The Minor/Bayer/Unser Stroppe Racing Bronco

[DirtDonk]

I'll see if I can dig up any of the old discussions on various forums for you Jim. Maybe we can see some consistency worth documenting.
Much of the early discussions were on the bronco@yahoogroups.com e-mail list though, so other than searching some "archival" function of the internet, not sure if any of that info is still available.

I seem to remember one of the guys that was either the original owner, or his dad was, living down in Castaic, or Frazier Park, or somewhere else near
Hungry Valley.

Keep on collating!;D

Paul

 

[BajaBronco]

aaand...taking my thread back. Was up late last night planning the resto on this Bronco and came across a photo ToddZ sent me last summer. It's a great photo, but I cropped it for this detail. And last night I made a note to check on the Bronco at lunch today, to see if the evidence still existed that once again helps prove this was Larry Minor's successful 68 season racer. Pretty cool - see photos. I used the fire extinguisher from my 1972 Baja Bronco. The historic photo is from what appears to be just after the Mint 400 race in Las Vegas. The photo is dated April 1968.

 

[andyp]

Very cool.

 

[House]

Is that on the Marti Report?

 

[Bukin 67]

Good work! You are now officially THE authoritative Bronco detective

 

[BajaBronco]

She's out of storage. After looking closely at this project, i've decided to start with a new frame and body because it's so rough. That wont matter for will it? Just kidding!
It drove out of storage and into the shop. I'll try to post a video. I still have the door inserts to pull out of storage and the first step is going to be new body mounts and tub structural repair. The Bronco took alot of damage rolling in the 67 Mexican 1000 and the 69 Mint 400, plus once more in the 80s in the care of the longtime owner who converted it for street use.

 

[andyp]

Love the new plates!

 

[BajaBronco]

I've been tied up with a customer's interior install and some gauges - but late last night I began chipping away at some paint with a new razor, very carefully. And the paint came off easier than expected...was surprised to see so much left underneath.

 

[BajaFresh75]

I said it in post #2 and I'll say it again..."too cool, the coolest"!!! I'm glad you're preserving history, and I'm really glad this thread is back!! More pics!

 

[BajaBronco]

Okay man, as you wish.... So, a few years ago, a friend, who actually raced in the desert when this truck was just retiring..., called me and told me he had a set of Bostrom suspension seats, vintage ones, that he would sell me... I just had to buy the 72 F350 they were in. The truck was in pieces, but super cool and the seats nice. Well, time went on, and he built some axles for me for the racers over the years - I called him to rebuild the Hybrid 30/44 axle I have and he said , sure. With all the research coming together he agreed to sell me the Bostroms out of the F350. So thats one more hard to get item installed. I also put in the steering wheel and horn button. Column is a 75 though, 3 speed column and doesn't have the depth adjustement, so I'll have to build an early column for it. But fun to sit in bostroms and hold a Stroppe wheel with a 66 horn button!! FYI - this truck raced in 67 Mexican 1000 and early 68 races with a sprint car type steering wheel - before Stroppe started to dip the Bronco ones. I'll be using the Stroppe wheel. Here's a few pics from its first long desert race, the 1967 Mexican 1000 where it was driven by Ray Harvick with Bill Stroppe as co driver and led for a good portion of the race, but rolled, had hood latch issues, and sand got into the motor, resulting in it being towed in as a DNF.

 

[broncosbybart]

Where's the like button???

Very cool. I'll be watching the progress.

 

[BajaBronco]

Did some sanding today while waiting for gaskets to tack up on a customer Bronco....

 

[andyp]

Every paint layer is history