This is a truck especially for Colorado readers–a 1975 Ford Bronco Denver Broncos Special Edition.  Ford’s promotional wizardry sold 214 of the Special Edition Broncos in 1975, and this particular car was one of only 96 built with the white exterior paint and navy and orange interior trim codes.  Refreshing Broncos’ and football fans’ collective memories, the 1975 Denver Broncos were 6-8 in 1975 (yes, only 14 games that year!) with Randy Gradishar, Floyd Little, Lyle Alzado, and Riley Odoms as starting players.  Steve Ramsey started seven games as QB, and John Ralston was the coach.  Disappointing for Broncos fans who were shut out of Super Bowl glory, the Steelers would defeat the Vikings 16-6 in the Super Bowl game while the owner of this truck was probably skiing.  This Bronco was first sold on July 28, 1975, just in time for football and ski seasons. She can be found now in Lincoln, Nebraska, and here on eBay.

This U-100 Bronco 4 x 4 Wagon is equipped with a 302-2v V-8 engine making 125 horsepower.  The transmission is a three-speed manual that provides the power to the 3.50:1 rear end.  This particular Bronco has a factory-installed auxiliary fuel tank with a skid plate for off-roading.  This would have been a practical ride for the Denverite to head off to Arapahoe Basin, Winter Park/Mary Jane and Vail, all mountains in operation in 1975.  During that same season, it has been reported that ski-streaking was a popular “sport” in the mountains above Denver.  Fancy that.

We can’t offer much in the way of engine compartment photos but suffice it to say that the 302 in the Special Edition cars were well decorated in Denver Broncos’ Orange and Navy Blue.  This truck has power steering and the very, extremely convenient stop, get out, and manually engage the front hubs to “LOCKED” before shifting the transmission into the 4wd feature.  And, from experience well-learned never repeated, it is always best to lock the front hubs before attempting the water crossing and climbing the far bank.

Denver, Colorado is known as the “The Mile High City,” and living a mile closer to God has the distinct disadvantage of the sun playing havoc on automotive interior materials and dashboard surfaces.  This Bronco has seen a few days in the sun.  The seats are worn from use and sun, and the dash is as shriveled as a box of prunes.  Could have something to do with the sunroof cut into the cab as the direct noontime sun in a Colorado summer is unkind.  For any serious restoration, this truck’s Special Edition seat fabric in Navy Blue will need replacing.

Another concern is partial underbody rotting of the driver’s side floor pan and other locations where the road wash has hit the panels for the past 45 years.  This truck’s water damage doesn’t seem as bad as some New England or Minnesota nasty salt cancer. Colorado has, until recently, used a slightly less corrosive deicer, magnesium chloride on its roads–still chemically speaking a salt, but not as bad as the rock salt used in the Salt Belt so long as it’s washed off when the snow melts.  This truck has fared quite well for as many winters as it has endured the snow and ice.

The new-age Ford Broncos start arriving at dealers in the Spring of 2021.  Ford may have good reason to reconnect with Denver Broncos fans again: if they sold 214 of the Special Edition Broncos in 1975 to 2.586 million Coloradans, they might fare far better next year with about 5.9 million prospective fanatic Broncos fans now living there.  Cute truck, a real V-8 that’s not underpowered, and a rare color and trim combination that’s well documented and is even a bit whimsical in a nostalgic way.  The current price on eBay is $15,100 for the ’75 Bronco with at least 50 bids so far. The bidding ends THURSDAY at 12:48 p.m.