I like the idea of buying one already done these days. I am a total tinkerer and can fix/replace/rebuild just about anything, but there is always the fun of actually DRIVING something too!
And right you are about bang-for-the-buck. Just doesn't happen when you do it yourself to sell. But if you're doing it to personalize it to keep, that's a different story.
A couple of other things about that Bronco. Little things, like the rear lift gate handle being wrong. Either they put the mechanism back together wrong, or they can't latch it properly. Either way, something's amiss. Correct is to have the latch facing horizontally when latched. Not vertically. Maybe it's just unlatched? Doubt it...
The top also appears to be missing the inner stake-pocket anchor pieces too. Note the holes in the body's rear interior corners with no bolts. And no visible threads means that they probably left those pieces out to make it easier to install the top, without scratching the new paint.
And the engine isn't even painted the correct Ford Blue ('72 should be darker), which isn't any big deal for most, but if he's trying to sell to someone looking for vintage correct restorations, there are quite a few mis-cues. No problem for most of us, as it is definitely a good looking rig. But I'm just saying...
And I don't think his body lines are all as good as he says. Tailgate and passenger door lines are not all that precise. Better than most perhaps, but not perfect.
And those nice "billet" wheels look to be the wrong offset for a LUBR (lifted uncut Bronco). Look like the tires would rub in the rear with a moderate bump.
One thing he does have going for him though, is that it's an Explorer model. Don't think he pointed that out, but it's a nice option when you can find them. Too bad this rig doesn't seem to have any of the interior and trim cues though. A Sport Explorer without chrome trim around the windows? Viperwolf or one of the other experts might know if that was a separate option or not. And didn't '72's have the chrome trim around the top too?
And what about the seats and door panels? Didn't all Sport Explorers come with different colored dash covers, dash color, the cloth seat option and matching door panels?
Makes you wonder whether it was an Explorer at all, or they just didn't want to spring for the full resto. Unless I'm wrong and you could get an Explorer without all the goodies that is.
And speaking of chrome, neither the carpet nor the headliner have the factory chrome trim hold-down cross pieces in place. However, it appears they did go to the trouble of putting custom aluminum trim pieces around the perimeter of the headliner for some reason. I don't believe Ford ever had trim.
So again, nice, but not like original in some desirable places.
A very nice $7K to $10K truck, I'd say. But only IF it all worked.
Paul
