Ford Bronco buyer's guide · 1966–1977
Early Ford Bronco buyer's guide
How much is a classic Ford Bronco, which year should you buy, and how do you avoid a rust bucket with a fake door tag? This early Bronco buyer's guide covers 1966–77 prices, an inspection checklist, VIN checks and paperwork. Every fact links to its source.
How much is a classic Ford Bronco?
| Year | Listed | Low ask | Avg ask | High ask | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 Ford Bronco | 9 | $44,900 | $80,428 | $265,675 | Listings A1966 |
| 1967 Ford Bronco | 11 | $39,900 | $109,700 | $274,995 | Listings A1967 |
| 1968 Ford Bronco | 16 | $45,000 | $106,327 | $189,000 | Listings A1968 |
| 1969 Ford Bronco | 26 | $19,000 | $91,590 | $189,000 | Listings A1969 |
| 1970 Ford Bronco | 22 | $54,995 | $105,775 | $257,000 | Listings A1970 |
| 1971 Ford Bronco | 18 | $40,995 | $90,324 | $165,995 | Listings A1971 |
| 1972 Ford Bronco | 23 | $39,997 | $119,187 | $300,050 | Listings A1972 |
| 1973 Ford Bronco | 31 | $10,995 | $101,057 | $265,499 | Listings A1973 |
| 1974 Ford Bronco | 19 | $14,000 | $79,862 | $235,995 | Listings A1974 |
| 1975 Ford Bronco | 6 | — | — | — | Listings A1975 |
| 1976 Ford Bronco | 15 | $37,000 | $105,605 | $248,675 | Listings A1976 |
| 1977 Ford Bronco | 25 | $23,850 | $86,452 | $189,000 | Listings A1977 |
Autotrader Classics asking prices, October 18, 2026. Asking prices aren't sale prices, and 1975 had no price summary.
- Hagerty's 2021 guide put the median #2 (Excellent) early Bronco at $53,650, and #4 (Fair) trucks at $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
- U13 roadsters are the top pick of Hagerty's market analyst, and roadster values doubled from 2016 to 2019. KH
- Stroppe Baja Broncos were the first six-figure collectible early Broncos. K
Which year should you buy?
| 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 HCEL. Production: Ford/EBR series and the EarlyBroncoAds series, which disagree EP. Asking prices from Autotrader Classics, October 18, 2026 A1966A1967A1968A1969A1970A1971A1972A1973A1974A1975A1976A1977, are asking prices, not sales.
Early 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. SDH
- Rear quarters and inner fenders: anywhere mud, water and salt collect. SDH
- 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
- Half-cab bed floor, especially where it meets the cab. 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. Check the serial against the range for the claimed year (see each year page). 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. CE
VIN, data plate & paperwork
- The warranty plate is on the back of the glove-box door on 1966–67 trucks and the driver kick panel on 1968–77. The VIN is also stamped on the passenger-side frame rail, below and behind the starter. O
- The stamps were hand-struck, so 1/I and 0/O mix-ups are common. O
- For 1967–77 trucks, a Marti Report lists the factory options, paint, axle and build dates. M
Where to buy
Start with our early Broncos for sale page, which links each year's listings on Autotrader Classics A1970, the CLASSIC.COM first-gen market CLS and Bring a Trailer BAT.
Pick a year
1966Launch year1967Safety update1968Last roadster1969302 V81970Sport becomes a model1971Dana 441972Ranger arrives1973Automatic and power steering arrive1974Detail changes1975V8 only1976Front disc brakes1977Final year
Buyer's guide FAQ
How much is a classic Ford Bronco?
Autotrader Classics average asking prices by year ran from $79,862 (1974) to $119,187 (1972) on October 18, 2026. Hagerty's 2021 median for an Excellent truck was $53,650. A1974A1972H
What is a U13 roadster worth?
Hagerty's analyst names the roadster his top pick, and roadster values doubled from 2016 to 2019. We don't have a current sold figure. KH
What's the best year of early Bronco?
It depends on what you want: roadster and 289 in 1966–68, the Dana 44 from 1971, automatic and power steering from 1973, front discs in 1976–77. HCE
Where are the VIN stamps on an early Bronco?
On the warranty plate (glove-box door 1966–67, driver kick panel 1968–77) and stamped on the passenger-side frame rail near the starter. O
Keep exploring
Buyer's guidePrices, checks, which yearEarly Broncos for saleWhat to pay, where to lookEarly Bronco partsSeats, frames, bumpers, kitsVIN decoderWhere the VIN stamps areFirst-gen hubAll 1966–77 yearsBronco historyEvery generation2-door vs 4-doorWhich Broncos had four doors
Sources
- E: Early Bronco Registry, T. J. Zuercher, 'The History of the Early Ford Bronco (1966-1977)' (archived copy)
- H: Hagerty, 'Your handy 1966–77 Ford Bronco buyer's guide' (2021)
- G: Hagerty, 'Vintage Ford Bronco values: A breakdown by generation'
- K: Hagerty, 'Booming Broncos'
- C: BroncOhio Early Bronco Club, Bronco History Chart
- L: LMC Truck, '1966-77 Bronco Vehicle Identification' (PDF)
- O: EarlyBronco.org, VIN Decoder
- M: Marti Auto Works, 'Marti Reports'
- P: EarlyBroncoAds.com, Early Bronco Production
- KC: Kincer Chassis, '6 Things To Check On The Frame When Buying A Used Bronco'
- KE: Krawler's Edge, 'Early Bronco Frame Rust'
- SD: Silodrome, 'First Generation Ford Bronco: The Essential Buying Guide'
- A1966: Autotrader Classics, '1966 Ford Bronco Classic Cars for Sale' (asking prices, October 18, 2026)
- A1967: Autotrader Classics, '1967 Ford Bronco Classic Cars for Sale' (asking prices, October 18, 2026)
- A1968: Autotrader Classics, '1968 Ford Bronco Classic Cars for Sale' (asking prices, October 18, 2026)
- A1969: Autotrader Classics, '1969 Ford Bronco Classic Cars for Sale' (asking prices, October 18, 2026)
- A1970: Autotrader Classics, '1970 Ford Bronco Classic Cars for Sale' (asking prices, October 18, 2026)
- A1971: Autotrader Classics, '1971 Ford Bronco Classic Cars for Sale' (asking prices, October 18, 2026)
- A1972: Autotrader Classics, '1972 Ford Bronco Classic Cars for Sale' (asking prices, October 18, 2026)
- A1973: Autotrader Classics, '1973 Ford Bronco Classic Cars for Sale' (asking prices, October 18, 2026)
- A1974: Autotrader Classics, '1974 Ford Bronco Classic Cars for Sale' (asking prices, October 18, 2026)
- A1975: Autotrader Classics, '1975 Ford Bronco Classic Cars for Sale' (asking prices, October 18, 2026)
- A1976: Autotrader Classics, '1976 Ford Bronco Classic Cars for Sale' (asking prices, October 18, 2026)
- A1977: Autotrader Classics, '1977 Ford Bronco Classic Cars for Sale' (asking prices, October 18, 2026)
- CLS: CLASSIC.COM, 'Ford Bronco - 1st Gen Market (1966 to 1977)'
- BAT: Bring a Trailer, Ford Bronco model page (auctions and results)