The bidding history tells a big part of the story with this 1976 Ford Bronco Ranger. It is 1-of-46 to wear this color in the 1976 model year, and when combined with the 1st Generation Bronco’s ongoing popularity, it has allowed it to attract 56 bids since the owner listed it for sale. Located in Mead, Washington, you will find this Ford listed for sale here on eBay. All of that action has pushed the price beyond the reserve, where it now sits at $44,600. However, there’s still plenty of time left in this auction, so there’s scope for that price to go even higher before the hammer falls.

Given the popularity of Wimbledon White across so many of Ford’s offerings over the years, it seems strange to think that it was a rare color on the ’76 Bronco Ranger. However, the figures don’t lie, and this vehicle is 1-of-46 to wear that color in that model year. The owner holds documentation, including a Marti Report, which confirms this fact. Today, the paint is showing its age. Even allowing for this deterioration, the Bronco remains fairly presentable. It would benefit from a cosmetic refresh, but this is not something that would demand immediate attention. The panels are straight, and it is refreshing to find a 1st Generation Bronco that doesn’t appear to be suffering from significant rust problems. The body looks clean, and the owner doesn’t mention any major issues in the listing. It is also nice to find one of these that hasn’t had the fenders cut, although those aftermarket wheels must go close to rubbing on the rear wheel arches. If I were to buy this classic, I would probably source a set of original wheels before the current ones could do any damage. Otherwise, the trim and glass look good, and I get the impression that the Ranger is set for some off-road adventures.

The Bronco’s interior continues the vehicle’s overall tidy theme, and it wouldn’t take a lot of money or effort to push it to the next level. The covers on both bucket seats are starting to crack and split, but the buyer could spend $380 on a replacement set of front covers to return the seats to a factory-fresh state. The owner has replaced the carpet and dash pad, and with the spotless painted surfaces, it looks pretty impressive. He has also installed an aftermarket stereo and a set of speakers in the doors. Unfortunately, he has cut the doors to install the speakers, so returning the interior to 100% original will be more difficult for prospective buyers. Still, I guess that we can’t have everything, can we?

The owner supplies no engine photos, but we know that the Bronco features a 302ci V8 engine, a 3-speed automatic transmission, a limited-slip differential, power steering, and power brakes. The V8 should be producing 125hp and 220 ft/lbs of torque, and it is that second figure that is key to this vehicle’s off-road abilities. The maximum figure is reached at just over 1,500rpm, which means that the Bronco should be capable of easing its way through some pretty harsh terrain with little effort. Unfortunately, we don’t receive any concrete information on how well the Ranger runs or drives, but the owner does hold service records that date back more than three decades. These indicate that the vehicle has received a new engine and transmission at one point, so hopefully, it is now in sound mechanical health.

By 1976, it was apparent that the 1st Generation Bronco had reached the end of its life-cycle, and a new model was waiting in the wings for 1978. The 1976 model year was not a banner one for the Bronco, with only 15,256 handing over their cash to park one in their driveway. However, times have changed dramatically, and they have developed something of a cult following. That is why the bidding frenzy on this one is no surprise. I think that there could be some way to go before we hit the final sale price, and I believe that there’s a good chance that this one will sail beyond $50,000. This is an auction that should be worth watching closely.