There are lots of reasons to like the second-generation Ford Bronco, from the larger body to those retro brown paint jobs. However, we were still surprised by this 1979 Bronco Range XLT 4×4, which basically costs supercar money.
Let's talk about the financial aspect first. The Ranger XLT (chassis U15HLFC5738) was for sale in 2016 for $43,500. The guy who bought it put it through a meticulous restomod process in 2019-2020 and claims to have $260,000 in work invoices.
The people on Bring a Trailer went over every detail, as they usually do in those comments sections, and decided this was worth $213,000. That makes it the second most expensive Bronco sold on BaT, and it could also be a record for that particular model year.
During the restomod process, the vintage SUV visited Exoticar in Los Angeles. There, the 351M V8 came out and got replaced by a modern 5.0-liter Coyote V8 which probably triples the horsepower (originally had 151 hp). Also, the 4-speed gave way to a modern 6R80 six-speed automatic transmission, sending power to an Atlas dual-range transfer case, and 9-inch rear end.
Unlike with muscle cars, you can't really tell you're dealing with modern technology in an old package. But the Bronco rides on Fox shocks and uses big Wilwood disc brakes which are covered up by those 15-inch wheels with BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A 33×12.5-inch tires.
Outside of the tangled snakes in the engine cover, you can barely tell this has been swapped even when the hood is open. What would you full-sized 4x4 fans have, this or the Hellcat-swapped 1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer?
The second-generation Bronco rode on the Ford F-series chassis of that time. It was full-sized and thus completely different from the iconic 1st generation by which the 2021 Bronco is heavily inspired. In production from 1978 until 1996 with one major revision, this larger SUV wasn't seen as a true collectible until recently.
The paint you see here is new, sprayed on in 2019 by East Coast Rover Co. It mirrors the factory Dark Jade, but every detail has been meticulously refined. The 4x4 comes with a receiver hitch, a power rear window, a removable black hardtop, dual side-view mirrors, and front bumper over-riders.
It's just as green on the inside, from the carpets to the vinyl on the seats and dash.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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