The first Ford Bronco, a 1966 half-cab was kept for years inside–you guessed it–a barn. (Photo Tweeted by Hagerty Price Guide. See full Tweet below.)The first Ford Bronco has been found and it may surprise some readers to know that it resembles a truck.
Gateway Bronco, which restores 1966-1977 Broncos in Hamel, Ill., recently bought the 1966 half-cab that was once owned by legendary Ford auto designer Carroll Shelby.
Shelby removed the Bronco’s original three-speed, straight six engine and replaced it with a Mustang Hi-Po 289 V8, according to foxnews.com. The rear fenders were cut to accept larger tires and the vehicle appears to have some features from a sport trim package.
The man who bought the vehicle from Shelby, Vince Yakubanski, paid $100 for it in 1978. Yakubanski changed the color of the truck, did some interior work and drove it for 25 years before parking it inside of a barn where he planned on restoring it.
However, the truck was never restored. After learning recently about Gateway and their restoration work, Yakubanski contacted them to find out if they’d be interested in buying the truck.
A text message Yakubanski sent to Gateway included a picture of the truck’s original VIN and the message: “First Bronco, are you interested?”
The VIN, which ends in three zeroes, was traced back to a prototype production line. A Ford archivist confirmed that Shelby had received the truck.
Neither Yakubanski or Gateway will discuss the selling price. Hagerty estimates the vehicle to be worth at least $100,000. The truck’s odometer reads a mere 1.9 miles. While Shelby owned the truck, the odometer had been disconnected and Yakubanski left it that way.
First Ford Bronco surfaces: https://t.co/aZh7Y7Nfwg pic.twitter.com/vzqxibwqei
— Hagerty Price Guide (@hagertyguide) November 28, 2016
