1982 Ford Bronco XLT Lariat

Description

Every generation of America's most notorious 4x4 has now become a great collectable. This low-mileage, 1-owner 1982 Ford Bronco XLT Lariat 'Bull Nose" is now eligible for AACA shows and remains the pinnacle of full-sized Bronco fun. Very nicely preserved and maintained with only 42,950 miles, and loaded with factory goodies, this is the one to own if you've always admired the big Bronc.

Ford did gangbuster business in the '80s with their upscale off-road machines, and not many full-sized off-roaders were more admired than the Bronco. While the most famous full-size Bronco was white (although it came from the 5th generation of these 4x4s), this handsome two-tone Bronco (Code 3P Medium Blue Metallic and Code 3L Dark Blue Metallic) is elegant yet sporty and it's hard to believe that these went out of production more than two decades ago. I mean, you'd never think this bruiser was almost 40 years old! Only the hood and tops of the doors were ever repainted, while the rest of the finish is factory-original, so it's obviously showing a bit of age but nothing critical and it certainly speaks highly of the care it has received over the years. The heavy duty bumper up front looks great (these were often dealer options when you wanted a winch), the grille and headlights are excellent, and the navy removable roof adds just the right contrast to work with the swooping profile trim to give it a heavy-duty look.

The interior is another very pleasant surprise, offering cool blue cloth buckets and lots of space for five. Ford insisted on upscale appointments in the top-of-the-line models (which is exactly what the XLT Lariat was), and the fabric inside is tasteful and durable, yet still stylish enough to not look dated today. The blue carpets still feel very plush, wood grain accents on the dash, door panels, and steering wheel add a touch of sophistication, and as the most expensive of the Ford SUVs at the time, this Bronco sports just about every feature in the book: cold A/C, cruise control, and power windows and power locks. A wide center console offers plenty of storage as well as a handy place to put your coffee and the clean, crack-free dash is one of the more car-like features of this big truck. A full array of big, legible gauges are in front of the driver, with the climate controls and original AM/FM/Cassette stereo waaaaay over there in the center of the dash. The nicely appointed back seat looks barely used and the cargo bay is positively massive, fully upholstered and with the spare mounted back outside, you can take pretty much everything you own.

Ford's erstwhile 351 cubic inch V8 is a great choice to move all this sheetmetal, providing plenty of low-end grunt that never feels strained. Despite a vast aftermarket for the venerable 5.8L motor, this one remains quite stock, from the long intake hoses from the snorkeled air cleaner to the original valve covers. The engine bay is about as clean as the rest of the truck, and if it's ever seen anything rougher than a gravel driveway, we'd be surprised. With a 3-speed automatic overdrive transmission and a 2-speed transfer case, this truck is equally happy at highway speeds or crawling at barely a walking pace and the suspension is built for off-roading that would strand one of today's "cute utes." The exhaust system sounds just like it's supposed to because it's remarkably still the original unit, and upgrades like new shocks, brakes, and a rear sway bar are found throughout. Handsome stock wheels are in great shape, wearing 255/70/15 white-letter Firehawk Indy 500 radials which are pretty pricey all by themselves.

If you grew up in the '80s, you know this is a cool truck, and you just won't find more full-sized go-anywhere transportation for less cash than this. With low ownership, super-low miles and recent maintenance work to the tune of $4,300, this Bull Nose Bronco is ready to dominate for years to come. Call today!