Lucas Bell 
With the reintroduction of the storied nameplate drawing ever closer, the cultural power of the Ford Bronco hasn’t been this high since OJ’s low-speed chase. People have been obsessing over the truck both old and new for a few years now, and the market is starting to respond. Earlier this month, an unrestored example of a second-gen Bronco just smashed the auction record while offered on Bring a Trailer.
This Wimbledon White over Coral 1979 Ford Bronco had only traveled 20,000 miles since it was new, and for all intents and purposes the truck is untouched perfection. Sure it is a base model Custom trim and it doesn’t have the more desirable 400 V8, but this truck is a legit time capsule that cannot be repeated. It may not be the nicest example of a second-gen Bronco out there, but it has to be one of the lowest mileage unrestored examples.
When the second-gen Bronco debuted for the 1978 model year, it was a dramatic departure from the legend that preceded it. The new SUV was heavier, longer, wider, and taller than the previous model, and it no longer rode on a bespoke chassis. Instead, the Bronco rode on a shortened version of the F100 pickup platform, a trend that would continue through the model’s 1996 market exit. Gone were the roadster and half-cab pickup styles, as the new truck featured a two-door wagon design with a B-pillar back removable fiberglass top.
This particular second-gen Bronco was able to sell for a hammer price of $67,725, including the buyer’s premium and fees. That is significantly higher than the previous record holder, also sold on BaT, which hammered for $60,375 back in March. These second-gen Broncos are highly sought after, and only were produced for two model years. That being said, we don’t expect values to decrease anytime soon, especially with the new truck right around the corner.
