This might very well be one of the coolest first-gen Ford Broncos. It boasts multiple upgrades from the modern era, so you can consider it a restomod (almost), and it is also a brand-new ride. Does it tick the right boxes to make it yours? Keep reading to find out.
We'll start this story by telling you that the Area 51 reference in the title is nothing more than the name of its paint job. The vehicle was subjected to a complete frame-off restoration, which is why it looks very good for a ride that came out in the same year that man first stepped foot on the Moon.
Mind you, it's not only the complete restoration that should get your heart racing, as this 1969 Ford Bronco also has additional other extras. A Dana 20 transfer case with new seals and bearings, a Dana 30 front axle, a Ford 9-inch rear axle, new power steering, uprated brakes from the modern era, a lift kit, an aftermarket exhaust system, and numerous other goodies are on deck.
This old-timer rides on new 10x15-inch wheels that were wrapped in ultra-thick 3-inch Micky Tompson tires. It has a new soft top, epoxy prime surfaces, a clear coat, new switches and lighting inside, reclining front seats, and several other goodies that will certainly interest the right buyer.
Photo: Garage Kept Motors
You will have to pop the hood open for the icing on the cake, as a brand-new crate motor rests there. It is a 302 ci V8 with undisclosed output and thrust. The 4.9-liter engine works in concert with a rebuilt three-speed automatic transmission that boasts a new torque converter and flywheel, contributing to its off-road prowess.
But is the motor really the sole icing on the cake? Not by far, as this 1969 Ford Bronco only has the testing miles under its belt. The odometer read only 71 miles (114 km) at the time of cataloging. The vendor says the engine comes with a 70,000-mile (112,654-km)/3-year warranty, so the vehicle's future owner doesn't have to worry about it breaking down.
Any ride that has received so much care and attention to detail tends to cost an arm and a leg. The same goes for this classic first-gen Ford Bronco, which is extremely expensive. At the time of writing, Garage Kept Motors, which advertises it here, asked for a cool $119,900 to part ways with it. That's way more than what you'd have to pay for a brand-new Ford Bronco Raptor. The latter carries an MSRP of $80,580 and uses a 3.0L EcoBoost V6 with 418 hp (424 ps/312 kW) and 440 lb-ft (597 Nm) of torque.
So, if you had that much money lying around and the desire to get a Bronco, would you choose this classic one over its modern successor?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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