Time can play tricks on you. When something has been around for so long, you take it for granted, as if it’ll last forever. By the time the Ford Bronco entered its fifth generation in 1992, it had been in production for a quarter of a century. But the end of the 1996 model year was the end of the Bronco altogether (at least until Ford resurrected it decades later in 2021). Consider our Pick of the Day a part of the end of an era—this 1996 Ford Bronco Eddie Bauer is listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Morgantown, Pennsylvania.
The Bronco‘s departure in the 1990s was followed by the emergence of the Expedition, which combined the bones of the F-150 with a more passenger-friendly four-door layout, and the even larger F-250-based Excursion. However roomy those are, they just don’t quite have the rugged coolness of the fifth-gen Bronco. This particular one comes in the handsome combination of Pacific Green Metallic with Light Saddle Metallic for the lower body (and a similar color for the roof cap), which the selling dealer says is the original paint.
Ford offered an Eddie Bauer edition for the preceding Bronco, but the fifth-generation model marked the first time the Bronco could be ordered with leather seating. While other 1996 trim levels were available with the choice of three interior colors, Eddie Bauer models were only available with Medium Mocha cloth or (in the case of this rig) leather. It’s a great shade of tan that’s light enough to brighten up the cabin, but not so light that it appears washed-out or delicate.
Interior features include wood-tone trim; power windows, locks, and mirrors; front captain’s chairs with power lumbar support; cruise control; center and overhead consoles; AM/FM/CD radio; air conditioning; and a fold-down rear bench seat.
The current Bronco may have a fully removable roof and doors, but it lacks what this 1996 model has under its hood: a 5.0-liter V8. Back in the day, it was rated at 199 horsepower at 4,200 rpm and 270 lb-ft of torque at 2,400 rpm. The 302 sends that grunt to the road or trail below through a four-speed automatic and a dual-range transfer case with push-button controls.
Yes, this Bronco is firmly rooted—in several ways—in the 1990s but, in other ways, it fits right into today’s market. Older SUVs are popular these days and V8s have never gone out of style. The 1992-1996 Broncos still command solid money, although many of them have high miles. This 1996 Ford Bronco Eddie Bauer is a modern classic with a 302 under the hood and only 87,429 original miles on the odometer. It is available for purchase it for $29,900.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
