why a Bronco for you?

[sprdv1]

Thanks for your service fellow vet.

While in the Army I was stationed at a tiny base called Vint Hill Farms. Closed now. While there my best friend had a '69 bone stock with 6 cyl. and 3 on the tree. We used to go wheelin with a group of guys from base. CJ's, a really nice Land Cruiser with small block chevy, and a 70 something dodge on 44's.
That little Bronco ran circles around all of them out on the powerline trails and a couple of times at Quantico on the tank trails. Had me sold. When I left the Army I went back home to Illinois and one of my dad's neighbors had a '73 sitting in the pasture. I got it for $500. It was a basket case of rust and didn't run. I bought a '74 that I came across at a car lot for $975. It was in better shape and ran but the tub was cut in half right at the striker posts. Held together with the body bolts, a little brazing in the rockers and a piece of angle iron with screws into the floor on both sides of the seam that was fiber glassed.
Anyway I did a frame off on the '73 with rebuilt 302 and C4. Then I swapped the body from the 74 to the 73 frame. Welded everything up the way it should have been. Drove it to Idaho. Traded it for a 69 Cougar. Had a new family. Now I'm in the middle of a rebuild on my 4th and probably my last. Getting to pricey and I don't have time to work on this one let alone another.

 

[Muddy1966Bronco]

My pappy owned one since he bought it new in 1969. Now to be honest, by the time I took notice to cars, this thing only plowed his driveway and was a pile of rust and barn hinges. I didn’t think much of it and Jeeps caught my eye initially. I frame off rebuilt a 1978 CJ and beat it to death through the woods and roads over the years. By the time it died, my pappy’s Bronco looked better to me and I was a bit wiser to listen to his stories. He was a road worker and built 322 through the 7 mountains. He swore on that Bronco, that there wasn’t anything on the road like it. Subzero cold starts when no other truck would start, pulling trucks and rigs out of the snow and back on the road, climbing those mountains where other Jeeps and vehicles failed.

I got my own 1966 for $800 in a junkyard and frame off rebuilt it. Was it ever a step up from a Jeep! Though I didn’t four wheel like I used to, I enjoyed running it through the farm fields and drove it all over, including out to the Broncorama in Michigan from my home in central PA. An unfortunate bad run with business taxes 2 years in a row forced the sale of that one before the Broncos tipped the value scales. I barely got $6500 for what would sell for $30k about a decade later.

Through all this, my pap’s Bronco kept running and plowing. It never failed, but my pappy did. My uncle pulled the rotor from the distributor after a stroke sent pap downhill. Soon after, I purchased the Bronco from him for $300. Then he had a 2nd stroke and spent the last couple years of his life in a nursing home. I never had the funds to spend on the heap of rust that was his beloved Bronco until last year. He never got to see it worked on or complete. But I got it back on the road and I know he’s smiling from above. My love for Broncos came from my love for my Pappy. It’s what he had and cherished and that became what I cherished...because pap’s memories and stories and love are all wrapped up in a Bronco.

 

[rydog1130]

My folks never had a bronco growing up but when I was 16 years old there was a guy in my home town named Phill Waller. He had a 1969 bronco with 302 out of a mustang in it. I'm not sure what else extra he had into that motor but that truck would do wheelies down the main drag if he tromped on it. I thought that truck was so cool! Well, fast forward 18 years I'm dating this succubus of a woman and she was bitching about how she was tired of her car and wanted a new car. Thank god I didn't cave into that situation, but we did discuss dream cars. I told her a 68-70 charger was my dream car and her not being car savvy had to look hers up online. I was kinda stunned when she pulled up a picture of a bronco. I said "oh a bronco?" and she was like "yeah an old beat up one, doesn't have to be nice!" I was like well then... I immediately started looking and was shocked to see the prices on these guys. I found what I thought was going to be an easy fix/restoration candidate but boy was I wrong. I shoulda came here first but didn't until after I made the purchase. Anyways, it was probably one of the best things I ever did. The evil girlfriend split about a year after the purchase. The bronco was definitely better than therapy after that year and a half night mare. This little truck has been a great little thing. Ive met tons of new friends. I started a T-shirt and powder coating biz. It's finally done after 4r.5 years and I'm enjoying it and couldn't imagine owning any other little 4x4. I can officially say I'm hooked and it all started about 22 years ago!

 

[Cortez]

Ryan that’s a great story! Muddy1966 loved your story - surely Your Pap’s is smiling.

 

[56f100bbw]

I lived in Southern California Santa ana in the mid 60s and my neighbor ran GMAC repro lot and I was looking for my first car they had a 66 bronco roadster that was not running and a 67 RS Camaro I wanted the bronco but ended up with the camaro . No camaro now but 3 early broncos

 

[tasker]

All good stuff!

 

[Me2carcrazy1]

In 1973 I used to take my 1966 MGB out to my friends ranch to work on it. His brother usually had his 1966 Bronco that he was working on right next to it. His had a wood top on it which you could take the whole roof off and leave the sides on. I always thought it was so cool looking and unique. A few of the guys in high school drove the new 70's Bronco's so I remember riding in a few of those. At our 45th high school reunion I asked my friend about his brother's Bronco. Yep, he now owned it and it sat on his ranch. He wouldn't sell it but instead let me buy his 1976 which he had owned for the last 25 years. The Bronco bug gets you in so many ways, you can't fight it. LOL

 

[Bonefizz]

When I was in high school, a couple of senior kids had Broncos and I fell in love with them back then. I didn't have the money to buy one, so I settled on 'someday'. Over the years, school, marriage, kids seemed to all take priority and I held on to my 'someday.'

A couple years ago I developed thyroid cancer, stage 4 (the scale for thyroid cancer is higher than other types so it sounds scarier than it was.) I went through several surgeries and a heavy dose of radioactive iodine treatment to remove and zap any cancerous tissue. The process really knocked me on my butt.

I recovered and have been cancer free since 14. There are some lingering affects but my life is back to normal, somewhat. During the process, I had a lot of time to reflect and think about life. I decided that 'someday' is today. I needed to stop putting it off and jump in, life is too short to wait around and say 'someday.'

I bought a 69 fixer upper in 2016 and have been slowly making it my own with the help of my 14 year twin boys and 10 year old girl. Kid activities still take priority, but every spare moment I have is in the garage. Don't wait, your 'someday' is today.

 

[Readhead]

Well my story goes back to when I was 15 I worked at an auction house that sold antiques one of the guys I worked with came in in his bronco no top and a hot girl sitting in the passenger seat I was hooked can’t really tell you if it was the bronco or the girl but they were both nice !!
So from then on I was looking for one but never too hard. fast forward to 1991 was delivering soft water tanks to residential customer met the owner of the house that had a 1969 sport with a 302 in it talked to him for about an hour told him if he ever wanted to sell it let me know ... the next day he calls me and gave me a price needless to say I paid him for it and had it towed home once I got it home changed the battery engine oil and flushed the radiator and got it running I found out the transmission was stuck in second gear pulled the trans rebuilt it and have pretty much driven it since lots of projects have been done to it but really hasn’t sit for more than 3 months at anytime.
I have had it longer than my kids and they joke that I love it more than them .
My regret is I did not get more info from the previous owner he stated that it was a unique bronco that he had special ordered I did purchase the marti report and yes it was a special order with special paint came with front and rear shoulder belts , he had cut front and rear fenders and has flares on the rear from what I can tell they are strope flares and it has bumper braces but they are welded to the frame instead of bolted , And it has a strange power steering set up on it I’m pretty sure he said it was off of a Lincoln continental also has the holes in the fender where his off road club badge had been .
Sorry about the long post and thank you all for the greatest source of info on our beloved trucks

 

[broncojam]

My dads friend had a red and white bronco that we would go hunting and fishing in when I was a kid. I was finally able to buy one in 2011 and unfortunately it has sat in the garage ever since. I have torn it apart and now it needs to start going back together.

 

[sprdv1]

Great stories, history...

 

[kempco]

I've always liked broncos but could never see one as being practicle for construction work. Then when my three boys were in high school and auto shop they wanted a project car that we could all work on together. We went looking for an early mustang thinking that they could drive it to school after we got it fixed up. But all the ones we looked at had manual steering and brakes, no air bags, no abs and on and on. The boys suggested an early bronco and I bought on to it. I told them we would sell it after we were done and split the profit, but after it was done I told them that they will have to fight over it after I am gone. That started about 1999.

 

[jckkys]

The first Broncos I remember seeing were 66-67 Roadsters while I was still in HS. I graduated in '67 and was a bit distracted by the party LBJ was throwing in Nam. We were all well aware that the draft board was looking to grab us. In 1970 they did, but gave me a couple weeks to enlist in the Air Force. My dad a vet said at least I'd get to sleep in a brick building. Once in, I volunteered for flying status as Aerovac medic and loved it. In '73 I knew I wanted a 4X4 that was likely going to be a Bronco like I'd seen in HS. Roadsters were gone by then so I got an early '74 wagon. It was a big hit with the other guys and few flight nurses. I thought I'd keep it forever till it got totaled while parked at the curb. By then I was a firefighter-paramedic and I was crushed. The new model then was a '75, but I heard the '76s would likely have power disc brakes, so I waited. Meanwhile I got married and told her I still wanted another Bronco. By now the '77s were out and they were to be the last EBs. We got the one we still have. Kept her and kept the Bronco. Both our daughters learned to drive in the Bronco. My grandsons will too. It's getting a professional frame off restoration at Hot Rods Garage just south of Tucson. I'm a decent mechanic but have no way to do what they can.

 

[Remos69]

In 1969 my uncle purchased a Cordova sport wagon with a bench seat from Denver Ford. Before he drove it off the lot he had a PTO winch installed and the quarters and fenders cut and flares installed. Jump forward a couple of years to 1971 and my family ventured West that year on our yearly 2 week vacation to see my uncle in Colorado. After arriving, we traveled with him and his gf to and through Southwest Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. I had to split time riding in the bronco with my older brother and sister. I hated every minute in our air conditioned Pontiac Safari wagon and could not wait to get back into the bronco! I was 10 at the time and it is ingrained in my memory. 4 years later I was able to spend the summer with my uncle and we traveled all over Colorado mushroom hunting, fishing and exploring. We drove over mosquito pass near Leadville and I was forever hooked. My uncle passed in 1995 and my father and his brother had to go out to Colorado to bring back his estate to Virginia as he never married and no known children. Both my father and uncle were in their 70s so I went with them to help load and move the estate. They didn't want the trouble of bringing back the bronco and we're going to sell it for $500. I told them that I wanted it and would give them the money. They told me if I could drive it back, it was mine. By this time the old bronco had a tailgate made mostly of flashing, the bench seat had collapsed and the seat cushion was now an old boat throw cushion and a lot of rust for a Colorado bronco. A 302 and 4.11gears, another 2 boat cushions and I was off from Basalt Colo. to Fredericksburg VA!

The first day was the best as the uhaul my father and uncle were driving was from Alabama and struggled across the continental divide. Once they made it across it was down hill for them, but not for me. The aux tank was a no-go so I lived off the main tank so every 200 miles or so I was looking for fuel. I70 was a real slow go for me, top end at 60, but the uhaul with the trailer appeared to go on forever. The end of the first day was a draw, the next day I left at 6, they left later. They stopped at 6, I stopped at 8 at the same hotel. The third day we made it home, but technically it was day 4 for me. The last day for me was about 19 hours.

I drove the Bronco until 2010 and parked it. Fast forward to 2017 and I started a frame off restoration. My hope is to finish the bronco this year and bring it back to VA to show the last surviving brother (he is 99)

2 owner same family, soon to be done!

 

[rguest3]

My father purchased the very first one delivered to the Ford Dealership in a local town in VA back in August of 1965. It was the first vehicle I drove on the Farm. PTO out the back to drive the gang mowers. Plowed the roads with it when I started to drive at age 10. He also had various Big Broncos while growing up too.

I always told myself I would have another Early Bronco at some point. Blame my dad, it's not my fault. Blame that Wimbledon White 66 Wagon with the top and doors off most of the time.

Blame my dad for hopping out while looking at cows in the pasture one evening and saying "Hop over here on this side, I'll see you when you get back to the house". He was walking, I was now driving a three on the tree column shift at 10 years old..... I beat him to the house!..... I can remember that clearly as if it were yesterday. Hmmm, yes, I still miss him too.

 

[No Hay]

The first Broncos I remember seeing were 66-67 Roadsters while I was still in HS. I graduated in '67 and was a bit distracted by the party LBJ was throwing in Nam. We were all well aware that the draft board was looking to grab us. In 1970 they did, but gave me a couple weeks to enlist in the Air Force. My dad a vet said at least I'd get to sleep in a brick building. Once in, I volunteered for flying status as Aerovac medic and loved it. In '73 I knew I wanted a 4X4 that was likely going to be a Bronco like I'd seen in HS. Roadsters were gone by then so I got an early '74 wagon. It was a big hit with the other guys and few flight nurses. I thought I'd keep it forever till it got totaled while parked at the curb. By then I was a firefighter-paramedic and I was crushed. The new model then was a '75, but I heard the '76s would likely have power disc brakes, so I waited. Meanwhile I got married and told her I still wanted another Bronco. By now the '77s were out and they were to be the last EBs. We got the one we still have. Kept her and kept the Bronco. Both our daughters learned to drive in the Bronco. My grandsons will too. It's getting a professional frame off restoration at Hot Rods Garage just south of Tucson. I'm a decent mechanic but have no way to do what they can.

That's great you still have it!

Newly retired here last year, I've heard Hot Rods Garage serves lunch while you can watch them work on customers cars. I'll have to go see the progress.

 

[Bonefizz]

Not sure how I missed this thread the first time around, but I sure am enjoying it now!

 

[knack]

I bought my first one in 1975 at 18 yrs old. I was driving a 1967 International four wheel drive pickup with truetracs that took about 40 acres to turn around. Not the best situation in the northern MN woods.
What I really wanted was a CJ5, but a neighbor was selling his 1970 Bronco Sport for $1500. I read an article in an off road magazine that compared the Scout, Bronco, and CJ5. As soon as I read that the Bronco had the tightest turning radius - I was sold!

 

[skinner]

In my 43 years of life there has never been a day without a bronco in the yard. I grew up quail hunting out of my grandads 67 bronco with a dog box hung off spare tire carrier, then deer hunting with my dad and his bronco's all my life. At 16 I got his and then from there have owned a couple since. I am now loving quail hunting again out of my 66 halfcab. Grandad always had uncut broncos, dad liked them lifted and cut.. I love a LUBR!!! Makes me feel like a kid again each time I get behind the wheel!!!!

 

[murdador]

I bought my first one in 1975 at 18 yrs old. I was driving a 1967 International four wheel drive pickup with truetracs that took about 40 acres to turn around. Not the best situation in the northern MN woods.
What I really wanted was a CJ5, but a neighbor was selling his 1970 Bronco Sport for $1500. I read an article in an off road magazine that compared the Scout, Bronco, and CJ5. As soon as I read that the Bronco had the tightest turning radius - I was sold!

Could it of been in Popular Mechanics? 1967 4-Wheel Drive Safari in the Rockies!