Putting a new engine or clutch into an old vehicle can extend its life, but what about everything else? That new part can just reset a game of automotive Whac-A-Mole, in which you wait for the next part to age out. Our Pick of the Day doesn’t play around. You can find this thoroughly restored 1973 Ford Bronco listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Island Lake, Illinois. You can learn more about it in the video below.
First-generation Broncos are popular in original condition and as restored classics, such as the one you see here. The selling dealer put it through a nut-and-bolt restoration that was completed by August 2023. Old rigs like these often get beat up, so the original frame was refinished in satin black, the axles were rebuilt, and the suspension (including the bushings, tie rod ends, and ball joints) were replaced. A set of gray 15-inch wheels with 30-inch BFGoodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM3 tires makes the most of that hardware on challenging terrain.
Surprisingly, all the original body, with the exception of the tailgate, has survived. Even more surprising is the fact that the fenders have never been cut. Once the new tailgate was installed, the entire body was stripped, straightened, and covered with BASF Glasurit Diamond Blue paint, which coordinates perfectly with the white Bimini top over the front seats. All-new chrome and stainless trim makes this horse’s coat even more lustrous.
According to the dealer, “The interior of this Bronco is all new as well, featuring a RetroSound Huntington Radio with Bluetooth, a Dakota Digital gauge cluster, and all new Painless wiring throughout the entire truck. The seats are covered in fresh light tan/white vinyl, and the floor is coated black for easy clean-up” — a useful touch for a vehicle meant to play around in the mud.
Rather than dropping in a modern Coyote 5.0-liter V-8, the selling dealer decided to have the old-school 302 rebuilt. It didn’t pass up the opportunity to incorporate some upgrades during the process, so the engine was bored .030 over and equipped with a hydraulic roller camshaft, COMP Cams roller rockers, 570cfm Holley Street Avenger carburetor, stainless steel headers, and an Edelbrock Performer intake manifold. The 302 sends its power through a rebuilt Ford C4 three-speed automatic and dual-range transfer case.
Thanks to a cosmetic and mechanical overhaul, this 1973 Ford Bronco should be on the road (and various trails) until the modern Bronco is a classic. Will you be driving it between now and then? If you buy it for $159,995, then the answer is “Yes.”
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
