One Owner? 1968 Ford Bronco
This 1968 Ford Bronco is a solid classic, but it demonstrates why some claims should be taken at face value. The seller refers to it as a one-owner vehicle but then reveals that they are awaiting some original parts from a previous owner. Er, right! However, its condition is consistent with a high-end driver, and the uncertainty over its history hasn’t dampened interest. The seller listed the Bronco here on eBay in Clermont, Florida. Twenty-two bids have pushed the price to $26,100 in a No Reserve auction.
Since we are dealing with a First Generation Bronco, it makes sense to tackle the subject of rust as a starting point. Steel penetration is common, with rust typically consuming floors, lower exterior extremities, and the front inner fender wells. However, there are no such problems facing this beauty’s next owner. The engine bay shots reveal no problems, the exterior is clean, and the underside shots show no evidence of anything that might cause the buyer sleepless nights. The seller confirms that the vehicle received a refresh around twelve years ago, with the process including a repaint in its original Peacock Blue. It saw limited service before being parked for a decade, allowing it to remain in excellent condition. The paint shines nicely, the panels are straight, and the trim is in good order. There is no hardtop, although the winning bidder receives the soft-top visible in the supplied images and a bikini top. Somebody fitted larger wheels and tires, adding fender lares to accommodate these. Many readers would probably choose to reverse that change, although some may prefer to maintain the status quo.
The theme of tidy presentation continues inside this Bronco, although there are also significant changes for potential buyers to consider. These include the typical relocation of the shifter to the floor, and a JVC radio/cassette player occupying the spot reserved for the factory radio. However, the seats are the most obvious modification, and I can’t determine where they started life. The driver’s seatcover exhibits a split, but the remaining Black vinyl trim is in good order. There are no floor coverings, and some might choose to add a rubber mat or a carpet set to improve sound insulation. There is no back seat currently, but this exposes the only slice of doubt hanging over this Bronco. The seller claims that it is a one-owner vehicle, but then says that they are awaiting the previous owners, who have promised to dig out the original back seat to be included in the sale. That raises the question of how many owners this classic has actually had. That may seem a minor point, but it could potentially undermine the confidence of some potential bidders. That’s why complete transparency is always advisable with any listing.
This Ford’s mechanical configuration is typical Bronco fare, featuring a 289ci V8, a three-speed manual transmission, and a dual-range transfer case. The 289 was always an ideal choice to power a vehicle of this type, providing excellent low-end power and torque delivery. The seller confirms that this classic is numbers-matching, and will need new tires following a decade of inactivity. However, the engine runs extremely well, the transmission and transfer case function as they should, and it appears that with new tires fitted, it will be a turnkey proposition.
This 1968 Ford Bronco probably won’t appeal to purists, although the changes made are all reversible if the winning bidder craves originality. Its presentation is extremely tidy, but the ace up its sleeve is the lack of typical rust. The bidding history and the number of people who have placed it on their Watch List confirm that it has generated plenty of interest. Is this Bronco one you might consider pursuing further, or will you sit out this dance?
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Comments
This is one of the nicest early Broncos to ever appear on Barn Finds – just look at those clean floors! I once co-owned the truck that had the first VIN for the ’68 model year – it was an engineering truck that was made into a race Bronco by Bill Stroppe.
My sincere hope is that this one isn’t purchased and “re-imagined” by one of the current crop of Bronco builders. Buy it and enjoy it like it is!
It’s got a great look to it with the old school white spoke wheels, slightly oversized tires, and fender flares, in my opinion. This is how I remember seeing them. I’m glad they kept the original body color too.
Yet another eye-watering priced 1st Gen Bronco with tin-snipped wheel wells…ho-hum…
This is exactly what the early Broncos should look like. This is a great specimen of this popular rig.