[jayr]

My brother-in-law has a chance to buy a 1970 bronco that is in great shape from a friend (uncut with original window sticker showing sport package. New fenders, rockers, door posts and rear quarters. NP435 4-speed, twin stick dana 20 t-case, dana 44 front, power steering. 2" lift with newer 31's. Runs and drives great with a 200ci straight six and will include a low miliage 302 and extra parts for a swap) for 6K. Now he is torn because he also likes the idea of buying a used, stock TJ for about 5-6K and build it up slowly with parts taken off my Jeep and buying stuff. He can only buy one and use/build it as his fair weather fun vehicle (he has a newer truck for a DD). He has driven the Bronco and said the six is a dog for such a big truck and the frame and body have no rot. There are a lot of used TJs for sale out there and parts are plentiful. He is not super-mechanically inclined (never welded i.e.) but he can use a wrench and takes directions well.

What do you all think he should do?

Thanks!

Jay

[dayriesw]

Bronco hands down..... for the cool factor and vintage wheeling.

[shalamara]

Go for the TJ. I owned a 1973 Bronco that had only 23K orginal miles and was 100% stock. I had all of the orginal paper work to include the window sticker. It had orginal paint and factory stickers. My Bronco had all options except for air. 302ci w/auto. I sold my Bronco for $11k I sold it as there are only a few places in the US to get parts and my insurance company would only insure it for $3k, If I got there classic car insurane then I would have been only allowed to drive it to car shows, parades and such. No DD. The TJ is eaiser to get parts for and is a better DD.

[jayr]

THX for the replies. Turns out he offered him 5K for the bronco but was denied as the owner can easily get 6K from 6 others waiting in the wings. So its off to used TJ shopping!

[wendell]

Get the bronco, one of the best 4wd vehicles ever made and they now have classic value. It should be emission except as well. They have the ford factory 9" and a D-44, with a 302 and 4-speed, it should be awesome. There's plenty of jeeps to be had, the old bronco's not so much.

[larjeep]

the bronco is cool but youll be sorry, when you try to get parts and pay out your ***, also if you find them youll be lucky. to start the truck is 30years old man and you will be going thur alot more problems with it then the tj. everyone has an opion, i have owned 2 broncos and dont miss them at all. there is a world of parts and good prices for the tj, go for it you wont be sorry. unless you got plenty of cash to spend

[yellow2kgt]

Get the TJ. The older Broncos are cool and are EXTREMELY capable offroad. However, parts are not as easy to find and the 200 6 is not going to perform as well as a 4.0. My Dad just sold his fully restored 69 Bronco because he bought a 03 TJ. The main reason was because he was afraid to wheel and damage the bronco. The one time we convinced him to go on a wheeling with it He high centered it and crushed a rocker panel. Don't get me wrong. His Bronco had a 3 on the tree with a hopped up 200. It was fun to drive as a toy but nothing compares to a FI 4.0.

[crcj7]

bronco bronco bronco. body parts might be hard to find but everything eles is verry easy if he wheels it get a set of body hammers learn a little and have a cooooolll a$$ truck

[turpehar]

Please give me an example of a part you can't buy for a 70 Bronco? I like my Jeeps, but we all know a 5-6k TJ is already worth less than the Bronco, and that will never change. It will keep going that direction until the TJ is worth nothing.. I'd love to find a nice Bronco in those years that hasn't been ravaged. Good luck

[wendell]

The 200 6 may not be a power house, but the ford 300 6 sure is. As for the 302, parts are everywhere and as for the bronco. There's lots of early bronco speciality stores that sell any part you need. The perfect trio would be a jeep, early bronco and an early scout. WoooWeee!!!!!!, that would be the cat bird seat of the 4-wheeling world.