I have heard so many stories about how a guy bought a gen 1 Bronco and off roaded the **** out of it .... until it was destined for the scrap yard. Only to find out now that the same gen 1 Bronco goes for $30,000.
So true. BUT...
The first gen series--especially the 66-69 model years--seems totally impervious to value loss with mods. Many seem to add more value even, especially if upgraded to 9" rear end, Dana 44 front, 4 or 5 speed gearbox, or even automatic. Add reasonable--and well done--lifts, bigger wheels/tires, roll cages, horsepower, etc. and these well-sorted units are commanding just as much, and sometimes more than the untouched, spindly stockers.
Example: Pete's great aunt gifted him his dead uncle's basically stock, very well cared for and damn good looking 1967 Bronco with original 170 cid six and three on the tree. Pete is not a gearhead, but he is an opportunist, and the current Bronco market is no secret to him. So he cleans it up, paints the wheels, spoons on some new rubber, buys a set of retro hubcaps, waxes up that trendy patina, registers it and all told, has less than two grand out-of-pocket.
Pete puts it on the market for a cool $89,000.00.
Meanwhile, a county over is Paul. He too inherited a very similar 1967 model from his pops. Dad was a gearhead, and this was a long-term project. He had already converted to a 302 V8 with an NP435 4 speed, and to make that swap easier, Pops had done a modest 2" body lift. In back of garage sat prepped and install-ready a 9" rear diff and Dana 44 front fitted with 4.11:1 gears, and heavier rear leaf springs that he did not get around to installing.
Paul did, plus another 2.5" chassis lift and all the right steering and suspension bits to make it cherry. He added a Wildwood hydro-boost power brake setup to enhance his upgraded front discs, a four barrel carburetor and full-length headers, did a frame-off body refresh, two-tone leather seating and various trim crribbed from a King Ranch F150, new wheels, tires, a family-sized roll cage complete with upgraded safety gear, painted it in a period-correct hue with some deep candied pearl and achieved his goal: A classic daily driver that can face any off-road challenge while still looking more stock that modded.
But sadly, Cult Covidian killed his business and his savings, and he was a breath away from mortgage default, so this labor of love went on the market too with an asking price of $109,000.
So if you're one of the wealthy New-Normies who can afford collector cars, and you see these two choices in front of you, which one are YOU going to pay asking for?
I do love that about Gen 1 Bronco. Their prices command the value of the love put into.
ranching! 
