First-gen Ford Broncos in good situation or simply after high-quality restorations are going up in worth in recent times. When the best instance with motorsport provenance comes up for public sale, then the numbers could be stunning. For instance, try the 1969 Ford Bronco nicknamed ‘Large Oly’ that Mecum just lately auctioned for $1.87 million.
Simply from first look, you may simply see that this isn’t a standard ’69 Bronco. Famed American racing driver Parnelli Jones drove this modified rig to victory within the Baja 1000 in 1971 and 1972. It additionally received the 1973 Baja 500 and 1973 Mint 400.
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Jones had run the Baja 1000 in 1968 in a principally inventory Bronco and realized he wanted a extra specialised car if he was going to win the grueling occasion. The results of this want for one thing extra rugged was the Large Oly, which received its identify from the sponsorship from the Olympia Brewing Firm.
Whereas the car seems to be vaguely like a Bronco, it is easy to see there are intensive modifications. The modifications embody a chromoly tube body with a physique utilizing a mixture of fiberglass and aluminum items. This contributes to the low weight of simply 2,620 kilos. There was a particular wing above the occupants.
An overhauled suspension has considerably extra journey than inventory. A Ford 351-cubic-inch (5.752-liter) V8 makes 390 horsepower (291 kilowatts) and runs by way of a Ford C6 three-speed computerized transmission.
Among the tweaks are intelligent options to assist in racing off-road, moderately than boosting uncooked efficiency. For instance, there are built-in water tanks within the again for maintaining the motive force and co-driver hydrated
This isn’t the one Bronco to promote for over $1 million at public sale this yr. In March, the primary instance of the revived SUV introduced $1.075 million on the Barrett-Jackson public sale in Scottsdale, Arizona.
