Image via Bring A Trailer
A 1972 Ford Bronco once owned by Richard Nixon, the disgraced former president, recently auctioned online with a shockingly low final bid. Since there was no reserve, someone got the classic off-roader for what we would consider a steal, even though we’re pretty sure they’d say they’re not a crook.
This might be the cheapest Porsche 911 in the country.
Ultimately, when the virtual gavel fell on May 31, the ’72 Bronco went for jus $60,000. Considering it looks to be mostly original, has under 100,000 miles, runs/drives, and even comes with some modifications professionally installed, combined with the celebrity ownership, that figure seems a little too sane.
Then again, the collector car market does seem to be cooling rapidly. While some might attribute the low final bid to Richard Nixon’s infamous impeachment, it might be yet another sign of how far values are falling.
Whomever ordered this Bronco went with an interesting spec out of the factory. It features Medium Goldenrod paint over a Parchment Rosette vinyl interior. The truck rides on 15-inch wagon wheels.
Under the hood is a 302ci V8 with a C4 three-speed automatic transmission equipped with a Stroppe adapter, an aftermarket addition done by Stroppe & Son out of Long Beach, California. A dual-shock suspension is another nice feature.
Stroppe & Son put its Baja package on this Bronco. That means trimmed fenders and rear wheel arch extensions, Saginaw power steering, the C4 transmission, plus front bumper braces placed diagonally.
The paint isn’t factory original; someone got a respray at some point. You can see the interior is rough, with splits in the vinyl upholstery and the kind of wear one would expect with use combined with age. But some will pay a premium for an original vehicle, especially something like this. At least that used to be the case.
About the top bid, the seller had some thoughts: “The market has spoken, it was a ‘no Reseve sale’ (sic) It brought what it was supposed to bring on this given day. I’m happy for the new owner and am sure they will make it the best it can be.”
What do you think? Did Richard Nixon’s legacy hurt the auction of this classic Bronco or is the market finally deflating to sane values?
See this Bronco’s lot listing here.
Images via Bring A Trailer
