Vehicle Description
Every generation of America's most notorious 4x4 has now become a
great collectable. This low-mileage, 1-familt owned 1980 Ford
Bronco Custom 'Bull Nose" is now eligible for AACA shows and
remains the pinnacle of full-sized Bronco fun. Very nicely
preserved and maintained with only 63,374 miles, and loaded with
factory goodies, this is the one to own if you've always admired
the big Bronc.
Ford did gangbuster business in the '80s with their upscale
off-road machines, and not many full-sized off-roaders were more
admired than the Bronco. While the most famous full-size Bronco was
white (although it came from the 5th generation of these 4x4s),
this handsome Medium Gray Metallic Bronco is elegant yet sporty and
it's hard to believe that these went out of production for two
decades, only to be reintroduced again recently to a rabid fanbase.
I mean, you'd never think this bruiser was over 40 years old! Only
the front end was ever reworked and rebuilt after a fender-bender,
but the work was done right, and the rest of the driver-quality
finish shows very nicely. It's been driven and enjoyed so it's
obviously showing some signs of use and age, but nothing critical
and it certainly speaks highly of the care it has received over the
years. Bottom line, it's a beautiful truck with a handsome finish
that turns heads everywhere it goes, and you can't ask for much
more from a bruising 4x4 like this. The heavy-duty chrome bumper up
front looks great, the grille, eggcrate insert, and headlights are
excellent, rear chrome bumper shine bright, and the black removable
roof adds just the right contrast to work with the swooping profile
trim to give it a heavy-duty look. There's even a swing-away spare
tire out back, wrapped in an original "Bucking Bronco" cover that's
rarely been taken off.
The interior is another very pleasant surprise, offering red
buckets, a matching red rear bench, and lots of space for five.
Ford insisted on upscale appointments in all their models, and the
red vinyl upholstery inside is tasteful and durable, yet still
stylish enough to not look too dated today. The gray carpets still
feel very plush, a black middle console splits the front seats and
provides cup holders and plenty of storage, black door panels at
the flanks look practically new, and the woodgrain applique on the
original steering wheel adds a touch of sophistication inside. The
wrap-around dash is straight as an arrow and free of any cracks,
which is a rare sight if you're familiar with the American rubbers
and plastics from the '80s. For comfort, this Bronco Custom sports
good options including cold factory A/C, an original digital clock,
seatbelts fore and aft, and a column shifter. A full array of big,
legible gauges are in front of the driver, along with a
comprehensive set of 'idiot' lights just above them, while the
climate controls and original AM/FM stereo are waaaaay over there
in the center of the dash. A roll bar was added for safety when the
top comes off, and the cargo bay is positively massive and fully
upholstered, so you can take pretty much everything you own.
Ford's erstwhile 302 cubic inch V8 is a great choice to move all
this sheetmetal, providing plenty of low-end grunt that never feels
strained. Despite a vast aftermarket for the venerable 5.0L motor,
this one remains quite stock, from the long intake hoses from the
snorkeled air cleaner to the original Ford Blue valve covers. The
engine bay is just as solid and original as the rest of the truck,
and if it's ever seen anything rougher than a gravel driveway, we'd
be surprised. With a 3-speed automatic overdrive transmission and a
2-speed transfer case, this truck is equally happy at highway
speeds or crawling at barely a walking pace and the suspension is
built for off-roading that would strand one of today's "cute utes."
The exhaust system sounds just like it's supposed to because sans
the muffler it's remarkably still the original unit, and power
steering and power front disc brakes mean this big Bronc handles
and drives like a dream. Handsome white 'wagon' wheels are in
decent shape, wearing 31x10.5x15 white-letter radials that finish
off the look perfectly.
If you grew up in the '80s, you know this is a cool truck, and you
just won't find more full-sized go-anywhere transportation for less
cash than this. With low ownership, super-low miles and good
original docs, this Bull Nose Bronco is ready to dominate for years
to come. Call today!
