BaT Project Update: brgstreetgang’s Bronco Rides Again

Thanks to a May 2024 BaT auction, winner brgstreetgang found himself in a ’79 Ford Bronco similar to his very first truck—which he had purchased exactly 30 years earlier! He recently sent in this project update:

Bronco Billy rides again! Back in May 1994, my Dad and I began leafing through the newspaper classifieds looking for my first car. I was turning 16, and finding a Ford Bronco was at the top of my wish list. We finally found a white 1978 model for sale on the side of the road, and I knew I had to have it! That Bronco turned out to be our first father-and-son project.

The picture above is of me in May 1994 with my newly purchased Bronco alongside my dad’s 1989 Bronco. Your first vehicle always has a hold on you for a number of reasons, and for me it was the first time I experienced the freedom of the open road and the responsibility that came with driving my own car and being on my own. I drove that ’78 Bronco everywhere during the ’90s and loved every minute of it. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and I said goodbye to it in 1998. Sadly, the New York winter salt had taken too big of a toll on it.

Life distracted me, and I was “Broncoless” for over 25 years! However, I never forgot my truck. I was scrolling through BaT in May of last year and stumbled across a listing for a white 1979 Bronco. I was intrigued. All of the memories of taking my old Bronco everywhere in the ’90s rushed back to me—going four-wheeling, taking it on road trips with my friends and on fishing trips to the Finger Lakes, as well as driving it during my first days of college. It wasn’t the exact year, but it was a manual truck and had no rust. I had to have it! Seven days later, I won the auction!

I quickly got in touch with the seller on the West Coast, and it was loaded days later for its journey from California to New York! I wasn’t brave enough to attempt a cross-country fly-and-drive, but it’s on my list of things to do in the future.

The truck arrived exactly 30 years after I purchased my first Bronco. We couldn’t be happier with it. My dad and I have been sorting it out, and it has been our second father-and-son project. We’ve also done a lot of updates to it, including new wheels and tires. We even got the rear window to work! Redoing the interior is our next goal.

Finding a rust-free Bronco is a rare feat in Western New York. They’ve all gone the way of the horse and buggy around here.

We get stopped all of the time with “campfire stories,” reminiscing about the good old days of these dentside trucks. We have had a blast getting back in the saddle again and hope to make new adventures with it after the spring thaw.

The best part has been the time my dad and I have spent working together on it after all of these years. Happy trails to you until we meet again!

If you have a Success Story about a car you’ve bought or sold on BaT, please send a few lines and pictures (or a video) to [email protected], and we’ll send you a $50 credit to the BaT Gear Store when your story posts to the site.

We love to hear from satisfied BaT buyers and sellers, and a Success Story feature is a great addition to any car’s history when you’re ready to sell.