Vehicle Description
Well, you can forget about keeping a low profile in this 1976 Ford
Bronco 4x4, but I bet you won't mind one bit. With a recent
freshening, 302 V8 power, and a few tasteful modifications, it's a
great example of Ford's first SUV.
So many Broncos led hard lives, bashed off road, cut up into custom
crude Jeep-like creations, and lost to simple atrophy in the rust
belt. This one, however, is a clean, handsome southern truck with
an attractive paint job and straight sheetmetal. And straight is
the word, because the angular, flat panels of the Bronco have been
smoothed and sanded and buffed, giving it a great look that is
almost too nice to risk in the brush. The bright red finish gives
this Bronco a bright disposition that fits the era in which it was
born and combined with a contrasting white hardtop (removable, of
course) it just shouts "Fun!" Much of the trim has either been
painted red (like the grille) or black (like the bumpers and
mirrors), so it has a slightly updated look, and the contrasting
white fender flares are the perfect addition. A tubular front
bumper gives it an off-road look and helps protect the nose at the
same time.
Some folks mistake Bronco buckets for early Mustang pieces, and
we'll admit that they're pretty similar, but the Bronco chairs are
definitely unique They were also standard equipment on the Bronco,
a key to its do-anything attitude, and the simple door panels and
trim add a bit of civility. Later models like this finally got a
padded dash, so don't worry about the rough stuff, and a
three-spoke steering wheel helps with the upscale look. There's
also a locking center console for security and they didn't bother
with any kind of floor coverings, since you're probably going to be
getting dirty anyway. The original gauges still live in the
color-matched dash, which is about as simple as things get,
offering simple knobs and an auxiliary 12v power point. The 3-speed
manual transmission is managed by a column shifter, with the
transfer case managed by that floor unit, and there's a good amount
of storage in back, even with the matching red and white bench seat
in place.
The 302 cubic inch V8 under the hood is torquey and ready to rock.
Ford Blue covers the block and it still has a very OEM look, from
the heavy-duty air cleaner to the simple stamped valve covers.
You'll note that it was built for serious work in the dirt,
starting with that air cleaner and including a cooler for the power
steering system and a giant radiator up front. Note the ultra-clean
inner fenders, which suggest that red is this truck's original
color, plus recent hoses and ignition system components. The
3-speed manual gearbox shifts well, the 2-speed transfer case will
take you anywhere, and both axles are ready to play in the dirt.
The dual exhaust system is a bit aggressive with glasspack-style
mufflers, but it includes that awesome 5.0 soundtrack that everyone
loves. It wears a set of beautiful aluminum wheels wrapped in
33x12.50-15 off-road radials.
We're seeing a lot of renewed interest in these trucks, and this
one is nicer than most. With V8 power, it's a blast to drive on
pavement and will still take you anywhere you want to go. Call
now!