Back to back: Bronco or Land Cruiser?

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2018 Has just started but the amount of classic car auctions that has already been announced is rather overwhelming. Worldwide Auctioneers kicks off in Scottsdale, Arizona. And, boy, do they have a sensation… They call it ‘the most historically significant automobile ever offered for public sale’ and who are we to question that?

Slightly more down to earth we picked out two four-wheel driven vehicles of a later era. To start with the American entry there is a 1971 Ford Bronco in all its simplicity. Despite the fact that hundreds of thousands were built, survivors have become scarce. Broncos were prone to rust and finding one with all original panels without rust or rust repair is ‘a herculean feat’, or so the seller states. The one they offer, however, is just that. Sold new by a dealer in Portland, Oregon, this Bronco came fully loaded with options including the 302 V8 engine, skid plates, swing away spare tire, heavy duty alternator, -springs, -cooling package and –battery and auxiliary fuel tank. It was only repainted once in its original colour. The estimate? $55- to $65,000. But there is no reserve…

Not so prone to rust were the Toyota ‘BJ’ and ‘FJ’Land Cruisers of around the same period. These were popular in the US, too, with the models being sold from 1960 to 1983! Worldwide Auctioneers have a lovely 1968 FJ40 on offer that will attract the same interested buyers, we think. It comes with 3.9-litre six-cylinder engine, and was in the hands of one and the same owner until 2014 who kept it under the 88,000-miles mark! After that it was fully restored, with again the original paint colour kept. Options include the folding jump seats at the rear, a rear heater and a dealer-installed power take-off (PTO) winch. Estimated at $40- to $60,000 and again with no reserve. It may just as collective as the Bronco by now?

(words editor, pictures courtesy Worldwide Auctioneers)

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