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With sales of the 6th Generation Ford Bronco picking up and gaining traction with consumers; we noticed that the vintage market in Ford’s iconic 4×4 is hotter than ever. The current Bronco Raptor trades in the secondary market for north of 100 grand. That’s one of the reasons we called the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor the most ridiculous factory 4×4 ever.
Ford they themselves have taken notice of the vintage Bronco craze by giving us many New Retro 2023 Bronco Heritage Edition Models. Naturally, HotCars wanted to do a deep dive into Bronco’s past to see why prices are rising and if there’s any meat left on the bone for us enthusiasts to take advantage of.
The Rebirth Of A Legend
The year 2021 marks the return of many things; bar-top seating, international flights, regularly accessible toilet paper, and one of Ford’s most storied vehicles. After a hiatus of more than a quarter of a century, the vehicle that created an entire automotive segment has made a triumphant return. With Ford selling over 150,000 reservations in the first 2 weeks of the 6th-gen Bronco launch.
The Concept Of An American Icon
The 1966 Ford Bronco was the first iteration of the iconic 4×4. It’s a simple and no-nonsense vehicle that’s perfect for off-roading and adventure. As designed, the Bronco’s goal was to take over the Jeep CJ-5’s dominance in the market segment. This segment is still in its infancy, no one knows what it’s called. Lee Iacocca and his team called it ORV for “Off-Road Vehicle.”
This mirrors exactly what led to the Bronco’s return in 2021 where the Jeep Wrangler has control of the 4×4 off-road segment and Ford wants to regain their lost territory. The original Bronco is now a collector’s item, and its prices have reached astronomical levels (10%-20% flux in the last year). So Off-Road Enthusiasts Should Buy a Vintage Ford Bronco. As the prices go up, the current generation is very much inspired by this Bronco.
Bigger Is Not Always Better
The SUV/Off-Road segment just got bigger, and the Bronco had to hit the gym and pack on the pounds to keep up. The K5 Blazer and Dodge RamCharger dwarfed the first generation Bronco. The fastest way for Ford to meet the competition is to borrow from the same year Ford F-100. The 1978 Ford Bronco was an incremental improvement on the original. It had more impressive looks and better off-road capabilities, but was held back by the 1973 Gas Crisis.
Overall, motor options and body styles were the most limited in Bronco history. For these reasons, prices have continued to rise recently. Collectors have started snapping them up because of their rarity and reasonable price. If you’ve been wanting to buy a vintage Bronco, now’s the time to do it, because prices are only going up for this limited edition 4×4. 3-years ago 2nd gen Broncos barely broke 20k, now examples clear 30-50k.
Third Time Is The Charm
The next generation Ford Bronco ran from 1980 to 1986 and was a bit more thoroughly executed than its predecessor. Being smaller, more efficient, and sharing most of its components and DNA with the contemporary F-Series. This is the first independent front suspension the bronco has ever seen. It retained the solid rear axle, a setup that has continued to this day.
It saw the return of the bulletproof in-line six monstrous 3.9 liters, and the iconic 302 V8. Both could be had manual transmissions and the preface years had “FORD” on the hood like the original Bronco instead of a blue oval logo. That’s the proverbial equivalent of getting a fine-toothed comb in this particular generation. The more obscure options and trims serve up the best opportunity for investment, as this generation has increased in value by 30% this year alone.
A Bronco In Sheep’s Clothing
The 1987 update for the fourth-generation Bronco was aligned with the F-150 generational update, offering an improved interior design. The exterior design is not as lucky. From the gauge clusters to the seats to the steering wheel, this Bronco has seen high-quality enhancements that set it apart from previous generations. Ford also includes ABS as standard, making it a safe choice for drivers and adventurers. Direct injection technology is offered on every available engine.
This new technology allows the engines to produce more power while using less fuel – resulting in a very smooth ride. An optional push button 4-wheel drive system was introduced that allowed drivers to switch between two-wheel and four-wheel drive on the fly. This combination of innovation, shoebox styling and safety made it a great sleeper over its Bronco siblings. It is performing like its predecessor, which gained 30% in 2022.
A Sad Swan-Song
The fifth-generation Bronco, initially met with excitement, was the last Bronco for more than two decades. As the American market shifted toward more practical vehicles, the Bronco no longer fit. Making way for larger SUVs like the Ford Excursion. Excursions scream practicality. As Ford strives to make this model safer, it has undergone significant changes.
The most notable of which is the removal of its trademark removable roof. Nailed the metaphorical coffin shut on the Bronco. This step was taken to install 3-point seatbelts in all rows and improve rollover ratings. Other new safety features include crumble zones, increased size brake lights, and driver’s side airbags.
Although their decision brought mixed reactions, their commitment to protecting passengers cannot be ignored. In the end, this Bronco only lived 4 years before riding off into the sunset… about the same amount of time it took OJ on his police chase in this exact generation.
Now that the dust has settled, these Broncos are getting the attention they deserve. The market reflects that, as these Broncos are up an impressive 40% this past year. Examples can be reasonably found today and would be a classic worth investing in.
Sources: Ford, HotCars, Autoblog, Cnet
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