While the re-born sixth-generation Bronco is all the rage, let’s not forget that it had five generations before it. Ford’s Bronco was in fact born in 1965 and ran uninterrupted until 1996, before the 25-year hiatus. This makes earlier generations all the more desirable, and this first-gen 1974 Ford Bronco 427 Resto is undoubtedly a piece of history, as well as something that will appreciate in value as time passes by. Don’t be fooled by the fact that it’s a restomod, as it’s still very Bronco!

Exterior and Interior

Donald N. Frey and team designed the first-gen Bronco around a chassis that was specifically for the model range and not shared with any other Ford Motor Company sister brands. This 1974 Ford Bronco 427 Resto rocks an eye-catching blue exterior with white hard top, and was reportedly repainted in 2015 by the previous owner. It’s got aluminum aftermarket wheels wearing 33-inch tires, as well as a bull bar and Warn winch to reassure you that it didn’t lose any rough and tough chops during the restomod process. The interior is decked out in blue to match the exterior, and you’ve got two rows of seats, a Grant GT steering wheel, aftermarket rev counter complementing the stock gauges, and an aftermarket Sony head unit with radio, CD, MP3, WMA, and AUX connectivity that plays through a set of door-mounted 6” by 9” speakers. A set of Ford rubber floormats is present as well, and the dash remains the original unit.

Engine

Whilst the largest engine one could get with a first-gen Bronco was a 302ci small-block V8, this 1974 Ford Bronco 427 Resto packs a 427ci swap that was installed by the previous owner, along with a rebuilt original transmission, electric fuel injection and disc brakes. A new serpentine belt and power steering belt were installed in 2020. Drive is sent to all four wheels via an automatic transmission with a kick-shift kit installed by the previous owner, that drops a gear on acceleration. You’ve also got high and low range, selectable by a lever in the cabin.