Interesting.Stuff
robfollettdotcom
am I working on the truck, or is it working on me?
About the Truck
- 1979 Ford Bronco Ranger XLT
- 50-state Emissions
- 351M 2BBL
- C6 Transmission
- Limited Slip 3.55 Ford 8" Rear
TheStory
I was a sophomore in high school when I got my driver's license, and I had already enjoyed years over taking over the steering wheel of my dad's truck whenever the tires hit dirt, and I had known for years that I wanted a 4-wheel-drive. Jeeps are great for off-road, but for someone my size, they are fairly uncomfortable, as well as poor daily drivers. A friend of mine was shopping for a truck, and we were going from car lot to car lot test driving anything they would let us. I tested a Ford Bronco and knew that was the vehicle for me. Shortly after, I purchased my first vehicle- the midnight blue over tan 1988 Full-size Bronco. I drove that truck over 200,000 miles and before it started letting a little oil by one of the piston rings. I parked it, vowing to tear it apart and fix it one day when I got time. Last year, my good friend David wrecked his pickup truck, and was stuck without a vehicle. I told him this story, made him promise to take good care of it, and handed the 88 over to him. I'm proud to say that she's back on the road running like brand-new, and it turns out that David is as crazy for the old truck as I was. Jealousy had me within its grips- I couldn't help it, I started tearing frantically through the pages of the Green Sheet and Auto Trader. It took me about 6 months, and saw an ad on Craigslist for a '79 right in my back yard. These full size Broncos are funny- I went to look at the truck, thousands of dollars short of what was being asked. This was the original owner of the truck- he was going to move, and his wife wouldn't bring it with them. After I told him this story, he knew she would be going to a good home, took my $1200 and sent me on my way down the road, a proud owner of the 1979 Ranger XLT.