1971BroncoSport
Full Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2008
- Messages
- 204
My first vehicle - 1977 Black Special Decor @ $4,500. Got it in 1984 when I was 15. Worked on it for a year until I was old enough to drive it, with a license. (Alabama - amazing even at that age rust had already started in driver kick panel). Drove it through most of high school. Had a transmission problem that my Dad was leery of at the time. He decided we should sell it in 1987 @ $5,600.
I was relegated to an '86 Mazda GLC ....
I carried the fever for a long time, but moving around in the Marine Corps for 12 years didn't make it practical to get back into a Bronco project.
In 2007 - I bought a single owner uncut orginal metal no rust 1971 from a "seasoned" owner in Georgia - dipping my toe back into what would become a future obsession. I was at a different place in life (had money) and it became a great project to spend untold hours with my Dad and it was something to bond over - something that distance, time, kids, and work hadn't afforded us from 1989 when I went to college, the military, and new life in the civilian world. But there wasn't enough work to do to the Bronco due to the quality life the PO had kept it in.
Next came a 50K original mile 1973 from a farm in Gillette WY in 2009. While farm kept in good climate - this one gave Dad and me a real project. My inner redneck vision of what we could do with it got us in knee deep. (See garage).
Still wasn't satisfied.
In 2010 I took the plunge with a 1973 Baja - which when @bajabroncos had owned it was a memorable Bronco that had a great story. Unfortunately - the stable of 3 Bajas that I bought it from in NJ had not treated it with great care and the weather had taken its toll. 2.5 years later and untold hours with my Dad working on it - it has been resurrected. It is truly a project that has made us proud. I park the F350 and Explorer outside in favor of the Baja.
If that wasn't enough - I'm now 3+ years into a frame off on a 1974. While buying a new tub would have saved a lot of time - as a prior poster said - there is pride in reviving these Broncos piece by piece - and I've replaced a lot of sheet metal.
So that's my story.
BTW in the midst of all the above my Dad and I (less me) redid a 1970 U14 Sport which is rare among the survivors. My brother, Dad, and me as moral support or via skype did at 1972.
My son will be driver eligible in 2019 - and we are already talking about adding the next generation Bronco to the stable.
I was relegated to an '86 Mazda GLC ....
I carried the fever for a long time, but moving around in the Marine Corps for 12 years didn't make it practical to get back into a Bronco project.
In 2007 - I bought a single owner uncut orginal metal no rust 1971 from a "seasoned" owner in Georgia - dipping my toe back into what would become a future obsession. I was at a different place in life (had money) and it became a great project to spend untold hours with my Dad and it was something to bond over - something that distance, time, kids, and work hadn't afforded us from 1989 when I went to college, the military, and new life in the civilian world. But there wasn't enough work to do to the Bronco due to the quality life the PO had kept it in.
Next came a 50K original mile 1973 from a farm in Gillette WY in 2009. While farm kept in good climate - this one gave Dad and me a real project. My inner redneck vision of what we could do with it got us in knee deep. (See garage).
Still wasn't satisfied.
In 2010 I took the plunge with a 1973 Baja - which when @bajabroncos had owned it was a memorable Bronco that had a great story. Unfortunately - the stable of 3 Bajas that I bought it from in NJ had not treated it with great care and the weather had taken its toll. 2.5 years later and untold hours with my Dad working on it - it has been resurrected. It is truly a project that has made us proud. I park the F350 and Explorer outside in favor of the Baja.
If that wasn't enough - I'm now 3+ years into a frame off on a 1974. While buying a new tub would have saved a lot of time - as a prior poster said - there is pride in reviving these Broncos piece by piece - and I've replaced a lot of sheet metal.
So that's my story.
BTW in the midst of all the above my Dad and I (less me) redid a 1970 U14 Sport which is rare among the survivors. My brother, Dad, and me as moral support or via skype did at 1972.
My son will be driver eligible in 2019 - and we are already talking about adding the next generation Bronco to the stable.