1973 Ford Bronco

One of the most technical four-wheel-drive roads in Utah, Elephant Hill presents drivers and mountain bikers with steep grades, loose rock, stair-step drops, tight turns, and tricky backing. Once over the hill, equally challenging roads lead to various features as well as BLM lands south of the park. Maximum vehicle length, including racks and trailers, is 21 feet. Oh, and bring your groover if you are going to camp as there is no water at the campsites!

For consignment, a 1973 Ford Bronco which our consignor describes as a resto-mod. I'd describe it as a dirt digger, rock climber and an unstoppable force against anything nature can throw at it. A body and suspension lifted 4x4 with a beefy 4.6 liter DOHC 32 valve V8 w EFI, a “family roll bar setup”, and some tedious meats on all 4 corners. Military grade? Well, read on my trailblazing friends and campers.

Exterior
The beneficiary of a frame off restoration and the typical Bronco was thrown out the window, baby, bathwater and all, and now only the frame, front and rear axles were reused for this build, and it has a virtually all new steel body. This was lifted 2 inches and the suspension was lifted 3.5 inches, so there is plenty of ground clearance to take on even the deepest of crevices or the most mondo of rocks. The original top was removed and a “family roll bar” was installed which basically protects the entire passenger compartment occupants in case of a roll over. A custom canvas straight roof top was fabricated and installed above the roll cage. All steel is rust free and has well minded gaps, and it's all bathed in the deep end of the pool black paint, even the taillights have a black covering over them. Front and rear bumpers are HD tubing and or a steel bar. The rear bumper has a tow package and the front bumper a push bar. LED front headlights, Bully side steps to aid in your climb inside before making your climb up the hill, and blackened trimmings make this a truly menacing Bronco if there ever was one! And lest I forget the 35 inch Nitto Grabbers wrapping Black Fuel wheels on all 4 tall corners.
Hang on…this IS a bucking Bronco fer sur!

Interior
A climb inside reveals like new doors painted full metal jackets in black with a textured vinyl insert panel housing the black vinyl armrest, and black anodized aluminum billet window cranks. Inside we rattlesnake, (well it sounds like the outdoors?!), our way through the full roll cage and slip on to the high back buckets wrapped in gray broadcloth. Between these tall chairs is a custom 3 tier console with a padded armrest on top and cascading levels down to the cupholder on the hump. In front of this is the dual transfer case shift levers well within the driver's reach. A rally steering wheel covered in leather with 3 black open spokes in the center front custom dash which is also wait for it…black! To drivers left is a digital and analog round cluster with blackface and white readouts. This one gauge houses the speedo, tachometer, oil, temp, fuel level and volts. The odometer is a digital LED unit. Moving across we see more billet knobs and pulls in satin machine aluminum and a Sony AM/FM/CD stereo. Speakers are mounted throughout. The gear shift lever has a billet topper and is located on the tilt wheel column. In front of the passenger is a small glove box. In the back is a utilitarian but effective bench for extra tag alongs. This can be folded down to add to the rear small plastic over steel lined ribbed bed. A tailgate provides easy access to this area. With this interior you'll be one happy camper.

Drivetrain
A complete restoration and upgrading and the original mill was also thrown out with the baby and the bathwater and now a powerful 4.6 liter DOHC 32 Valve V8 with EFI powers this classic truck. A 4-speed automatic 4R70W 4-speed automatic is on the back of this new mill, and a 3.50 Trac Loc rear axle is spinning the rear meats. All is well under this custom molded engine covered bay.

Undercarriage
Frame off is serious stuff and there's no fooling around with this undercarriage. There is also no rust, just strong pristine looking black painted structural steel everywhere. Floor Pans are as solid as the rocks you'll climb and upfront some radius arms and coil springs soften the blows and on back leaf springs. Power disc braking courtesy Wilwood are on all 4 corners. There is now an electronic E-brake installed and you can see the controller underneath. Also, dual Flowmaster exhaust is working its way rearward and is looking like new.

Drive-Ability
In Morgantown PA there are not a lot of rocks to climb, so I just climbed in and fired it up and off to the test track I went. It has great acceleration, plenty of power and the dual shift levers allow many options for gearing in 4WD. There was no granny with a walker so I could not test to see if it was a true granny gear, but it's a true crawler. I tried to climb the side of the building, but the owner came out and poo pooed it! All functions were working and solid as a rock.

A passionate build makes for some serious 4 wheeling and rock climbing (see the intro). This restored frame off Bronco is a real powerhouse and a classic as well. A truly serious and fun truck right out of 1973 (well…no more!)

VIN DECODE
U15GLR48039
U15-Bronco 4x4 Wagon
G-302ci V8
L-Detroit, MI Assy Plant
R45039-Sequential Unit Number

DOOR STICKER
COLOR Y-Burnt Orange
MODEL U151-Bronco Wagon GVW 4500lbs
TRANS G-C4 Automatic
AXLE B8J-3.50 TracLoc, Power Steering
DSO 17-Washington

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.