Vehicle Description
SUMMARY
Professional restoration completed in February of 2016
Correctly restored with many rare and NOS parts
Correct 170 cubic inch 6-cylinder
Correct 3-speed manual transmission
Correct Ford 9-inch axle / Correct Dana 30 differential / Correct
Warn hubs
Correct Kelsey Hayes wheels / NOS wheel covers / NOS Goodyear
Suburbanite tires
'66-exclusive Silver upholstery
Arcadian Blue paint
Correct drum brakes
1 of roughly 200 authentic U13 Bronco Roadsters known to exist
Sometimes an item is so good that its trademarked name becomes a
generic term for an entire category of products. Many of us say
Kleenex instead of tissue, Xerox instead of copy, or Band-Aid
instead of bandage, despite knowing the proper term. The
off-roading world finds one more example in the Ford Bronco. To
many, the word Bronco defines an array of capable, feel-good fun
machines that can be found in all the places we'd rather be, from
the mountains and the woods to the beaches and the dunes. And
classics like this killer Roadster are an excellent reminder why.
As an authentic U13 Bronco, it's one of roughly 200 known to exist.
The beneficiary of a body-off, nut-and-bolt restoration that was
completed in February of 2016, it's a pristine collectible that
makes excellent use of many NOS and hard to find parts. And,
sporting a reliable 6-cylinder/3-speed drivetrain, it's a fun
cruiser for folks who are ready for a bit more than just some
mud-caked toy!
HISTORY/RESTORATION
You might be wondering what's so special about this Bronco. Well,
it pretty much boils down to production. Ford only made the U13
Bronco Roadster from 1966 to 1968. And, although 1966 was the
biggest year for the model with 4,090 Roadsters sold, overall
production was essentially capped at 5,000 units. Now, we all know
the life of a utility. These things are driven hard, thoroughly
enjoyed and often left to the elements during the off-season.
Thanks to that disposable mentality, today, less than 200 U13
Broncos are known to exist; and this highly detailed U13 is truly
one of the nicest in the world. You're probably thinking you can
find door-less Broncos almost anywhere. But, the caveat to that
observation is: most door-less Broncos are actually regular U14 and
U15 models that have been shamelessly modified to emulate authentic
Roadsters.
To say correctly restoring a U13 is a challenge is a bit of an
understatement. First, you have to find one that's solid enough to
fix. Then you have to take in to account that these were base-model
Broncos which often survived tough lives as workhorse utilities.
And lastly, you have to account for the individual quirks of every
year. The '60s was an era when Detroit continuously updated their
offerings on a yearly and sometimes semi-yearly basis. So, finding
parts, sometimes produced for only months, for the 'unglamorous'
model of a 50-year-old truck becomes a very tedious task.
Nearly every generation of Bronco has a following, but '60s trucks
are arguably the most desired. Introduced in 1966 as direct
competition to Jeep's legendary CJ, Ford's more accommodating
offering was just a little bit easier to live with day to day. This
Roadster is easy to admire thanks to a body-off, nut-and-bolt
restoration that was conducted by Bronco guru Jeff Leslie of
Cleveland, Ohio. Once that highly detailed rebuild molded the ute
into a straight and solid stunner, everything was finished in
fabulously retro layers of Arcadian Blue 2-stage. And in February
of 2016, this Ford debuted ready to make a memorable and functional
first impression!
In addition to factory-deleted stripes, this Roadster was assembled
with an interesting array of specified aesthetics. At the front of
the truck, a '66-exclusive 'eyebrow grille' hangs fresh parking
lamps and quality Scott Drake headlights above an optional,
'66-exclusive chrome bumper that features deleted guards. Behind
that grille, a smooth hood, devoid of an optional windshield
washer, flows to hinged glass that's complete with fresh stainless
wipers. At the sides of that hood, sculpted, "Bronco" branded
panels are correctly finished with one stem-mount mirror, a rare
NOS Autolite fuel cap and extremely rare NOS rocker guards. And at
the back of those panels, a '66-exclusive tailgate centers a chrome
handle between '66-exclusive taillights that feature optional
bright bezels and an optional, '66-exclusive chrome bumper that
features deleted guards.
ENGINE
Peer in to the truck's super clean engine bay and you'll find a
correct, 170 cubic inch 6-cylinder that's been completely rebuilt
and carefully detailed. Designed from the ground up to be a
tough-as-nails workhorse, and serving as primary Bronco power for
almost a decade, this stalwart mill is a favorite among vintage
truck fans because of its simple design, adequate power and
excellent durability. And, in the name of authenticity, pretty much
everything on the block has been returned to intentional,
factory-spec simplicity. At the top of the engine, an Autolite 1100
carburetor mixes oxygen, supplied by a '66-exclusive oil-bath air
cleaner, with fuel that's piped through fresh lines and an NOS
pump. That carb rides on a cast, factory-spec intake, which, along
with a cast, factory-spec exhaust manifold, floats next to a bright
Scott Drake valve cover. Opposite those manifolds, a traditional
points-style distributor, complete with an NOS Autolite cap,
sequences fire between NOS Autolite Radio Resistance wires and a
modern, chrome-trimmed alternator. A tough FoMoCo radiator provides
cooling with the help of an NOS Autolite upper hose and correct,
Houston DSO-specific 6-blade pulley fan. Items like a tagged
Autolite battery, a '66-exclusive master cylinder, an NOS Autolite
oil filter and a full assortment of decals ensure the Ford Blue
powerplant is very impressive to look at. The correct, highly
accurate restoration is rounded out by a roster of NOS components,
including an Autolite PVC, an Autolite oil filler cap, an Autolite
vacuum advance, Autolite points and an Autolite condenser. And the
compact mill is framed in slick Arcadian Blue paint that's
punctuated by a '66-exclusive hood and a super rare, '66-exclusive
metal fresh air box.
DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION
Crawling under this fresh Bronco reveals an intentionally
plate-less chassis that appears completely weather-free. Power
meets the pavement through a correct 3-speed, which rides between a
'66-exclusive Ford axle and correct Dana 30 differential that dots
a chrome inspection cover with a rare, '66-exclusive brass fill
plug. Jeff's Bronco Graveyard springs and NOS Motorcraft shocks
complement '66-exclusive non-self-adjusting brake drums, two of
which are NOS FoMoCo units. An aluminized, single-pipe exhaust
system, which is wired to a large muffler, runs the entire length
of the floor. And everything rolls on correct Kelsey Hayes
steelies, which twist optional NOS 7.75-15 Goodyear Suburbanite
4-plys around correct Warn hubs and NOS, '66-exclusive wheel
covers.
INTERIOR
Inside this classic, you'll find a spacious and comfortable cockpit
that has enough room to be your vehicle of choice for any weekend
adventure. Front and center, optional, professionally restored
buckets stretch fresh, '66-exclusive vinyl between correct lap
belts. In front of the driver, a '66-exclusive Gray Poly dash,
complete with a dash pad delete, frames an NOS, '66-exclusive
speedometer, '66-exclusive knobs and a locking glovebox. Below that
dash, a correct transfer shifter rides between an NOS emergency
brake handle, modern foot pedals and b...for more information
please contact the seller.