That's my rig. I purchased it from Blake in the Spring and drove it cross-country from Long Beach, CA back to Dallas, TX.
I was on my way in to work at 7:00 AM on a Sunday morning-- a special project I had to prepare for-- and took a little, paved country road.
I usually take a larger surface street in, one that's lined with telephone poles, houses and pedestrians, but it's a good thing I didn't that morning.
The max speed is posted at 45 MPH and I was doing slightly under that when I heard a VERY loud POP! and the steering went completely slack. The rig had, since I purchased it, a slight right-hand pull and that's the direction I went. Being a two-lane road, it didn't take long to be off of it and I was on the breaks. I ran through a low ditch and, once I hit the wet ground, locked the brakes. It didn't really matter as the tree and fence line is only about 5 feet away from that point.
The rig took on a tree at the right front side, catching the blow with the prerunner (which took it without a scratch). The scoop caused the rig to literally climb the tree and flip me over, rocking me onto the rollcage.
The cage propped me and teetered me back down on to the driver's side after coming -this- close to going belly up and I attribute it for my being able to literally walk away without a scratch.
I looked for the bolt but neither my wife nor I could find it-- no telling where it landed between the pistol's crack and the time I left the road.
I took it to Mastercraft Bodyworks in Ovilla (
http://www.mastercraftbodyworks.com/ ) after they came highly praised by everyone I talked to. The first car I bumped into when checking them out was a $300k Alfa Romeo. I figured the rig would be safe there, especially after learning it would be their 9th Bronco.
They took their time with it-- and, after they asked me the most dangerous question ever ("So, since we'll have it apart, is there anything else you'd like to have done to it?"), I had a few nips and tucks completed (weld and sand the bolt holes from the tire rack on the tail and repaint knocking out the Bronco lettering in white (it was painted over Hugger Orange previously), and repair the hood where it had weak spots from rust).
They did a fantastic job and it's back in 'show' shape. When the weather turns too cold to drive it, here, I'm taking it back in for killswitch and A/C installation (custom placement and grill-vent work).
I'll spare you the gory details as to what it all cost me, but I've already had three offers to buy it since I've had it back (not counting Blake's).
