1974 Viking Red Explorer - NEW PROJECT TIME!

[trailerjack]

Are you going to order a Marti report on it?

I wasn’t planning on it. I’m pretty sure I saw a Marti on here somewhere for a 74 red explorer and i doubt mine is much different.

 

[trailerjack]

Before work, I was able to remove the crusty dash pad and clean out the windshield channel. I love original paint and seeing grease pencil marks on it. The bottom of the channel had some thin paint, so I went ahead and hit it with some black paint to protect it after I wire wheeled it.

 

[trailerjack]

During cleanup I found this which was faintly in white paint, it says "Mule Train"!

She has a name now!

 

[trailerjack]

PO sent me this cool picture from when he owned it and had the top off. It is gonna look sooooo good with some slot wheels on it!

 

[trailerjack]

Ok, so I have struggled what to do with the crunched front fender.

Backstory, the PO said that his uncle was driving the Bronco on Ft. Hood (military base) and hit a culvert. Funny thing is I live about 10 minutes away from the North Entrance of Ft. Hood! (Bronco was purchased about 4 hours away)

I have an extra fender and grill, but I know that would snowball and lead to me repainting the whole bronco and honestly it just looks too cool as it is. So I took a come-along and pulled it back out a little and slapped a piece of chrome and chrome headlight trim rings on.

"This is the way."

 

[Speedrdr]

Amazing what a good “pull” can persuade bent metal to somewhat behave. Lol
Looks better with the chrome and trim ring back on. I’m betting it drives just fine with the cosmetic blemish. Love the Mule Train script showing through. You have any plans to freshen it up so it shows a bit better?

 

[trailerjack]

Amazing what a good “pull” can persuade bent metal to somewhat behave. Lol
Looks better with the chrome and trim ring back on. I’m betting it drives just fine with the cosmetic blemish. Love the Mule Train script showing through. You have any plans to freshen it up so it shows a bit better?

Yeah it’s not ever gonna be perfect but it’s a little nicer after i banged it out a bit.

Funny you mention that, I plan on having someone re-paint the “Mule Train” on both fenders as well as the pin stripe that was on the hood and down the side that you can just barely see after all these years. This was definitely someone’s pride and joy.

 

[trailerjack]

With these dual shocks, I’m thinking of adding some Stroppe stuff to make it more of a tribute. Thoughts?

 

[trailerjack]

Oh yeah.

 

[Scoop]

With these dual shocks, I’m thinking of adding some Stroppe stuff to make it more of a tribute. Thoughts?

I say go for it! I added some Stroppe stuff to my 72 "Patina Build" to honor the Stroppe legacy (roll bar, Cactus Smasher, steering wheel, hints of Stroppe color to the patina paint . . .) But when I mentioned "Tribute" I got blasted from a purest! I had loads of fun building it and I never once tried to pass it off as a real Stroppe.