Junkyard Gem: 1983 Ford Bronco
Ford constructed the Bronco from the 1966 by means of 1996 mannequin years, after which it was changed by the Expedition and its 4 doorways. Then got here 2021, when a brand-new Bronco appeared to do gross sales battle with the Jeep Wrangler. Broncos from the primary couple of many years of manufacturing are junkyard rarities at this time, and the few that do present up within the boneyards are typically mangled past recognition or picked clear inside days of arrival. That made this ’83, present in a Denver-area yard, an extra-special Junkyard Gem.
The primary-generation (1966-1977) Bronco was constructed by itself bespoke chassis with a really brief 92″ wheelbase, simply an inch longer than that of the little MGB sports activities automobile. For 1978, the Bronco moved to a shortened model of the F-Collection truck chassis, turning into a lot larger in each dimension and gaining greater than 1,500 kilos within the course of. The Bronco remained a member of the F-Collection household all through the tip of manufacturing in 1996, getting updates paralleling these of F-100/F-150 generations.
This one is a member of the third Bronco technology, constructed from the 1980 by means of 1986 mannequin years.
The door tag tells us that it was in-built December of 1982 at Ford’s Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, and that it was offered new through the gross sales workplace in Seattle, Washington.
The bottom engine within the 1983 Bronco was the 300-cubic-inch (4.9-liter) straight-six, a sturdy truck-only plant rated at 115 horsepower and 223 pound-feet on this software. 302 and 351 (5.0- and 5.8-liter) Windsor V8s had been obtainable as choices.
The bottom transmission within the 1983 Bronco was a four-on-the-floor guide, which could possibly be outfitted with an overdrive prime gear for $78 additional ($250 in 2024 {dollars}). That is what’s on this truck.
The F-Collection-based Bronco grew to become extra snug (alongside its pickup siblings) because the generations glided by, however the third-generation model was a loud, rough-riding actual truck that will be thought-about intolerably crude by fashionable SUV requirements.
This one did not get constructed with many choices, however it did get the extra-cost rear window defroster with this afterthought of a swap.
Air-con? Not at $729 ($2,337 after inflation). Simply open the home windows!
The MSRP for the bottom ’83 Bronco was $10,589, or about $33,948 in at this time’s {dollars}.
Simply to confuse everyone, Ford started promoting a compact SUV primarily based on the Ranger for the 1984 mannequin 12 months, calling it the Bronco II. This was in line with the custom established when full-sized LTDs had been offered alongside Torino-based LTD IIs throughout the mid-to-late Seventies. For the reason that present Bronco is predicated on the Ranger platform, that makes it extra the religious descendant of the Bronco II than of the F-Collection-based 1980-1996 Bronco.
Maybe delivering the brand new Ford vans through helicopter assault whereas “Journey of the Valkyries” performs was in poor style, simply six years after the Fall of Saigon and two years after “Apocalypse Now” hit theaters.
You will not consider the offers on new ’83s at Nationwide Ford Truck Week!
