Horses live to be about 25-30 years. These old nags are 30-33 years old; in other words, living on very borrowed time, from the looks of them. Awaiting euthanasia?
These are from the 1987-1991 model years, thus a few years older than O.J.’s famous ’94. After selling some 78k and 108k in its first two years (1978, 1979) the big Bronco had long settled into a routine of selling some 25 – 65k per year, with a couple of extra good years as exceptions, like this generation in 1989, when it sold 69k times. Its sales, like pretty much all big trucks, was a barometer of the economic conditions of the times, as these were mostly discretionary sales.
One of these has a license plate.
The other not.
They both have the detritus of old automotive life in them.
And a shovel, for good measure.
Who knows what their actual future will be? I’m guessing it’s not going to be a very long one.
I wouldn’t bet against them. With simple mechanicals, great parts availability and a body style that is still in some demand restoration is not out of the question.
Personally I’m more surprised there aren’t “For Sale” signs on them asking $5000 or something. With the new Bronco coming out, it seems like everyone is dragging their old full sizer of the weeds and trying to take advantage of the hoopla to get ridiculous money for them.
I have to agree. These two aren’t ready for the glue factory yet and they wear their battle scars well.
Agreed. Rust free bodies, these things are worth some money, especially back in the salt belt.
I don’t know about restoration but I bet they will be around for many more years because parts are common and they do have a following with serious off roaders.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a for sale sign with a $5k price tag and see them go quickly.
Well, I didn’t mean a 100-point concours-quality restoration. More like swapping parts around between the two to get one nice enough for “daily driver” status and then selling the other to a country boy who just wants a trail rig.
Like David Saunders suggests below, the white XL could be a parts truck for the red XLT.
From the lead image I would have guessed the white one was the parts truck to the red one but the license plate situation does not lend weight to that theory.
With the same-age 1986 Cadillac Fleetwood in an adjacent post, these worse-for-wear Broncos make an ironic juxtaposition.
Based on what we have available around here, these Broncos are far from junk, I don’t see any rust at all and almost every part they share with the F150 can be purchased new.
I see nothing critically wrong with these Broncos that would say their time is nearing. One could say that about a lot of similar situation cars. The really critical factor in their ongoing chance at life is….the owner. The crap in the back is never a good owner sign.
The values for this generation have been on the rise, their future may not be in some collectors garage but as an off roader these both have excellent bones.
I never liked this front end much but oddly enough without the bumpers I think it looks cool, like 55 Chevy gassers
Awww yeeeaaah, these 2 speak to me. These both would fit right in as daily drivers here in SWVA. A set of cheap M/T tires, a CB whip antenna, a few hunting/outdoor themed stickers (YETI decals add like 5-15 hp these days…) and an LED light bar for good measure…..every country boy from the holler and back would be fired up 6 ways to Sunday looking to get they best girl out for a night of muddin, racin, and ice cold ones by the bonfire out the back 40……git-r-dun……
Although the above scenario isn’t necessarily my style, I would gladly drive the XL daily as is. To quote my late father, “Chrome don’t getcha home, son.” I used to dislike the 87-91 8th gen Fords, but after owning an 87 F150 and a 91 F250, I grew to like them. Around here they sell cheaper than either the 6th or 9th gen trucks and yet the bones are the same. A 302W with FI and a C6 make for a reliable combo. And I do love me some full size Bronco. An aftermarket soft top makes summers along a riverside that much more enjoyable, and cruising?,…..Man oh man……..Good Times….
Perhaps your referring to the 1973 film The Horse by Charles Burnett. If not no biggie as I can go far afield easily.
These are quite popular with recreational off roaders and Longmire fans so they would sell for decent money if they are still runners. The lack of a front bumper isn’t an impediment if the buyer/owner plans to install or fabricate a winch bumper.
My only concern with these two is biohazards in the interior from being parked in Eugene with the rear window down.
Asterisk:I am aware that Longmire drove the final generation 91-96 “aero headlight” and not an 87-91 “waterfall hood”
I’m hoping those windows were just temporarily down and aren’t permanently down or missing in the Willamette Valley winter rain. That would move them up several rungs on the hooptie ladder.
I used one of these briefly as a field rig about a decade ago. White, V8, manual transmission. Lot of fun to drive, not because it was good (it most assuredly wasn’t) but because it was so different and raw. The height, short wheelbase, and neglected suspension gave a distinct feeling of the body not being entirely connected to the wheels, with lots of disconcerting yaw and pitch as it rumbled down the two-lanes. Deliberate, slow placement of the long shift lever while going up the gears, big V8 roar without much forward progress. As vehicles from another time they have a lot of character now.
Damn, you’re making me want a crusty old stick shift Bronco now…