Though the Ford Bronco is a beloved model so popular enthusiasts basically willed it back into existence, the same cannot be said for the much-maligned Bronco II. Though it was popular in its time, consumers eventually realized that the SUV wasn’t exactly stable, and in fact, had a dangerous tendency to roll over, even at slower speeds. Regardless, Ford sold over 700,000 of them before the Explorer came along and made it an interesting footnote in history. We still see plenty of the smaller Broncos around, but rarely ever do we come across the sportier version like this 1984 Ford Bronco II XLS that’s currently up for grabs at Bring a Trailer.
It certainly seems like a bad idea to make a sporty version of a vehicle that is know to be easy to tip, but perhaps that’s why there aren’t many of them around. Regardless, this Ford Bronco II XLS has to be one of the nicer ones left in existence, and it’s a two-owner ride to boot. It’s also incredibly unique thanks to its exterior color – dubbed Bright Bittersweet – which truly stands out, particularly since it also adorns the 15-inch steel wheels.
The XLS package didn’t add anything in the way of actual performance, which isn’t a surprise given the fact that we are talking about the dark days of the 1980s. Rather, for the Bronco II, it merely added extended lower body cladding and giant, retro-looking graphics. This particular example is remarkably clean, though it does have the typical rock chips and a scratch or two.
The interior is equally old school thanks to striped tan seating, which adds a bit of flair to an otherwise boring cabin. There are some amenities present, including air conditioning, a CB radio, a cassette player, digital clock, and map light. It’s unclear how many miles this unique ride has traveled, but the odometer shows 28k, though we imagine that it has rolled over once, at least. Regardless, the original 2.8-liter V6 has received a solid amount of maintenance in recent years.
Though the Bronco II has always lived in the shadows of its big brother, for the most part, it seems as if putting this example up for auction was the right move, as this one has already been bid up to nearly $8k with a couple of days to go. It wasn’t that long ago when you could barely give these things away, but a rising tide lifts all boats, as they say, and this XLS certainly isn’t something you see everyday.
Source: Ford Truck Enthusiasts
