The Ford Bronco has been a rising star among popular collector cars, rediscovered by a new generation of enthusiasts while still being loved by those who knew them in their day.
The Pick of the Day is a rare version from the first model year, a 1966 Ford Bronco U13 Roadster, a bare-bones model without doors or a top, of which only a handful were produced. With just two seats and zero weather protection, the Roadster was low in practicality but high in style, making it more of a beach cruiser than a hard-core off roader.
It does have the rugged 4-wheel-drive system from the F-Series pickup and would make a fun trail crawler and, in this configuration, a viable alternative to a vintage open Jeep CJ, and with more space for cargo.
“The Ford Bronco Roadster U13 is the hardest to find of all Broncos,” according to the Hailey, Idaho, dealer advertising the SUV on ClassicCars.com. “Only 5,000 were built during a three-year production run; it’s estimated that less than 150 are in existence today. Even fewer have been restored to this level.
“This stunning example will be welcome on any beach town, mountain town or any car enthusiast gathering.”
The Bronco looks to be in sparkling condition in the photos with the ad, in original fettle with bright-red paint, a simple but clean interior with correct wheels, dashboard and trim. It’s powered by the original 170cid inline-6 with a 3-speed manual shifted on the column and the 4-wheel drive shifted on the floor.
Aside from its stylish appearance, the U13 was a very basic utility vehicle, with most of them used hard and worn out. This example is a rarity as it shows just under 40,000 miles on its odometer, assumed to be accurate, which would have provided a low-mileage basis for the full-on restoration.
Because these Roadsters are much less practical for regular use or camping trips (when doesn’t it rain?), they take a back seat in value compared with the wagon or pickup versions of the first-generation Bronco.
This Bronco U13 seems to be in terrific condition, and it is priced accordingly at the very top of the value range for a perfect example at $74,500.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
We have a 1966 uncut U14 all original restored. We also have a U15 being restored now. Great vehicles both have the inline 170 so will not go 70 on the freeway but likes 50 to 55. But will go anywhere else you want it to go.
My father had the first Bronco off the dealer show room floor, chrome bumpers and all. Could spend all night telling stories about it. Trips to the ADKs, weekend at Watkins Glen GPs, the night on the beach in Canada when the cops tapped on the window, and we were having a good time, Winter at Paul Smiths when it was really cold the steering box froze, the front end shaking so bad on 81 thought it would crash, could go on for ever. If POP only knew what it would turn in to today.
Looks just like Hank Kimball’s Bronco from Green Acres.
Yes. The exact same one.