In recent times here at Barn Finds, we’ve seen a few classics come across our desks that have generated astonishing levels of interest when they have been listed for sale. This 1966 Ford Bronco continues that trend because while the auction opened at $1, there have already been 40 bids that have pushed the price along to $17,100. Located in Camden-Wyoming, Delaware, you will find the Bronco listed for sale here on eBay. It is worth noting that this classic is being offered with No Reserve.
The 1st Generation Bronco has become a cult classic, and this one has a lot of positive attributes that will have contributed to the strong interest. The first of these is that it is original and unmolested. Nobody has cut the wheel arches to fit bigger wheels and tires, which is one of the most common changes you will see. Another plus is the general lack of rust when you work your way through the supplied photos. It looks like the inner rockers have been repaired at some point, but the rest of the vehicle’s underside seems to be clean of anything beyond heavy surface corrosion and some small holes in the floors. Even those holes should be able to be patched without the need to replace the floors entirely. The big one is the front inner fenders. Mud and other debris have a habit of getting packed into this area, and significant rust can develop over time. That doesn’t appear to be the case here, with the corners looking refreshingly clean. There are a few minor rust spots in the panels, but none of these would require anything beyond patching. It will need a repaint because the Caribbean Turquoise is showing its age. The Bronco rolls on its original wheels, and the hubcaps look to be in excellent condition.
When the Bronco broke cover, there was a single drivetrain combination in a bid to keep things simple. What buyers got for their money was a 170ci 6-cylinder engine, a 3-speed manual transmission, and a transfer case to deploy the vehicle’s 4-wheel-drive ability. This Ford remains original, and with the owner stating that it is in sound mechanical health, the little six should be producing 105hp and 158 ft/lbs of torque. Those figures might not sound that impressive, but there is more to them than meets the eye. Maximum torque is delivered low in the engine’s rev range. Combine that with the Bronco’s 4WD capabilities, and it can climb slowly but surely over some pretty harsh terrain. The vehicle has led a relatively sheltered working life, mainly consisting of towing a fuel tank around a farm to refuel farming equipment. The current owner uses it for camping and fishing trips and says that it runs and drives perfectly.
Life in a 1966 Bronco was never designed to be a luxurious experience, but a few changes have been made to improve the situation. The original bench seat has made way for a pair of buckets, while the current owner installed a rear seat. The whole interior needs a cosmetic refresh, and there are a few items that will require attention. Chief among these, especially at this time of year, is the heater. It sounds like it has been disconnected because of a leak, which means no heat or defogging in the depths of Winter. That has to be a priority. The radio also doesn’t work, but that is nowhere near as important as the heater. Otherwise, everything is said to function as it should.
Some classics will sit in the market for years with no appreciable change in average values. The Bronco isn’t one of those. By the time the 1st Generation Bronco was replaced, it had fallen out of favor with the buying public. It was seen as outdated and didn’t possess the creature comforts that buyers had begun to expect. The tide has turned, and they have become one of the “must-have” classics of the last decade. Prices are continuing to soar, and the bidding on this one proves that fact. There is no sign that this trend is going to change soon, so if one of these is on your wish list, you may have to take the plunge now before rising values put them out of the reach of the average person.
