First-generation Bronco · model year 1973

1973 Ford Bronco

Specs · value · for sale · VIN · buyer's guide

Automatic and power steering arrive

AI-generated illustration for reference; not a photo of a specific vehicle. Details may not be exact.

Looking at a 1973 Ford Bronco? Below are the quick specs, how to identify a 1973 and decode its VIN, the colors and options, an inspection checklist, and what 1973 Broncos are listed for right now. There were 31 listed on Autotrader Classics as of October 18, 2026, asking $10,995 to $265,499. A1973

1973 answered the Blazer and Scout II. The C4 automatic and Saginaw power steering became options, and the 170 six grew to a 200. E H C

The EBR gives C4 ratios of 2.46/1.46/1.00 and 5.3 turns lock-to-lock for the power box. The new J-handle transfer shifter brought a 2.34:1 low range. E

Sales jumped, with 26,300 built per the EBR and Hagerty. E H

1973 Ford Bronco specs & quick facts

Bodies

Wagon

H C

Engines

200 six (code S or T) / 302 V8, 205 hp (code G)

L V H F70

Transmission

3-speed manual or C4 automatic

E C

Transfer case

Dana 20, low 2.34:1

Front axle

Dana 44

C E

Rear axle

Ford 9-inch

C E

Front brakes

11x2 in drum

C E

Steering

Manual or power, 5.3 turns

C E

Wheelbase / turning

92 in / 33.6 ft (Ford, 1968)

H F68

Fuel tanks

12.7 + 7.5 aux gal

C E F70

Production

26,300 (Ford/EBR); 21,894 alternate

E P

Colors

VIN serial range

Q00,001–S60,000

How to identify a 1973 Ford Bronco

Year tells

Column automatic selector or a power-steering pump means 1973 or later. E H
J-handle transfer shifter. E C

Vs. 1972: 1972 had the 170 six, manual steering only, and a half-cab.

Vs. 1974: 1974 added a lighted gear indicator and dropped the front limited-slip and 4.11 axle.

What changed for 1973

200 cu in six replaces the 170. E H C W
C4 automatic optional. E H C
Power steering optional. E H C
Half-cab pickup discontinued. H

Reading the VIN

Format: series (U13 roadster, U14 pickup, U15 wagon), engine letter, plant letter (H Lorain, L Michigan Truck, R San Jose, S Allen Park), then the serial number. Example: U15SLAE0010. L
1973 serial range: Q00,001–S60,000. L

1973 Ford Bronco options, packages & interior

Sport and Ranger continued. C

Interior

Most early Broncos had simple low-back front bucket seats and a basic rear bench, and utility U14 half-cabs often had a front bench. Wild Horses, a parts vendor, describes the factory seats as flat and unsupportive by modern standards. WHS
Interior kits, seats and dash parts for a 1973 are covered on our early Bronco parts page. WHP

1973 Ford Bronco colors

Hagerty counts 17 paint colors for 1973. H

Buying a 1973 Ford Bronco: inspection checklist

Body: panel by panel

Rocker panels: a known rust area that often carries into the floor pans. SD
Floor pans: lift the carpet and check the seat mounts and footwells. SD H
Rear quarters and inner fenders: anywhere mud, water and salt collect. SD H
Inner door frames at the hinges, the firewall and inner fenders. SD
Tailgate bottom and roof seams: the panels most often named in buyer guides, though the sources cited here don't single them out. H
Tap suspect metal with a pick (a ping is good, a thud is rust) and use a magnet to find filler. SD

Frame

Steering-box mount area on the frame: check for cracks, one of the most common failures. KC
From the rear bump stops back to the rear body mounts: rust collects under the rail. KC
Under the rear shock mounts: probe with a screwdriver. KC
Front and rear frame horns: check for bends, cracks or rust. KC
Body mount holes, especially under the pads. KC
Welds at suspension, engine mounts and crossmembers, and the drain holes. Rust can work from inside out, so a borescope helps. KE

VIN, data plate and numbers-matching

Match the frame stamp (passenger-side rail, below and behind the starter) to the plate and the title. O
Decode the VIN: series U13/U14/U15, then the engine letter, plant letter and serial. A 1973 serial should fall in Q00,001–S60,000 (LMC). L
The engine letter must match what's under the hood if the seller claims an original engine. L
Door tags can be faked ('repro' tags have been sold for years). A Marti Report lists the factory options, paint, axle and build dates. M

Mechanical

Sixes and the 289/302 are simple and cheap to rebuild. Rebuilt 3-speed Toploaders were about $600 in 2021. H
Check the Dana 20 and its Bronco-specific front mount, and confirm the front axle type, which a seller may not know. H
Drum brakes all round: expect weak stopping without a conversion. C E

1973 Ford Bronco upgrades & swaps

Front disc brake conversion: widely called the first, non-negotiable safety upgrade. SX CB
Power steering conversion (factory option from 1973). SX CB
2.5-in lift: the 'sweet spot' for 31–33-in tires. Replace all bushings (track bar, radius arm, C-bushings) at the same time. SX CB
EFI conversion on the original V8, or a Coyote 5.0 swap. Coyote installs usually need a 2–3-in body lift, a low-profile pan and a moved column, and most use a 6R80 automatic. SX TD TO
With big power: 31-spline 9-inch axles, an HD Dana 20 output or Atlas case. TO
Floor shift conversion off the column 3-speed, and a J-shifter upgrade, are owner favorites. CB

Roll bars were never a factory option on early Broncos. A family-style cage protects rear-seat passengers and gives a mount for the rear belts. WHR

1973 Ford Bronco parts compatibility

System	1973	Source
Front axle	Dana 44 (1971–77)	C E
Rear axle	Ford 9-inch (all years). 1977 has an HD housing; big-power builds move to 31-spline.	E TO
Transfer case	Dana 20 with a Bronco-specific front mount (not interchangeable with other Dana 20s)	H
Front brakes	Drum, shared 1966–75	C E
Steering linkage	T-style 1966–75	C
Fuel tank/sender	Year-specific capacities (see quick facts); order by year	C E
Rear shocks	Rearward eye mount (1967–77)	E R

Shopping for parts? See early Bronco parts and the vendor directory.

Restoring a 1973 Ford Bronco

Start with the frame: check the steering-box mount for cracks, the rails from the rear bump stops to the body mounts, and under the body-mount pads. KC
Rust can work from the inside out, so check the welds and drain holes with a borescope. KE
Body: the rockers often rot into the floor pans, and the inner door frames, firewall and inner fenders are next. Complete steel body tub kits are sold for 1966–77 trucks. SD WHB
Do one area at a time, buy complete kits rather than piecemeal parts, and plan upgrades such as discs and power steering into the restoration. CB

How the 1973 compares with other early Broncos

Year	Bodies	Engines	Front axle	Front brakes	Transmission	Built (two counts)	Avg ask (listings)
1966	Roadster, half-cab, wagon	170 six / 289 V8	Dana 30	Drum	3-spd manual	18,200 / 23,776	$80,428 (9)
1967	Roadster, half-cab, wagon	170 six / 289 V8	Dana 30	Drum	3-spd manual	16,100 / 14,230	$109,700 (11)
1968	Roadster, half-cab, wagon	170 six / 289 V8	Dana 30	Drum	3-spd manual	15,700 / 16,841	$106,327 (16)
1969	Half-cab, wagon	170 six / 302 V8	Dana 30	Drum	3-spd manual	19,200 / 20,956	$91,590 (26)
1970	Half-cab, wagon	170 six / 302 V8	Dana 30	Drum	3-spd manual	18,500 / 18,450	$105,775 (22)
1971	Half-cab, wagon	170 six / 302 V8	Dana 44	Drum	3-spd manual	18,700 / 19,784	$90,324 (18)
1972	Half-cab, wagon	170 six / 302 V8	Dana 44	Drum	3-spd manual	18,300 / 21,115	$119,187 (23)
1973	Wagon	200 six / 302 V8	Dana 44	Drum	3-spd or C4 auto	26,300 / 21,894	$101,057 (31)
1974	Wagon	200 six / 302 V8	Dana 44	Drum	3-spd or C4 auto	21,400 / 25,824	$79,862 (19)
1975	Wagon	302 V8	Dana 44	Drum	3-spd or C4 auto	13,200 / 13,125	no summary (6)
1976	Wagon	302 V8	Dana 44	Disc	3-spd or C4 auto	14,500 / 15,256	$105,605 (15)
1977	Wagon	302 V8	Dana 44	Disc	3-spd or C4 auto	30,700 / 14,546	$86,452 (25)

Specs H C E L. Production: Ford/EBR series and the EarlyBroncoAds series, which disagree E P. Asking prices from Autotrader Classics, October 18, 2026 A1966 A1967 A1968 A1969 A1970 A1971 A1972 A1973 A1974 A1975 A1976 A1977, are asking prices, not sales.

1973 Ford Bronco for sale: what to pay & where to find one

Listings31

Lowest ask$10,995

Average ask$101,057

Highest ask$265,499

Autotrader Classics showed 31 1973 Broncos for sale, asking $10,995 to $265,499 (average $101,057), as of October 18, 2026. A1973 These are dealer and private asking prices, not sale prices, and the high end is usually a restomod.

What to pay

Price the truck by condition, using the Hagerty figures in 1973 Ford Bronco value below, not by the asking prices above.
Originality and dry metal drive price. Hagerty's analyst says truly original trucks, especially with original paint, command the most. K
For 1967–77 trucks, a Marti Report confirms the factory options before you pay an 'original' premium. M O

Where to find a 1973 Bronco

Classified marketplaces
Autotrader Classics 1973 Bronco listings A1973 and the CLASSIC.COM first-gen market CLS

Auctions
Bring a Trailer's Bronco page, which mixes generations, so filter to 1966–77. BAT

On Old Broncos
Early Broncos for sale and sell your Bronco. On-site listings are coming soon.

Clubs and forums
Members often sell to members. See our Bronco club directory.

Before you buy, run through the 1973 inspection checklist and decode the VIN. Never wire money or pay a deposit for a truck you haven't seen.

1973 Ford Bronco value & price

Hagerty, April 2021: median #2 (Excellent) value $53,650, with #4 (Fair) trucks $15,000–$22,000 depending on engine. H
Hagerty's generation breakdown: average #3 (Good) value $40,100, and near-perfect factory V8 trucks $80,000 or more. G
Hagerty's market analyst: 'they'd rust in the Sahara', so pay up for a truly dry truck. The most original examples, especially original paint, command the most. K
Stroppe Bajas were the first six-figure collectible early Broncos. K

Where sources disagree

Where our sources give different numbers, we show each value next to its source and say what evidence would settle it. Nothing below has been guessed.

1973 Ford Bronco FAQ

What year Bronco first had an automatic?

1973 (C4) on a standard Bronco; Stroppe Bajas had one from 1971. E H

Where are the VIN stamps on a 1973 Ford Bronco?

On the warranty plate (driver kick panel, per EarlyBronco.org) and stamped on the passenger-side frame rail near the starter. O

What engine does a 1973 Bronco have?

The 200 six or the 302 V8 (code G). L

Can I get factory build records for a 1973?

Yes. Marti Auto Works holds Ford's production database for 1967 onward. M

How much is a 1973 Ford Bronco worth?

Asking prices on Autotrader Classics ran $10,995 to $265,499 (average $101,057, 31 listings) on October 18, 2026. Those are asking prices, not sales. Hagerty's 2021 guide put the median Excellent early Bronco at $53,650. A1973 H

Where can I find a 1973 Ford Bronco for sale?

Autotrader Classics, the CLASSIC.COM first-gen market, Bring a Trailer auctions, club classifieds and our for-sale page. A1973 CLS BAT

Is a 1973 Bronco a 2-door or 4-door?

Two-door. Every factory early Bronco (roadster, half-cab or wagon) had two doors. Ford's first four-door Bronco came in 2021. W2

Does the top come off an early Bronco?

Yes. Ford's 1968 brochure says the wagon's upper body and the pickup's cab roof can be removed. F68

Did Ford build two-wheel-drive early Broncos?

No. Four-wheel drive was standard on every 1966–77 Bronco. W H

Keep exploring

1972 Ford BroncoPrevious year 1974 Ford BroncoNext year Buyer's guidePrices, checks, which year Early Broncos for saleWhat to pay, where to look Early Bronco partsSeats, frames, bumpers, kits VIN decoderWhere the VIN stamps are First-gen hubAll 1966–77 years Bronco historyEvery generation 2-door vs 4-doorWhich Broncos had four doors

Sources

All years