rare find

[JGbronc]

ok, but a V8 so early in the production?!

I'm reasonably sure it has been swapped from the 170 I6. The VIN says it came with a 170 so that's what it left the assembly line with.

However, it is possible that whoever bought it in Europe did the swap soon after. It may have even been ordered to do so.

 

[Trikar]

I'm reasonably sure it has been swapped from the 170 I6. The VIN says it came with a 170 so that's what it left the assembly line with.

However, it is possible that whoever bought it in Europe did the swap soon after. It may have even been ordered to do so.

Maybe, but if you look the picture of the sunbeam plate, the engine number looks incredibly similar. and the bronco have the plate with a S.O. number, an engine with a 289 block cast to 66 models.
is the fact that's an export model can be the answer?

 

[okie4570]

Exported Broncos did not always have the export engine. The export engine is designed for countries where the fuel grades are lower (Usually found in South America). The European Broncos are normally equipped with the standard engine.

Now that you mention it, every low compression I've seen has been in South America. Agree with you that the v8 was a swap.

 

[Slowleak]

Is the engine label in the glovebox stuck on top of a warranty plate? In the picture there appears to be the outline of a rivet just to the left of “model”.

66 warranty plates were not in the glovebox. Seems odd that the engine sticker would be put in the exact same location as the warranty plate on later models.

 

[half cab]

Yeah n would be some sign of fab work for the V8 swap right?...motor mounts?

 

[crawln68]

Have you ordered a Marti Report for it? I'd love to see what that says.

 

[Trikar]

Is the engine label in the glovebox stuck on top of a warranty plate? In the picture there appears to be the outline of a rivet just to the left of “model”.

66 warranty plates were not in the glovebox. Seems odd that the engine sticker would be put in the exact same location as the warranty plate on later models.

No, the engine label is stuck in the glove box, without anything underneath. the vin plate have been relocated on the firewall. here another picture that shows that there is no hole on the glove box door, like any 66 model

 

[Trikar]

Have you ordered a Marti Report for it? I'd love to see what that says.

No, it's only available from 1967

 

[sykanr0ng]

Exported Broncos did not always have the export engine. The export engine is designed for countries where the fuel grades are lower (Usually found in South America). The European Broncos are normally equipped with the standard engine.

Now that you mention it, every low compression I've seen has been in South America. Agree with you that the v8 was a swap.

It does not even need to be very far South, the standard grade of gasoline in Mexico in those years was 80 octane.
But what do you expect to get for the equivalent of eleven cents a gallon?

 

[sprdv1]

Exported Broncos did not always have the export engine. The export engine is designed for countries where the fuel grades are lower (Usually found in South America). The European Broncos are normally equipped with the standard engine.

This...^^^

 

[sprdv1]

ok
for the moments i try to don't give too much info, i try to be discreet. if...when i'll buy it, i'll be glad to give all the info with a ton of photos.
In my country, broncos are rarely below $30k. some are way above but generally recently imported from the US.

and thanks, my english is ok, but some subtlety are still stranger to me

All good here, Good luck.. time for new adventures once you do

 

[Broncobowsher]

I thought I saw a "C" for the engine code, which would have been the standard 2-barrel 289 engine that would have been correct. So I am going to discard all the discussion about 6-cylinder engines.

If I recall correctly, there is no glovebox VIN plate on a '66. It was on the kick panel. So the sticker isn't covering anything, nothing is missing.

The Sunbeam sticker was probably used as a quick and easy way to meet some rule for importing. With such low volume, no special tag was used, just something on the shelf that would work. Whoever imported it was probably already doing Sunbeams and knew they just needed the same sticker. So they tore off the Sunbeam on the top and slapped it on. Different countrys have different rules. And trying to sort out what those rules were 50 years ago. It wasn't worth it to make everything country correct at the factory. When it got to the port, whoever was doing the importing "fixed it". This stuff still happens today. I just bought a bottle of Mexican Vinilla. As it rolled into the states it got a little sticker to meet US regs and was delivered to me. Plant didn't do it. Same thing happened 50 years ago. As the Bronco rolled through the docs, the sticker was slapped on and in it came.

I do wonder if there were any other import changes that were needed? Mid 60's were still a very loose time as far as regulations went. Safety was still pretty much unheard of. Most everything would have revolved around taxes.

 

[Trikar]

All good here, Good luck.. time for new adventures once you do

Thanks!

And you what would you do with this Bronco? A factory style resto or a "do whatever i want".
Me, i wanted a light blue Bronco with 3.5" lift, and a family cage. but with this one, i'm not so sure anymore, i love old car as they are, not a restomod kind of guy. i think this one should be restored as he left the factory.

what do you think?

 

[bmc69]

If I recall correctly, there is no glovebox VIN plate on a '66. It was on the kick panel. So the sticker isn't covering anything, nothing is missing. .

True that.

 

[Trikar]

I thought I saw a "C" for the engine code, which would have been the standard 2-barrel 289 engine that would have been correct. So I am going to discard all the discussion about 6-cylinder engines.

if you talk about the engine number, yes it's a C, it's means 1960's.
found all those useful info on MustangTek http://www.mustangtek.com/FordDecode.html

 

[Slowleak]

No, the engine label is stuck in the glove box, without anything underneath. the vin plate have been relocated on the firewall. here another picture that shows that there is no hole on the glove box door, like any 66 model

Thanks. This is what I was seeing in the picture.... looked like a hole or rivet under there.

 

[Trikar]

if i don't make mistake, in 66 and 67 there is no hole for any plate, only from 68 holes are present, here a glovebox door from 68, the holes are close to the edge.

 

[Slowleak]

if i don't make mistake, in 66 and 67 there is no hole for any plate, only from 68 holes are present, here a glovebox door from 68, the holes are close to the edge.

You are correct. My point was that is seems odd that if there was no label there, or even holes, that someone would place the engine label in that exact same spot.... It’s possible that the glovebox door was swapped and a different warranty label is/was there.

 

[Trikar]

I would have to check on the Bronco, but i don't have access to it for the moment.
i understand your point, why here, because it will be the location 2 years later
but you've have to understand that the parts for a EB, glovebox, engine, etc.. were not available as easy as today. it's why i think everything is from factory, the export being an explanation, but i also have a theory that i need to confirm before talking about it on the forum.

 

[Slowleak]

I would have to check on the Bronco, but i don't have access to it for the moment.
but you've have to understand that the parts for a EB, glovebox, engine, etc.. were not available as easy as today. it's why i think everything is from factory, the export being an explanation, but i also have a theory that i need to confirm before talking about it on the forum.

Agreed. Just seems like an odd coincidence to me. I’m sure there was never a factory warranty plate on the glovebox door but seems that this engine label may have been placed there to cover something.....

Looking forward to hearing your theory and seeing some pictures!