- Joined
- Apr 30, 2003
- Messages
- 3,986
I just got back from whirlwind trip to Denver yesterday.....for the day. It seems that that area is a hot spot for Broncos in general, and there was a particular truck I wanted to go see, some folks I wanted to meet in person, and some parts I wanted to check out, so I booked a flight. I flew out in the morning, and rented a car, and headed up north of Denver first, to look at a Bronco I'd spied for sale.
Since Todd and I found the Red Racer in Arizona, we've been doing alot of Stroppe racer research. One thing we've been doing is compiling a list of Bronco race trucks. From what we can tell by the huge collection of photos and footage we compiled, Stroppe was using many of the same trucks over and over. So we are getting to know the trucks pretty well, and the unique features each one had. I was searching classified ads at work during a lull a while ago and came across a truck that had quite a few of the details I'd been logging during our Red Racer research. What also caught my eye was that in his ad, he claimed it was raced in the Baja 500 by Bobby Unser.
That might seem like an odd claim, because we know the Unsers were all over the Stock cars at the time, but most of us think Larry Minor, Parnelli, Bill, Rod Hall, Bill Rush, Ray Harvick, when we think Stroppe team racers. However if you have The Boss book by Tom Madigan, there IS mention of a Bronco driven by the Unsers in the 1969 Mint.....and a picture (caption is wrong, but fender says Unser).
After a phone call to confirm some Stroppe details and hear his 26 year ownership story, I decided I'd better go look. Here's what I found: a very trail worthy Bronco with a ton of CO, AZ, CA, NV off-roading history since it's rebuild in 82-86. The owner bought the Bronco as a roller with no cage. He helped the guy he bought it from remove the cage (white sand poured out - more on that later) and the Boss 302 and toploader 4-speed before he hauled it home. He installed his own 289 and C4 (which he later swapped for a 3speed), and did spot body work on it and began using it as an off roader. He even drove it for many years with the whole rear clip in original Stroppe paint scheme with "BrOnCo" logos.
I'm super excited that I was able to find this truck. It sure doesn't look like a Racer anymore and if it travelled much further the way it is, I fear it's history might have been harder to chase. It's certainly lead a different life the past 26 years and now has a 1970 VIN, but much of Stroppe's mods remain: dual spare tire clearance, metal rear flares molded into the body(done on only a couple of Stroppe's racers), pi$$ tube holes, battery box, Competition seat belts with welded anchors and Premier bolts, Rocker exit exhaust holes, air intake guides behind grill, reinforced/fabbed gas pedal, 3 of the original S-W gauges, orange and blue paint under everything, original door inserts, battery cable channels, shortened rear frame rails, rear air bags, reinforced frame rails, Stroppe racer ID tag. Another nice bonus for documentation was the owner's old pictures of the build from 82-96 and the previous owner contact, and a bunch of photos of the truck together with 1/2 Stroppe paintjob.
An interesting note on the Unser's race is that it was actually the 1969 Mint and not the Baja 500. Bill and Parnelli were in 1 Bronco, and Bobby and Al Unser in this one. Day 1 of the race saw at least Parnelli rollover, and rumors of the Unsers flipping. During a medical exam that night, Stroppe was found to have some cracked ribs, and Parnelli was out of a co-driver. Bobby flew home that night to test some stock car tires or something so, Al had no driver. Parnelli hopped into the Unser Bronco with Al and they raced the 2nd day.....rolling again....and finishing 3rd....only to be disqualified because Parnelli wasn't driving his own Bronco.
I have to get back to work...haven't even been home much, so look for some more cool photos maybe tonight. ToddZ....will you post those few photos I sent you this AM? Would appreciate it!
After making a deal with the owner, I headed down to Eric Wenger's place in Elizabeth, CO to see his collection. I wish a place like his existed in California is all I can say.....tons of stock parts perfect to put a stocker back together as well as a shop big enough to build up any trail rig too. I found the core support I needed, but theres lots of rust free stuff left. Got a need for good 44 drum knuckles? I got 2, but there are plenty left!
Lastly, I did see 1 EB on the road out there. It was on 86 going North. A 69 or so, light colored, maybe Springtime Yellow, slight lift, uncut, white family cage, no top. Looked cherry.
Since Todd and I found the Red Racer in Arizona, we've been doing alot of Stroppe racer research. One thing we've been doing is compiling a list of Bronco race trucks. From what we can tell by the huge collection of photos and footage we compiled, Stroppe was using many of the same trucks over and over. So we are getting to know the trucks pretty well, and the unique features each one had. I was searching classified ads at work during a lull a while ago and came across a truck that had quite a few of the details I'd been logging during our Red Racer research. What also caught my eye was that in his ad, he claimed it was raced in the Baja 500 by Bobby Unser.
That might seem like an odd claim, because we know the Unsers were all over the Stock cars at the time, but most of us think Larry Minor, Parnelli, Bill, Rod Hall, Bill Rush, Ray Harvick, when we think Stroppe team racers. However if you have The Boss book by Tom Madigan, there IS mention of a Bronco driven by the Unsers in the 1969 Mint.....and a picture (caption is wrong, but fender says Unser).
After a phone call to confirm some Stroppe details and hear his 26 year ownership story, I decided I'd better go look. Here's what I found: a very trail worthy Bronco with a ton of CO, AZ, CA, NV off-roading history since it's rebuild in 82-86. The owner bought the Bronco as a roller with no cage. He helped the guy he bought it from remove the cage (white sand poured out - more on that later) and the Boss 302 and toploader 4-speed before he hauled it home. He installed his own 289 and C4 (which he later swapped for a 3speed), and did spot body work on it and began using it as an off roader. He even drove it for many years with the whole rear clip in original Stroppe paint scheme with "BrOnCo" logos.
I'm super excited that I was able to find this truck. It sure doesn't look like a Racer anymore and if it travelled much further the way it is, I fear it's history might have been harder to chase. It's certainly lead a different life the past 26 years and now has a 1970 VIN, but much of Stroppe's mods remain: dual spare tire clearance, metal rear flares molded into the body(done on only a couple of Stroppe's racers), pi$$ tube holes, battery box, Competition seat belts with welded anchors and Premier bolts, Rocker exit exhaust holes, air intake guides behind grill, reinforced/fabbed gas pedal, 3 of the original S-W gauges, orange and blue paint under everything, original door inserts, battery cable channels, shortened rear frame rails, rear air bags, reinforced frame rails, Stroppe racer ID tag. Another nice bonus for documentation was the owner's old pictures of the build from 82-96 and the previous owner contact, and a bunch of photos of the truck together with 1/2 Stroppe paintjob.
An interesting note on the Unser's race is that it was actually the 1969 Mint and not the Baja 500. Bill and Parnelli were in 1 Bronco, and Bobby and Al Unser in this one. Day 1 of the race saw at least Parnelli rollover, and rumors of the Unsers flipping. During a medical exam that night, Stroppe was found to have some cracked ribs, and Parnelli was out of a co-driver. Bobby flew home that night to test some stock car tires or something so, Al had no driver. Parnelli hopped into the Unser Bronco with Al and they raced the 2nd day.....rolling again....and finishing 3rd....only to be disqualified because Parnelli wasn't driving his own Bronco.
I have to get back to work...haven't even been home much, so look for some more cool photos maybe tonight. ToddZ....will you post those few photos I sent you this AM? Would appreciate it!
After making a deal with the owner, I headed down to Eric Wenger's place in Elizabeth, CO to see his collection. I wish a place like his existed in California is all I can say.....tons of stock parts perfect to put a stocker back together as well as a shop big enough to build up any trail rig too. I found the core support I needed, but theres lots of rust free stuff left. Got a need for good 44 drum knuckles? I got 2, but there are plenty left!
Lastly, I did see 1 EB on the road out there. It was on 86 going North. A 69 or so, light colored, maybe Springtime Yellow, slight lift, uncut, white family cage, no top. Looked cherry.
