What is it like driving a 40 year old truck?

[Glfhky1]

Hey guys I am new to the forum. I have always loved early broncos and I am finally really looking at buying one. The question I have for you is this:
What is it like driving a 40ish year old vehicle? Is it a constant battle to keep it on the road? Or is it once you replace/repair things you can take a moment and enjoy it.

 

[Gerbow]

Love driving mine....and YES

 

[knack]

Personally, I don't want one as a daily driver again. Did that years ago. I haven't got time/money/desire to keep it in shape. For occasional use though, once you get one of these trucks working right, you shouldn't have to mess with it much. The rigs with ALL the upgrades, modern engine, fuel systems, etc, etc... maybe it's no worse than a newer vehicle. Mine's old school - that's one of the reasons I like it.

I haven't put anything but gas and oil in mine all summer - but I've probably only driven it 2000 miles, and the off-road stuff has been fairly mild.

They don't build 'em like they used to - and there's a good reason for that. Most people want a vehicle they can drive for 200K miles without major repairs.

 

[KyleQ]

I drove mine all over the place without any issues at all. There really isn't too much to go wrong on these Bronco's.

 

[DFWBroncoNewbie]

I'm a newbie too and have been using mine as a DD for the past 3 months. You have to remember it's not a new car, doesn't drive as a new car, and may require attention/$$. I've done lots of work on mine and feel it's reliable, fun, and different from the other cars on the road. Personally, the enjoyment in driving the rig outweighs the negatives of owning a 35+ yr old car... Make sure that the bones of the vehicle are in good working order: Engine, Brakes, Electrical, no Rust, and you should be good to go.

 

[stock1970]

I have two vehicles, a 70 and a 76 bronco, that is it. The 70 is stock all the way down to the points, 3 on the tree and drum brakes, been driving it for 5 years now and I had to replace the rear axle bearings, and that is it, I did have the motor rebuilt 5 years ago when my dad still had it, as for the 76, I drive it in winter, on trails and put 1500+ miles on it in september alone, I have had to change out the motor on it because the timing gear was wore and slipped bending the valves but it was tired anyways, alternator and other parts are cheap compaired to modern vehicles and I have no car payment so mpg doesnt matter to me at all. I dont touch what a car payment and gas would be a month. there are some good broncos for sale on this site.. good luck

 

[blazinchuck]

i love mine! 5.0 EFI, soon getting a 5 speed swapping out the C4...33's...you'll always have the usual fix it stuff, but if ya stay on top of the regular maintenance...you can really enjoy. been a daily driver since Dec'10 and got over 7k since driving it.

 

[Heus33]

Its all in what you make of it.

Dont buy a bronco with 10" of lift and expect it to drive like a corvette.

If one has the proper suspension components for what you desire, then you'd be surpised how well they can drive. Here's a link to a setup on one of my old trucks that I really really liked.

Street Suspension Thread

 

[sprdv1]

Maiden Voyage after a build is the Best Feeling!!

You learn something new about your Rig everytime you drive it. A great feeling w/the top off rolling down the road getting the "Wave"

Don't forget to vote for CB "your new favorite site"
http://top4x4sites.com/cgi-bin/arp/rankem.cgi?id=oldford

Welcome Aboard!!!

 

[BucknEB]

I've been driving my '76 daily for almost 2 years now. It's a 30 mile round trip to work. The gas mileage sucks at almost 9mpgs, but to me its worth it. Like "stock1970" said the gas mileage and maintenance doesn't cost near as much as a new car/truck payment, insurance , etc. Good luck in your search.

 

[FRANKO289]

... as for the 76, I drive it in winter, on trails and put 1500+ miles on it in september alone, I have had to change out the motor on it because the timing gear was wore and slipped bending the valves but it was tired anyways, alternator and other parts are cheap compaired to modern vehicles and I have no car payment so mpg doesnt matter to me at all. I dont touch what a car payment and gas would be a month. there are some good broncos for sale on this site.. good luck

Thanks .... your 76 still comes up at least twice a week in conversation !
it feels ,sounds and looks like a new car !!! is it for sale ?? lol

 

[Izzy]

Well, it's not like driving a 39 year old vehicle but also not like driving a 41 year old vehicle. It's just like driving a 40 year old vehicle.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I also drive mine daily and love every minute of it. Mine has been upgraded to EFI, Hydroboost brakes and power steering and those items make all the difference in the world.

Sometimes I go months without an issue and sometimes I have back to back to back issues. Maintenance is everything. The more maintenance you do, the lower the risk of calling AAA.

Either way, I wouldn't trade it. In fact, recently I was planning to buy a daily driver and I test drove and looked at several vehicles, I ended up buying a second CB instead.

 

[acmefl]

It's wonderful.
I never get tired of the thumbs up and waves.
It's worth all the work to me.
A

 

[W650Mike]

I’m not going to give up the creature comforts of my newer vehicles for longer distance driving – but on a pretty day there’s nothing like a cruise through the countryside in an older yet reliable vehicle. And then there is the good feeling you get when people come up to you at gas stations and parking lots just to compliment you on your ride and to share a Bronco memory.

Too cold, too hot, too wet…I park that Bronco and head for the Chevy.

 

[Glfhky1]

Thanks for all the replies guys. It makes me feel more comfortable to purchase one as my daily driver.

 

[jmurphy]

Hey guys I am new to the forum. I have always loved early broncos and I am finally really looking at buying one. The question I have for you is this:
What is it like driving a 40ish year old vehicle? Is it a constant battle to keep it on the road? Or is it once you replace/repair things you can take a moment and enjoy it.

It all depends on what you get. When I was looking for mine I went into it with two ideas. First to spend less money and have it as a second rig so it wouldn't matter if it was always breaking down or second spend more money on a better maintained bronco and have it be my DD. I ended up spending more money and now have a DD rig.

Lets define "take a moment and enjoy it". When I bought my EB I made a decision that this was going to be a lifetime investment and so I look forward to learning my rig inside and out. That being said I certainly enjoy the time I spend working on my Bronco so I don't mind when things need replaced/repaired. I actually look forward to when something needs to be worked on, except when money is tight. Plus I really like the simplicity of the older rig over the newer ones. All in all I'd say decide what you want out of your EB and then have a blast with it.

 

[JGbronc]

Personally, the enjoyment in driving the rig outweighs the negatives of owning a 35+ yr old car...

^ Excellent way to put it.

I can't honestly say that driving an EB is as safe or comfortable as a newer vehicle, but it's way more fun IMO. All the looks you get, people asking me if I want to sell it, compliments, etc. make it even better.

I don't drive mine daily, but if it wasn't for fuel mileage, I'd strongly consider buying another to build for a DD.

 

[justinb]

I bought mine out of Kentucky and flew my parents there and they drove it back to Idaho for me. They seemed to enjoy it and I love driving it everywhere I can!

 

[Apogee]

Mine has been my daily driver since I bought it about 7 years ago...it's rough. A work in progress so to speak, but I love it and all of it's flaws. It has been remarkably reliable over the years with moderate levels of maintenance and a fair amount of neglect at times, although it has backup in the form of my '77 F150, so maybe it just has no incentive to leave me stranded anywhere.

 

[notagain]

Yes, it could be a DD ,although better a sunny DD, with regular maintenance providing it was in good shape on purchase.
The high of driving it is only heightened by the fact there could be an explosion,at any moment.