Fully-Restored 1979 Ford Bronco Seeks New Owner With a Surprise in the Engine Bay

Case in point: meet a 1979 Ford Bronco that's looking for a new home. It underwent an extensive restoration, during which all components were brought back to life. The ad says it has power steering and brakes, a new suspension, and a big surprise under the hood.

You see, the second-gen Broncos were offered with a choice of two V8s, a 351 and a 400 ci, with respective displacements of 5.8 and 6.6 liters, paired with a four-speed manual or a three-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. This one, however, has a larger mill, a 460 ci unit with undisclosed output, which is mated to an automatic transmission.

The exterior features a sand paint finish and colorful decals on the sides, sprinkled with the occasional chrome trim specific to the era. It rides on new wheels wrapped in fat tires with white branding on them and has a tan interior that does not seem to have been modernized. This is good news if you're not a fan of touchscreen displays, though if you are, you could stick one in the dashboard to replace the traditional radio.

This 1979 Ford Bronco has seen some action, as the odometer read 62,920 miles (101,260 km) at the time of cataloging. The vendor welcomes pre-purchase inspections, though you will have to make an appointment if you plan on checking it out in the flesh to try and spot some imperfections that might help you bring the asking price down. Speaking of the cost, you are looking at a cool $74,900 to park it in your garage.

As a result, it is not the bargain you were perhaps searching for, as it costs as much as a brand-new Bronco – or almost two of them if you go for the entry-level Big Bend. The base 2024 model has an MSRP of $39,130, with the Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Badlands, and Heritage Edition starting at $42,630, $47,940, $49,395, and $47,855, respectively. For the Wildtrak, Everglades, and Heritage Limited Edition, you are looking at respective MSRPs of $60,025, $55,520, and $69,685.

Topping the family is the more agile Bronco Raptor, which comes with a 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6, making 418 hp (424 ps/312 kW) and 440 lb-ft (597 Nm) of torque on premium fuel. A new 2024 Ford Bronco Raptor will set you back $89,835, excluding destination and dealer fees. So, if you had to choose between this classic Bronco and the new one, which one would get your vote?