opinions on this bronco

[leejam99]

Helloooww,

newbie here looking to get into a daily driver EB! Can you veterans check this one that i found and give me some opinions/feedback please?

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/car/651965046.html

I have not seen it in person yet and do not have any more pics that the ones posted but she did tell me that there are "minor rust" in the driver/passanger floor pans. But "it drives straight and stops great"

Thanks!

J

 

[Broncobill78]

Helloooww,
newbie here looking to get into a daily driver EB! Can you veterans check this one that i found and give me some opinions/feedback please?

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/car/651965046.html

I have not seen it in person yet and do not have any more pics that the ones posted but she did tell me that there are "minor rust" in the driver/passanger floor pans. But "it drives straight and stops great"

Thanks!

J

Wow. Well to be perfectly honest with you I'm *personally* more than a little interested in what S-Bolt has to say. But since he hasn't had anything to say yet I'll toss it out there and take the chance of stepping on my d*ck.

$13,500 seems like an awful lot. Now that isn't to say that there aren't PLENTY of EB's out there worth upwards of $15K but if you want prime money then you should be prepared to supply people with outstanding closeup photos and NOT sound like you're doing them a favor by charging them so little. To be perfectly honest it's really impossible to know or to say without being able to actually look at and examine the truck, but I wouldn't even *consider* dropping that kind of coin onto something I couldn't take a good hard look at myself. Do you have ANY idea just how many guys out there have spent $200 on ArmorAll products and $2K on a Bondo & Maaco fiasco and then flipped it for $10K ? This guy seems to know a LOT more about the stereo than he does about the mechanicals (except of course he DOES seem to know what's RARE and desirable) and that's not something that I usually look for in a seller.

He seems awfully keen to ask top dollar for a truck that's had nothing much done to it other than a steering box & brakes, oh wait, did I forget the $15 Neutral-Safety switch and $8 heater hose. Well worth $13K. Just how "untouched" it is will depend upon what an inspection reveals. Especially considering this is the *final* price deduction. He's giving you one final chance to drop your soap & bend over.

Might be that it really IS an awesome truck and worth every penny, but the fact is that the way the guy sounds, discribes it and just comes off in general would make me want to spend an *entire* afternoon going over the thing before I even considered handing him a dime. Maybe I'm cynical and he's just a Noob who doesn't know any better or maybe he's one of those guys who likes to polish a **** and ask $13.5 for it. I don't know him, I've never met him, I don't know Jack about the truck and maybe I'm just flat out wrong. Wait for some other opinions. I'm not suggesting it isn't worth some coin, but I'm thinking it's a few $K too high right now. For me at least (and without being able to examine it, maybe it's everything he claims and then some. Who knows)

 

[Bully Bob]

Huh...??? what did he say..?? :huh:

From what those pics show.., that's a fair price for that rig.

Keep in mind, you can pick up an '05 Jeep for $18-20K

For me, the choice is a "no brainer".....

.....(I'd take the Br.)

Having said that.., do have a look first. I sold several of my rigs "sight-un-seen"

(long story, they were lucky they got me. No brag, just fact)

 

[aqua_wonder]

You should go and check out the truck before you make any decisions. Some people are honest and others are not. Check out the entire body, frame and drivetrain. If the truck is local you could always take the truck to a mechanic and have them do a once over. Does the previous owner have receipts for the "new" parts and labor? The milage is high on the engine in my opinion. I would hate to hear that the engine took a dump shortly after you bought the rig.

 

[S_bolt19]

I gotta agree with BB on this one. Without better and a lot more pictures, I wouldn't touch it for that price. Power brakes are not a big deal anymore, every Tom, **** & Harry is putting vacuum or power brakes on their rigs for low costs. If I am a serious buyer on this thing, I want to see at least 40 to 50 more pictures if I can't be there to inspect it. I just sold one of mine and a guy asked me for almost 100 pictures. If they aren't willing to go get you more, then there might be something else wrong. That is just me and being a pesimist with an internet sale. The price is on the very high end too, as far as I am concerned. The Ranger package interior is good, but it is base model exterior. No chrome, and that steering wheel isn't that big of a deal. A completely stock EB, uncut and completely rust free may bring 15k, but that is only in California and only if it is a Ranger/Sport package. Here in Colorado, that particular rig is only a 10-12k rig, but it also depends on actual condition. Just by those pictures, I would call them and say that I am a serious buyer, I want to know everything about it and I would also like to see pictures of the inner fenders by the firewall, rocker panel pictures, frame & engine pictures, etc. right on down the line. It shouldn't be that big of a problem, especially considering the vehicle is 33 years old and it is a supposed 13k investment.

You aren't always lucky to come across someone like Bully Bob who is honest with his work and also knows what he has and has put into them. Some jokers, like Bill said, are a Maaco paint job and a shiney price tag. If you are able to actually stop by and see it, then do it, take some pictures, post them here and we can give you a much better assesment of the Bronco.

 

[Bully Bob]

The paint on that rig looks extremely smooth...that's a good sign. (& one would hope the other side is as nice)

There's chrome trim on windshield & side windows...it's poss. & common to remove the side trim prior to paint. I don't like the trim but some would say it affects the value (on resto. veh.)

The body style (orig.) will be in the VIn #

Why does that "Craigslist" ring a bell...?

Can't remember if it's good or bad.....?

 

[Broncobill78]

Why does that "Craigslist" ring a bell...?Can't remember if it's good or bad.....?

Because Craigslist is great & $hitty. It's a great deal because you can post your truck/bedroom set/marital aid/whatever for sale and it's not only seen locally but nationally and it doesn't cost you jack$hit. So it's great for guys who have been there & done that with the national corp. magazines that charge $75/EACH to list your photo ad every month. On the other hand it gives every clown & hack artist within driving distance of a Maaco the opportunity to post some re-sprayed bucket for high-end coin. It's a double edged sword. It's like hitting on women in a bar, do it enuf times and you'll eventually hit your number. Re-spray some wreck and post it nationally for $10 and *eventually* you'll find some pinhead with more money than smarts. The trick is to NOT be that pinhead.

TO me at least it typifies the problems with buying anything online. You're dealing with someone who's halfway across the country and a complete unknown. Tell me, just HOW many cars/trucks have you seen in your lifetime that looked absolutely freaking awesome from 15ft away but once you got up close you realized it was fresh paint sprayed over bondo ? Can *you* tell from those photos ? I certainly can't I'd to be honest I'd say anyone willing to drop $13.5K based on those photos alone is a fool. For a top dollar price I would expect as many photos as I wanted, from whatever angle & distance I wanted and straight, honest answers to a LOT of questions without the standard evasions and refrences to all the awesome upgrades it has. I want someone willing to SHOW me what he's built and who's willing to get on the phone and answer my very specific questions without a lot of long awkward pauses and Uhhm's & Ohh's. If the guy is honestly proud of what he's got and is honestly representing it then he should have no problem with providing whatever photos you request and answering any questions you have without needing to get back to you later on (after he's had time to research the answer). Now I'll grant that some guys simply have a pristine truck and quite simply *can't* answer each and every question offhand, but that sort of thing should come thru when you speak with them in person. Regardless,I can't imagine dropping this sort of coin on *anything* that I didn't actually look at for myself. The photos and description should be enuf to earn the guy a deposit and a time/date when you'll be there to inspect it personally but I'm not paying top dollar for *anything* that I haven't crawled under, around & over. the 1950's went away a LONG time ago, there are just too many hose-jobs out there to sink that kind of money into something that hasn't been inspected.

That's MY take on it. Like I said, maybe this is IS cherry but I honest;y can't tell from the photos because it's just too easy to hide the sort of Bronco-specific issues that we need to be looking for. Close-up, High resolution photos DO help, but I didn't see any of those in the ad.

You hate to think the worst of people, really, you do. But the fact is that there are *plenty* of guys out there who didn't and wound up regretting it. I work WAY too hard for my $$$ & I don't have some rich uncle who's going to buy me another one if I buy a $hitbox, so the money I spend needs to be WELL spent. If that means I have to ask someone a LOT of questions and perhaps question his integrity in the process then so be it, unfortunately that's the world we live in and anyone asking for that sort of coin in an online transaction should understand that and be prepared for those questions.

 

[S_bolt19]

It isn't that CL rings a bell, but moreso that I don't trust people when they sell their cars and they say that "This is the final price on this vehicle. No other photos available. If you are a serious buyer..call the number on bottom of posting. Price is not negotiable". That right there, doesn't matter if it is CL, eBay, or any auto trading publication, is a red flag to me. It means that either they know that the vehicle isn't worth what they want or they aren't really trying to sell it. Like I said, I wouldn't touch it unless I had a lot more detail about it and a lot more pictures to go off of.

But, I still say that if you have an opportunity to go and look at it, then do it. That is the best way. Not by picture.

 

[Broncobill78]

Absolutely. I perhaps didn't say it as well.

What *I* look for in a seller is someone who posts a few photos so that you have an idea of what he has & is selling but he then INVITES you to ask him questions and he *offers* to provide whatever additional info or photos you request. Someone like that demonstrates that they have nothing to hide and they welcome questions & scrutiny. THAT's the kind of guy *I* like to buy from. The guys who wave flags around minor upgrades or repairs or shout that they're offering you the best deal you'll ever see on *their* truck are the ones that make me nervous. Guys that like to use lots of caps to draw your attention to all the *important, valuable or RARE* upgrades they've done are just waving red flags.

Maybe they've got something rare, valuable and worth having and maybe they're trying to clean out your wallet. Personally, *I* don't like to gamble, I like a sure thing.

$2 or $3K on a ****** deal, sure, you write it off as a lesson learned, chalk it up as experience and you keep it as a parts truck. $14K, now that's a whole different ballpark. Well, it is for anyone in MY tax-bracket at least.

Caveat Emptor.

 

[aqua_wonder]

Craig's list is similar to the newspaper or tradin times. If something strikes your interest definitely take a look. Ever think the seller just bought the truck few months ago and for some reason has to sell it and maybe they are losing money on the deal. Or the seller could be a nut job and thinks like alot of people who get their hands on an EB that they can get top dollar. Yeah you can call the seller and ask a few questions and have a few pictures sent. I would never buy a vehicle without seeing it first. I love the calls when you a selling a truck and everyone wants it and no one has the money. I always invite the person to come check it out and take it for a spin.

 

[fbnwest]

I have a question on this rig too. I am *Disclaimer* another bronco newbie although I do own two at the moment. Not to derail the topic either but is this what an uncut bronco looks like? Because to me it looks like it has been lowered in the back or cut in the front. I realize it has regular tires on it, but even in the picture showing the rear side you can barely see the rubber on the tire. I have seen quite a few broncos and peruse several sites looking for information on repairs, and I would never have believed this was what an original bronco looked like as far as clearance and tires etc. goes.

It does look like a very nice ride though. Interior and such. I would say he either doesn't have the drivers door shut all the way or it is hanging a bit funny looking at the striping alignment. Other then that I have nothing to add to the meaningful opinions offered above. I just truly wanted to know if this is what fenders on a bronco really looked like before people modified them for trails/lifts/flamethrower mounts.

Dave h34r: /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[TX '73]

I like the rig but I don't like the roll bar (doesn't reach the tailgate). Not a deal breaker by any means but like everyone else says, be careful. No question, you must have a chance to see, inspect and drive the thing before committing....as with any vehicle purchase. I couldn't tell you what the thing is worth in Cali even if I was standing next to it. Good luck.

 

[Bully Bob]

".....is this what an uncut bronco looks like..?"

YES.....top/left pic is a bit distorted. Top/right is a better angle.

Front is correct (mine is un-cut {front} as well)

Door appears to be "a-jar"

Good eye Dave...!!! :-B I didn't notice those things......

but, noticed speakers punched thru the rear side panels...

Ha...! now that TX'73 is one honest guy...!!!

 

[S_bolt19]

but, noticed speakers punched thru the rear side panels...

 

That alone is a knock on the price, those Ranger panels are pretty damn hard to come by if they are original, and if they are, then the guy was an idiot for cutting them. Granted it isn't a big nick, but still, some original restos, do it right and don't ***** up the original parts.

 

[Broncobill78]

Someone, anyone ? Granted it's only been a day but *I* can't find one, posted, with photos and in good/decent/ or mint condition. If someone ELSE can the please, inquiring minds want to know. I was just considering the mechanicals, reconstructing an original interior wasn't even something I considered. I don't even want to KNOW how much that would run. I guess it goes without saying that a top-dollar truck should be WORTH top-dollars. Just my opinion, as always, take it for what it's worth. In the meantime track down what reconstructing an original interior will cost. Gives you a whole new perspective when you start drilling holes for tweeters doesn't it ?