for the truck. It documents what we all know to be true. What I have learned in the collector car world, is documentation is everything, and simply "saying it is" is not a solid as the documents to prove it, and it will protect your investment. Andrew, Todd and those who tirelessly work to preserve history without bias are rare, and their authority on matters such as these is without contest in the industry. The document is cheap compared to the provenance it states for your records.

Rebuilder I would love to learn more about your truck also. Baja broncos are a very rare breed, and Seattle Baja's even more so.. like less than 20 from what I recall... they are so rare most people don't even know what it means be the caretaker of one.

Thanks guys!

 

[Rebuilder]

Great info C_Man69EB . Thanks for replying. Looks like ours were ordered 9 days apart and sold 10 days apart from dealers that were 18 miles apart. Cool stuff.

The back story on mine is...
I bought mine in Denver in 1996 for $2600 not knowing anything about Bronco's or Baja's for that matter (neither did the seller apparently ). It was just my daily driver for a couple years while I lived in Breckenridge. I didn't figure out what it was until I was half way through rebuilding it in 2000-2002ish and came across Bajabronco.com and thought hey that looks familiar. Sure enough I found the STROPPE on the trans adapter and signs of the blue painted roof showing through a bad white paint job. Also found the dual shocks, blue trans cooler, trailer hitch and realized that I threw away the padded steering wheel. The truck itself was orange and white but it was cheaply repainted I'm assuming after some front end damage because the hood, fenders and grill had been replaced so I don't have the trimmed fenders or the bumper braces. I'm also missing the stock roll bar but I can still see the mounting holes in the rear wheel tubs. The replacement full cage is really beefy and well built so I wonder what the story is behind it. Anyway that's all I know about it so it would be cool to find out more but I'm guessing since I've had it for so long nobody's going to pop up in here with more info. However I did buy it in Arvada near the Home Depot if anyone's from around that area?

Here are a few recent pics. Like I said I was half way through the rebuild when I found out what it was so I was too far into modifying it to go back to stock so this is what I ended up with....

 

[House]

Cool truck, too bad it isn’t a Baja since Kevin Marti doesn’t say it is!
(Tongue in cheek!)

 

[C_Man69EB]

I'm also missing the stock roll bar but I can still see the mounting holes in the rear wheel tubs. The replacement full cage is really beefy and well built so I wonder what the story is behind it.

Well, a couple thoughts, its hard to tell from here but that cage looks like it could be a true Stroppe roll bar to me that has been modified for the halo and the A-pillar braces... OR.... it could be a deluxe Stroppe cage... but I only know of a couple trucks with one. (edited here after looking closer) actually those rear bars sure are tall from the bed.. nevermind, looks NOT to be Stroppe- correct but I'd ask Andrew....... but, I happen to have an extra Stroppe Roll bar if you are interested, and I could part with it. I could also hook you up with some bumper braces I bet.

Last I checked Andrew had some reproduction steering wheels...but not many! So feel free to check with him.

PM me and we can discuss the details further.

VERY neat truck and neat story! I was noticing several little things different about our trucks... but Andrew once told me that every Baja could be a little different.

Here is a couple photos of my truck currently also. I have a build thread going here but I am HORRIBLE about keeping up with it. And I'm sorry to the community for that. I actually work on the truck quite a bit, but when I have extra time I want to work on it...versus type about it but then again, if I could learn to be shorter winded it probably wouldn't be such a burden!. LOL.

Great to meet you and glad that truck is in good hands!

Cullen

 

[C_Man69EB]

There is no doubt that it is not a Baja, it's been on the Registry for around 18 years.

I think Marti just doesn't know about the different DSO's for the Seattle Baja's.
They seem to know about the 870 and 860 DSO.

The thing I find strange is all the Baja Seattle DSO's I have seen have 3.50 gears in them.

Hey Jack! after all these years, I never really decided what the 3.50 gears in Seattle was all about.. you think they thought the 4.11's would be too short for the icy and wet roads up there? More likely to slide around? Ive always wondered and I dont know if we will ever know...

 

[broncojack]

Hey Jack! after all these years, I never really decided what the 3.50 gears in Seattle was all about.. you think they thought the 4.11's would be too short for the icy and wet roads up there? More likely to slide around? Ive always wondered and I dont know if we will ever know...

I've been wondering about that for years,
One thought I had was it might have been an emission thing at the time.

The odd DSO's seem to be just in the 71-72 Baja's.

 

[DirtDonk]

Was there an added cost to the optional 4.11 gears? I know many passenger cars were charged a minimal optional cost (like $20 minimal) but I've never seen an added cost applied to gear changes on Broncos.

Paul

 

[C_Man69EB]

Was there an added cost to the optional 4.11 gears? I know many passenger cars were charged a minimal optional cost (like $20 minimal) but I've never seen an added cost applied to gear changes on Broncos.

Paul

Seems like a logical reason as well Paul.. before my time, but I know 20 bucks back then was enough for people to think about the value. Nowadays if the gear swap is a 500.00 option, people do the same thing.. " do I really want this bad enough for 500 bucks?".

the fact that the seattle trucks were so consistently 3.50 makes me still wonder....

 

[DirtDonk]

Somebody probably just forgot to check the box...;D
Was found working for Hickey not long after that.%)

Paul

 

[okie4570]

Not Seattle Stroppe related but shows the gearing upgrade price.

 

[C_Man69EB]

Was found working for Hickey not long after that.%)

Paul

LOL. I wouldnt be surprised if it really was that simple!

Honestly, even though most Baja's are 4:11... here in OKC for most of what I will be doing on 33" tires and no overdrive.. it should work pretty good.

 

[Bajabrewer]

The back story on mine is...
I bought mine in Denver in 1996 for $2600 not knowing anything about Bronco's or Baja's for that matter (neither did the seller apparently ). It was just my daily driver for a couple years while I lived in Breckenridge. I didn't figure out what it was until I was half way through rebuilding it in 2000-2002ish and came across Bajabronco.com and thought hey that looks familiar.

Very cool story & similar to mine. I was living in Breckenridge in the Spring of 1988 & needed to buy something to get me back to Michigan after the ski season. I saw my Baja parked across the street from Walmart in Frisco. I ended up paying $2800 & giving him a 1980 Ford Fairmont wagon worth about $200. Neither the guy selling or myself had a clue what a Baja was. Drove it back to Michigan & daily drove it for about 2 years. It was a summer truck until 2006 when I started restoring it.........I'm still restoring it too many years later. I did pick up a 66 to drive so maybe I'll get back on the Baja project soon. Here's a couple pics of it when I got it and my Marti report since that's what this thread is about. If anyone recognizes the Gravel Grabbers sticker(on both sides below the Bronco emblem) I would love to hear about it.

David A

 

[toddz69]

If anyone recognizes the Gravel Grabbers sticker(on both sides below the Bronco emblem) I would love to hear about it.

David A

Hi David: I figured the decal was from Gravel Grabbers and Fairway Ford and found a link to Andrew's website that mentioned the same thing. Were you aware of that/

http://bb.graynorton.com

Todd Z.

 

[Rebuilder]

Very cool story & similar to mine. I was living in Breckenridge in the Spring of 1988 & needed to buy something to get me back to Michigan after the ski season. I saw my Baja parked across the street from Walmart in Frisco. I ended up paying $2800 & giving him a 1980 Ford Fairmont wagon worth about $200. Neither the guy selling or myself had a clue what a Baja was. Drove it back to Michigan & daily drove it for about 2 years. It was a summer truck until 2006 when I started restoring it.........I'm still restoring it too many years later. I did pick up a 66 to drive so maybe I'll get back on the Baja project soon. Here's a couple pics of it when I got it and my Marti report since that's what this thread is about. If anyone recognizes the Gravel Grabbers sticker(on both sides below the Bronco emblem) I would love to hear about it.

David A

Wow yeah that's very similar to my story. Luck us I guess haha. Yours was across the street but there were always vehicles for sale in the Walmart lot and I almost bought a Scout before I found the Bronco. Almost bought a Fj40 too but glad I decided on a Bronco. I'll see if I can find some old pics.

 

[Bajabrewer]

Hi David: I figured the decal was from Gravel Grabbers and Fairway Ford and found a link to Andrew's website that mentioned the same thing. Were you aware of that/

http://bb.graynorton.com

Todd Z.

Yes I'm aware of that - It's my Bronco Andrew is talking about/showing. I did get a photocopy of the catalog(dated January 1977) & in it there's another Early Bronco with the stickers in the same location but square. Whoever put them on my truck cut around it with scissors first. I think I had Gravel Grabbers headers on mine when I got it in 88 & they were shot by 89 so I replaced them. I also have the center console from the catalog. There was also a price sheet for suspension stuff dated March 1, 1978 so that gives a time frame of when this catalog was sent to the customer.

Thanks David A