Looking for some advice and opinions on buying a 1970 Bronco

[MNMike]

I'm a long time member with very few posts. That being said, I reached out to several members of this forum via pm's and they suggested posting a thread on this issue. I know that this type of thread can open myself to a lot of ridicule; however, after 32 years of marriage my wife is worth that possibility.

My wife and me have been looking to purchase a 1970 (her birth year) Bronco for her. She has some parameters on what she would consider (colors, uncut, original, drivable, not highly modified). We found a 1970 Boxwood Green and Wimbledon White LUBR. This vehicle has: 90k+ miles, all matching VIN's, uncut, 302, mostly original paint (hood and hardtop repainted), original interior, all original metal panels, bench seat with no rear seat, chrome bumpers (original painted bumpers are included in the sale), paperwork describing maintenance work completed the past several years - IMO, mostly wear items shocks, rear seal, gasket sets, condenser, points, hub seals, etc. for $5000+. The one negative for my wife is that this doesn't have power steering - we'd add that. This vehicle runs and drives great.

I'm looking for thoughts and opinions on what price range we should expect to pay for something like this? I know that there are a lot of unknowns about this vehicle but I'd like others thoughts and opinions on what I have mentioned above. We are not flippers, we plan for our classic vehicles to be legacies for our children.

Thanks for reading this and if you can advise, please do.

 

[Scoop]

From what you describe and from following recent sold and "bid to" auctions on Bring a Trailer, my guess is in the $25K to $30K range would be a reasonable price in today's market. That said, seller is probably looking for $40K to $50K! But prices have softened a bit lately.

I would add power disk brakes to your plan to add power steering for your wife.

 

[hyghlndr]

Really need to post good pictures to really help, even better would be a local Bronco guru to look the Bronco over with you.

 

[m_m70]

I know that this type of thread can open myself to a lot of ridicule; however, after 32 years of marriage my wife is worth that possibility.

Not much ridicule going on here and I hope it stays that way!!

One thing you didn't mention is rust.... Where has this truck lived?

The one negative for my wife is that this doesn't have power steering - we'd add that. This vehicle runs and drives great.

Easy mod and well worth the spend! So I'm assuming you have driven this truck?

I know that there are a lot of unknowns about this vehicle but I'd like others thoughts and opinions on what I have mentioned above.

Is this a wagon or a half cab?? Is there a bulkhead behind the bench seat??

Really need to post good pictures to really help, even better would be a local Bronco guru to look the Bronco over with you.

Best advice. Post up your area! I'm sure someone from here would be happy to check it out with you. I would if close.
Can't really help you out on worth without pics and even with pics, best to get someone really experienced in these Broncos to get a good look.

Good luck and welcome!!!

 

[MNMike]

Not much ridicule going on here and I hope it stays that way!!

One thing you didn't mention is rust.... Where has this truck lived?


Easy mod and well worth the spend! So I'm assuming you have driven this truck?


Is this a wagon or a half cab?? Is there a bulkhead behind the bench seat??


Best advice. Post up your area! I'm sure someone from here would be happy to check it out with you. I would if close.
Can't really help you out on worth without pics and even with pics, best to get someone really experienced in these Broncos to get a good look.

Good luck and welcome!!!

m_m70, thank you for your reply.

I have not been ridiculed on this forum. I've been a lurker here for 12+ years and with only a few posts and I hope it stays that way, too.

Here is a link to the listing. https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-1970-Ford-Bronco-c3777#listing=388640517/NONE/DEFAULT

Here is a write up on the truck (not my words): An amazing Bronco, lived most of its life in New Mexico then California so no rust, no rot, no evidence of accidents, just a super well preserved uncut original Bronco. This was an original, 1 owner truck until 2010 (or close), a friend bought from original owner and brought to Ca, he serviced, put new tires on it, detailed it and drove it until selling to me 2018. I then sold to a dealer friend who went over the car mechanically, servicing the car and upgrading the suspension with Old Man Emu springs, shocks, shackles, and more, giving it the amazing stance you see today.numbers matching and clean, straight, original body and interior. This is a base model U52 wagon came with a bench seat, a 302 V8 coupled to a 3 speed column shift gearbox, not much else standard, original customer added a Sears sourced air conditioning system and had this installed immediately after purchase (still blows cold!)Amazingly she has her original paint on most of the car and her original interior throughout.

This truck is currently in CA. I don't even know where exactly. I have not driven this truck. We live in MN and are headed to AZ after Christmas for the winter. I have bought, and sold, vehicles at Barrett-Jackson and Mecum without driving them. Although I have been sent several driving videos. I am not condoning or suggesting others do this behavior, but I have purchased many vehicles without driving them.

I'm trying to post a few additional pictures and can't figure it out. Can't click and drop, can't copy and paste and the insert image link above isn't allowing me to do it.

 

[chuddy]

That is a strong price for something in that condition. Prices have softened quite a bit, you could be able to get something much nicer for $75k. For reference, my newest build will be going on BaT shortly and I expect it to go for $75k, but everything is brand new. I am also in Minnesota.

Good luck with your search! It's a buyers market right now.

 

[hyghlndr]

IMHO too much money for the Bronco.

 

[Pops68]

I typically do not comment on these type of threads, but is that really 54 year old original paint with just under 100,000 miles of use???

Personally, I find that hard to believe myself.

 

[MNMike]

IMHO too much money for the Bronco.

I agree and will not pay that amount. That's why I asked my original question of range I should expect to pay. IMO it's a $55k Bronco at most.

 

[toddz69]

I agree and will not pay that amount. That's why I asked my original question of range I should expect to pay. IMO it's a $55k Bronco at most.

I agree.

Todd Z.

 

[mebco09]

I typically do not comment on these type of threads, but is that really 54 year old original paint with just under 100,000 miles of use???

Personally, I find that hard to believe myself.

+1.
I would have to see that Bronco in person for $75k. If you could get it for $55k, maybe not, but probably still.

 

[4xfun]

For that kind of money, I would have expected power steering, power brakes, upgraded wiring and lights, a new engine and a new transmission. An untouched engine and transmission with 99,000 miles and no upgraded wiring, it is gong to likely need mechanical and wiring work soon. I don't know the models very well, but was it common to have a hardtop and a bulkhead wall? That looks like pretty good paint to have the miles and age on it.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Hardtop with bulkhead was fairly common when the rear seat was not optioned
It's a 3-speed column shift, why are they calling it an automatic? A clue the seller isn't aware of what they have.
Looks nice. If that is original paint, it looks to have just been polished, again. Probably close to worn through. It's too shiny.

My experience buying a 60k '77 F250 a few years back. Even at low mileage you sill have all the old car age issues. Build quality issues that have been fixed with higher mileage units that have been rebuilt have not been addressed yet. I had 2 places where the wiring harness was pinched and wearing through, but being low mileage it had not worn through yet. The engine was original, and in need of a refreshing of gaskets that all leaked and a timing chain that was way too stretched. So 99k, if all original, it will need work.

 

[MNMike]

I typically do not comment on these type of threads, but is that really 54 year old original paint with just under 100,000 miles of use???

Personally, I find that hard to believe myself.

I appreciate you commenting. In off-line comments I've had with the seller, he states that the hood was repainted do lots of polishing over the years - seems a bit aggressive to me. The comment of being 54 years old with mostly original paint is believable to me since I have several vehicles older, some with less miles - some with more, all having original paint that looks nicely preserved.

 

[MNMike]

Hardtop with bulkhead was fairly common when the rear seat was not optioned
It's a 3-speed column shift, why are they calling it an automatic? A clue the seller isn't aware of what they have.
Looks nice. If that is original paint, it looks to have just been polished, again. Probably close to worn through. It's too shiny.

My experience buying a 60k '77 F250 a few years back. Even at low mileage you sill have all the old car age issues. Build quality issues that have been fixed with higher mileage units that have been rebuilt have not been addressed yet. I had 2 places where the wiring harness was pinched and wearing through, but being low mileage it had not worn through yet. The engine was original, and in need of a refreshing of gaskets that all leaked and a timing chain that was way too stretched. So 99k, if all original, it will need work.

Good points to consider. Maybe the seller doesn't know what they have and are basing their pricing on what they believe is a strong market and because it's an EB that's their reason for such a strong initial asking price. I myself have bought low mileage older vehicles and you are correct that they have old vehicle issues. One of my 67 F250's has 22,000 actual miles and it is in fantastic shape, original everything and it just went through a complete nut and bolt preservation. Replacing some rings, new timing gears, blah, blah, blah. And you know what - it still has 57 year older vehicle leaks after everything was gone through and put back together.

 

[DirtDonk]

Never looked at their listings, but was not aware that Old Man Emu made springs for EB's.
As for the rear, it's got blocks, so how high would the springs be? An add-a-leaf maybe? And shackles? I doubt that OME makes shackles for our trucks.
Of course, I have always tried not to be a nit-picking nay-sayer until I have actually investigated and looked through catalogs and websites. But the whole OME statement made me stop and ponder.
And while they do market their own line of shocks as well, those are Bilstein shocks on the Bronco in question.
For sure not a bad thing though.

Now I have to go look and see if it's a case of the seller not knowing everything about what they're selling, or a case of the "I didn't know thats" at work on my part..

Paul

 

[toddz69]

Never looked at their listings, but was not aware that Old Man Emu made springs for EB's.
As for the rear, it's got blocks, so how high would the springs be? An add-a-leaf maybe? And shackles? I doubt that OME makes shackles for our trucks.
Of course, I have always tried not to be a nit-picking nay-sayer until I have actually investigated and looked through catalogs and websites. But the whole OME statement made me stop and ponder.
And while they do market their own line of shocks as well, those are Bilstein shocks on the Bronco in question.
For sure not a bad thing though.

Now I have to go look and see if it's a case of the seller not knowing everything about what they're selling, or a case of the "I didn't know thats" at work on my part..

Paul

Another good catch in the writeup, Paul. Definitely not OME stuff - they've never made suspension stuff for our Broncos.

Todd Z.

 

[m_m70]

My guess is that it's listed that high just on location. There is a TON of money in this area. One of the most expensive areas to live in this state. Lots of tech guys happy to fork over lots of cash for a classic. Still get offers on mine at gas stations and store parking lots. Also, been on site for sale 165 days so go in low if your heart is set on it!.

It's about 20 miles south of where I live and about 3 miles south of where my machine shop was.

 

[MNMike]

All of these comments are great and I really appreciate them. Broncos and their idiosyncrasies are not a strength of mine, hence why I came to this group asking for opinions and comments. I am grateful to those of you that have commented on this Bronco and I will be considering all of these comments fully.

m_m70 - my heart isn't set on it and my wife has not given an overwhelming "hell yeah." When I have been in this position before, if it's not a hell yeah - it's a no.

 

[m_m70]

m_m70 - my heart isn't set on it and my wife has not given an overwhelming "hell yeah." When I have been in this position before, if it's not a hell yeah - it's a no.

Gotcha! Good luck with your search!