1974 Ford Bronco

Overview

The first-generation Ford Bronco ran from 1966 through 1977, and the 1974 model year represents one of the most capable and collected configurations of that run, fitted with the 351 cubic inch Windsor V8 and the proven C-4 automatic, all in the compact short-wheelbase body that Ford abandoned when it grew the Bronco to full size in 1978.
This example has accumulated approximately 45,400 miles over its fifty-year life, making it an extraordinarily low-use truck. What makes it stand out beyond the mileage is the documentation: a complete binder of ownership records, shop invoices, parts receipts, and installation guides covering more than a decade of attentive stewardship. The fundamentals have all been addressed — a freshly rebuilt C-4, stainless brake lines with a hydra-boost master cylinder, a complete Centech electrical rewire, and a custom-built Spicer CV front driveshaft. The Dana 44 front and rear axles have been serviced with fresh synthetic gear oil, new seals, and repaired axle bore; the locking front hubs allow the front axle to be fully disengaged when 4WD isn't needed. The Superwinch Tiger Shark and 33-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires round out a capable off-road package, while the RetroSound Huntington radio and white face gauges keep the dash honest to the era. A Cobra CB radio and mounted fire extinguisher speak to a truck equipped for serious use rather than mere display.
When asked about the truck, the current owner notes: "Everything has been done right and there's paper for all of it. It doesn't have a lot of miles but it's not a trailer queen — it's been maintained to be driven."
All original parts displaced by the brake and suspension upgrades are offered with the sale.

Media

History & Maintenance

Ownership History

The Bronco was acquired in 2015 by its first documented owner in Salamanca, NY, who received a clean New York State Certificate of Title with no liens recorded. Parts acquisition and restoration work began immediately, with receipts dating to early 2015. The vehicle subsequently moved to Blount County, Alabama, where it was registered in 2019 under a second owner in Oneonta, AL. The current owner brought the Bronco to Colorado, where it has most recently received a full C-4 transmission rebuild at Don's Garage Automotive & Transmissions in Denver (March 2026). A complete binder of ownership documents, service invoices, parts receipts, and installation guides accompanies the sale.

Maintenance Highlights

• C-4 transmission full rebuild — new bands, drum, clutch hub, converter, fluid, complete R&R (Don's Garage, Denver CO — March 2026, $4,200)
• Complete brake system overhaul — hydra-boost master cylinder, all-new calipers and pads, stainless steel brake lines front and rear (Classic Restoration & Street Rods, Oneonta AL — 2016)
• Dana 44 rear axle service — rear axle seals replaced, axle seal bore repaired, pinion seal replaced, refilled with Mobil 1 75W-90 synthetic gear oil (Classic Restoration & Street Rods — 2016)
Radiator replacement, oil pan gasket and rear main seal, undercoating (Classic Restoration & Street Rods — 2016)
• Cherry Bomb Vortex dual exhaust system (Jeff's Quality Muffler, Oneonta AL — 2016)
• Centech complete wiring harness installation — full electrical rewire (2015)
• Water pump replaced — GMB brand via Summit Racing (2013); timing tape for Ford 289-351 sourced at the same time indicating ignition timing was inspected and set. Note: the 351 Windsor uses a timing chain, not a timing belt — no belt service is required or applicable to this engine
• Spicer 1810 CV-style front driveshaft, custom built (Drive Shaft Specialists, Olean NY)
• Carburetor inspection, transmission pan seals, oil and filter service, ignition switch replacement (2022)

$70,000

Fundamentals

Features

Heritage

Ford introduced the first-generation Bronco in 1966 as a direct response to the Jeep CJ-5 and International Scout — a compact, purpose-built 4x4 that could hold its own on trails while remaining practical on the street. Through eleven model years, the short-wheelbase Bronco earned a devoted following and a reputation for durability that has only grown in the decades since. The 1978 redesign, which stretched the Bronco onto a full-size F-Series platform to compete with the Chevrolet Blazer, marked the end of that original concept. Today, first-generation Broncos — particularly low-mileage examples with documented histories — are among the most consistently appreciated American collector trucks of their era.
The 351 Windsor V8 fitted to this truck powered everything from Mustangs to F-Series trucks throughout the 1970s. It shares its basic architecture with the Ford 302 but displaces a full 351 cubic inches for additional low-end torque — an ideal match for a truck built to climb and haul. Unlike many performance engines of its era, the 351W uses a timing chain rather than a belt, contributing to its reputation for long-term reliability and low maintenance overhead. Its durability, parts availability, and tuneability have made it one of the most enduring American V8s of the period.

Fun Fact

The first-generation Ford Bronco is one of the few American trucks of its era to have appreciated more consistently than almost any contemporary classic car. A well-documented, low-mileage example like this one is increasingly rare — most early Broncos accumulated decades of hard use, rust, and modification before finding a preservationist owner.

Interior A

The cabin has been thoughtfully upgraded without losing its character. Original seating has been replaced with a pair of late-model Ford/Lincoln power and heated leather bucket seats — charcoal and gray leather in very good condition, showing only light creasing consistent with normal use. The seats fit the cab well and the power adjustment controls are fully functional. A Grant GT steering wheel takes the place of the original, a popular and well-regarded swap in early Bronco builds that improves both grip and driving ergonomics. The dash is clean and black, fitted with the white face gauge cluster and the RetroSound Huntington radio. A Cobra CB radio is mounted within easy reach of the driver and a fire extinguisher is secured in the cabin — practical touches that suit the truck's character. No odors, no tears, no significant blemishes noted.

Exterior A−

The exterior is finished in Plasti-Dip Camo Green — a deliberate and fully reversible surface treatment that protects the original body while allowing future color changes without commitment. Panel gaps are consistent and the body is straight. The Bestop SuperTop features tinted windows and is in good order. Stainless LMC door mirrors and step bars provide clean, period-appropriate finishing details. Minor surface wear consistent with age.

Mechanical A

The C-4 transmission was fully rebuilt in March 2026. The braking system was comprehensively overhauled in 2016 with a hydra-boost master cylinder, all-new calipers, and stainless steel lines. The Dana 44 front and rear axles have been resealed and refilled with synthetic gear oil; locking front hubs are present and functional. Water pump was replaced in 2013 alongside a timing inspection — the 351 Windsor uses a timing chain rather than a belt, so no belt service is required. The Cherry Bomb Vortex exhaust gives the Windsor the right soundtrack. Shifting is smooth and nothing out of the ordinary was observed during evaluation.

Photogrpher's Notes

What stands out immediately is how low-use this truck genuinely is — the odometer backs it up and the overall condition confirms it. Climbing inside, the late-model Ford/Lincoln bucket seats are a pleasant surprise: power, heated, and far more supportive than anything that left the factory in 1974. The Grant GT wheel, Cobra CB radio, and mounted fire extinguisher give the cabin a purposeful, ready-for-anything feel without looking overdone. The white face gauges and RetroSound radio are well chosen — useful enough to live with, classic enough not to look out of place. The documentation binder that comes with this truck is exceptional and rare for a vehicle of this age: organized, complete, and spanning more than a decade of ownership. The Plasti-Dip finish is practical and reversible. The 351 sounds great through the Cherry Bomb exhaust and the freshly rebuilt C-4 shifts exactly as it should. This is a Bronco that has been cared for by people who understood what they had.