Ford claims that the latest Bronco is a legend that is reborn by popular demand. The range has grown to a family of two vehicles, the Bronco for off-road excellence and Bronco Sport to fulfill the demand for compact cross-overs. To turn the Bronco into a crossover isn't a betrayal of the Bronco's legacy with the first generation of the vehicle being a compact 4×4. Unlike Ford's other crossover the Puma which has betrayed one of their former sports car's legacy.
The latest model launched in 2020, ready for the 2021 model year. Ford says that “At its core, a wild spirit takes root, raring to take you outdoors, off-road, and to a place you've never gone before”. The motor company makes no secret of the first car's success, “In 1966, this new breed of off-road vehicle stampeded onto the scene and into wild hearts everywhere, setting the mold for the modern SUV", it is for this reason that the original Bronco carries such a premium.
The Ford Bronco is more diverse than you thought.
There Are Three Different Broncos
The first-generation Bronco sold for 12 years between 1966 and 1977. Over this cars' lifespan it was available in three main body types, Roadster, Pick up which Ford referred to as the Sports Utility Vehicle, and lastly the most famous Wagon body style. This first generation of car straddles the line between utilitarian off-roader and luxury vehicle, with leather-like vinyl trim and airy cabin space. The exterior has a hint of the Jeep about it, and with how the cabin sits on top the body must have been a design inspiration for the British Range Rover. The Bronco came with either a three-speed manual or automatic gearbox.
What's The Most Expensive?
According to Classic, a website that collects and tracks auction records of classic vehicles, the average price of a first-generation Bronco is around $63,000, with examples from 1969 sitting with the highest average sale of $80,012. In 1969 the Bronco entered into the Baja 1000 with a special package following in 1971 that included a tricolor livery similar to the winning car, these are rare but carry a price premium.
Many classic Broncos, such as Range Rovers and Defenders, have seen heavy modification, with chunkier suspension and tires these cars are more often than not built on the rarer pick-up body type. This pick-up body got pulled from sale in 1972. An example with an aftermarket five-speed gearbox recently sold for over $200,000.
How Does Trim Change The Price?
Across the first generation of the car, Ford offered four main packages for the vehicle. These different trim specifications don't appear to impact prices too much. The Explorer Package was Ford's entry-level option which they call, “budget-oriented”, with a cloth interior the model is less opulent and those cars around the $20,000 mark tend to have this specification. There is little difference in price between the final three packages that Ford offered.
In 1967 came the company's Sport package, which gave the model a little more luxury on the inside and a more stylish painted front grille. The Ranger Package took these hints of luxury a little further in 1973, offering color carpets and matching instrument panels. To finish the car's life, the Special Decor package brought with it a body-color matching roof and black grille. This most stylish car when in good condition sells for above average, as do most final-year cars which average just shy of $64,000 the second-highest average of all first-generation Bronco model years.