Vehicle Description
America's most notorious 4x4 is also becoming a great collectable.
This 1996 Ford Bronco 4X4 Eddie Bauer edition is officially
eligible for the AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) and
remains the pinnacle of full-sized Bronco fun. Very nicely
preserved, this is the one to own if you've always admired the big,
full-size Bronc.
Ford and Eddie Bauer did gangbuster business in the late '80s and
early '90s with their upscale off-road machines, and none wore the
two-tone paint better than the full-sized Bronco. While most were
green, this lovely Toreador Red-over-Light Saddle Bronco is
downright gorgeous to look at and it's hard to believe that these
went out of production more than two decades ago. Well to be fair,
if you consider the little 4-cylinder weirdos they're making again
these days as real Broncos, then I guess they're back. Anyway, the
far more important point is that if you want what most Bronco fans
consider to be the 'last' Bronco, this one has great curb appeal.
Repainted not long ago, the finish is very smooth to the touch and
looks like it's miles deep, with only very minor imperfections to
report, although you really have to be looking closely with a deep
desire to complain. Bottom line, this is a high-quality driver, and
even the top was repainted to that level with fresh seals all
around the windows. The chrome bumpers fore and aft look bright,
the stock grille and aero headlights are sharp, chrome nerf bars
add flash and practicality, and the aftermarket rear taillights
look pretty slick out back. Speaking of out back, there's a
swing-a-way rear tire mounted back there with a correct "Buckin'
Bronco" logo on the cover, and all the correct factory badges were
replaced during the restoration so everything looks stock.
The interior is another very pleasant surprise, offering recently
replaced comfortable leather buckets and lots of space for five.
Eddie Bauer insisted on upscale appointments in the top-of-the-line
models, and the leather chosen here is tasteful and durable,
showing very little wear on the recently replaced leather seat
covers (there's also 1-inch memory foam cushions inside the front
buckets, and they're all-day comfortable). Newer carpets give it a
plush feel, as does the new headliner above, and as the most
expensive of the Ford SUVs, this Bronco sports just about every
feature in the book: power windows (including the rear window),
locks, and mirrors, A/C, cruise control, and a tilt wheel. A wide
center console offers plenty of storage as well as a handy place to
put your coffee and the dash is one of the more car-like features
of this big truck. A full array of big, legible gauges are in front
of the driver, with the climate controls and Pioneer AM/FM/CD/AUX
stereo waaaaay over there in the center of the dash. The nicely
appointed back seat wears a fresh cover as well and the cargo bay
(with fresh carpet) is positively massive, especially with the
spare tire now living outside on a swing-a-way rack.
Ford's erstwhile 5.8L V8 is a great choice to move all this
sheetmetal, providing plenty of low-end torque that never feels
strained. Despite a vast aftermarket, this one remains quite stock
with signs of recent maintenance throughout, highlighted by the
K&N cold-air intake set-up with its long elbow tube and cone
filter. The engine bay is as clean as the rest of the truck, and if
it's ever seen anything rougher than a gravel driveway, we'd be
very surprised. With a 4-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 moderate off-roading that would strand one of today's
"cute utes", you know, like the new "Bronco". Even the exhaust
system is quite stock (although it looks new), offering a smooth
hum instead of a loud grunt of V8 horsepower, but that's the point
of the Eddie Bauer model. New shocks, new brakes, a new U-joint,
and fresh wheel bearing seals and a speed sensor ensure that it's
ready to drive today. Handsome chrome alloys are bright and shiny,
wearing BFGoodrich All-Terrain white-letter radials which look
great and are pretty pricey all by themselves.
If you grew up in the '90s, you know this is a cool truck, and you
just won't find more luxurious go-anywhere transportation for less
cash than this. Call today!