Rare 1st Year U13 Bronco Roadster

Description

EXTREMELY RARE FIRST YEAR U13 BRONCO ROADSTER!

VERY COMPLETE, VERY SOLID PROJECT FOR RESTORATION!

EASY WHOLESALE SHIPPING - CONTACT FOR A QUOTE!

NOTE: Hardtop and Half Cab Top included in BUY IT NOW Price. Otherwise sold separately.

Quite possibly one of the rarest Broncos ever made, this first year U13 Bronco Roadster is one of roughly 200 known to still exist. This Bronco was purchased new in Crescent City, CA by a gentleman that worked at the Ford dealership. He had special ordered this Bronco in 1966 and the Bronco was built September of 1966. It is believed that part of his special order included the front bucket seats, the rear bench seat, the soft top and hard doors.

He LOVED this Bronco and owned it up until the late 80’s when he passed away. His family eventually sold it to one of his close friends around that same time. His friend cherished this Bronco and drove it for years and eventually took it apart to restore, but unfortunately his health did not allow him the time to restore the vehicle. We hope to find this very special Bronco a home where it will get the full attention it deserves where it will undergo a complete restoration.

The U13 Bronco Roadster: Of the original three body styles offered, the Roadster, often known by its body code “U13”, is the rarest. Just 4090 were produced over three years before the option was dropped due to slow sales. The U13 Roadster differed from its siblings in that it was the most overtly sporty of the three body styles. Intended as a sporty and functional beach buggy, the U13 Roadster is most notable for the lack of doors, no top and ultra-basic interior trim.

Exterior:

This Bronco is in really good shape considering how bad these trucks rot out and for being 54 years old! It appears to have all of it original sheetmetal that is very solid and not beat up, with the exception of the dent on the driver's front quarter panel. It is also "uncut", which is rare to find. The windshield was removed, but appears to be in good shape with the wipers and motors attached. It comes with the hard to find vinyl top with all of the hardware. I also found a set of matching soft doors that I will include. The Bumpers and trim are in good shape. The four wheels appear to be original, as does the spare. Overall, a very solid, unmolested Bronco. NOTE: The marker lights or reflectors appear to have been installed by one of the previous owners.

Interior:

Overall the interior is very original and in decent shape. The floors and cargo are are very solid, but could use some work. The dash is very complete and in good shape, as is the cluster. The ashtray is there with all of the parts pictured. The seats are in very good restorablecondition.

Mechanical:

Mechanically this Bronco appears to be complete and original. I was told by the previous owner's family that the Bronco ran fine when it was parked years ago. I have not attempted to turn the motor over or to fire it. I have worked on many of these old trucks and believewith the proper care (soaking the cylinders, fluid change, tune-up, etc.) this truck would run. The truck rolls easy and goes in and out of gear easy. The brakes do not work, but the clutch pedal feels good. Most importantly this Bronco appears to be very complete with all of the hard to find parts.

VIN: U13FL749427

U13: Body style (U-100 1/2 ton Bronco roadster 3900-4700 GVW with four-wheel drive).

F: Engine (170-CID six-cylinder (Bronco only))

L: Assembly plant (Michigan Truck).

749427: The consecutive unit number starting at 100,001 at each factory.

Your vehicle was the 649,426th car to leave the Michigan Truck assembly line in 1966.

Additional Bronco Roadster Information (per roadsteru13.com)

The 1966 Bronco Roadster is very unique vehicle in its own. The standard basic version was an all-purpose vehicle without a top or doors. Standard for all Early ’66 Broncos was the 170 cubic inch 105 hp six cylinder engine. In mid-March Ford provided the optional 289 cubic inch 200 hp V-8 motor. A three-speed column shift transmission and Dana 20 transfer case were standard as well. A ball style transfer case shifter was initially used but replaced mid-year with the T-handle lever to deal with complaints the customers often confused it for a typical transmission shifter and to also help prevent four-wheel drive “jump out”.
The door openings on a Roadster were usually filled with a fiberglass inserts as standard equipment giving that classic contoured sporty Roadster appearance. Dealer installed vinyl doors and a convertible top, available in black or white, were available. Hard doors were available as well with or without glass and frame, thus eliminating the inserts.

Another interesting option of the Ford Bronco was the ability to lay the windshield flat on the hood. In this position it would be secured in place by the loop catch on the hood and the windshield mounted spring-loaded pin. This held the windshield firmly in place in rough terrain allowing for a true open-air drive!
Vacuum wipers were standard issue on all Bronco models.

Standard was a driver’s side, single stemmed, “Outside Rear View Mirror” that was round and mounted to the fender. A factory installed passenger side view mirror was an option as well.

Square end painted bumpers protected the frame at both ends. Chromed bumpers with matching taillight bezels were also an option. 15″ bright metal wheel covers with the inclusive three black rings could be added from the factory to give the tires and rims that pristine appearance.

The standard seat was a bench type with room for three persons and a steel bulkhead mounted directly behind, sectioning off the rear bed. An optional seating arrangement included front buckets (Left Hand or LH & RH) with the steel bulkhead. and no backseat. Also optioned was a rear seat (bench type with seat belts) that when ordered, eliminated the bulkhead for full rearward access and relocated the spare tire to the inside of the tailgate. Very unique to the 1966 Bronco was the silver-gray vinyl upholstery and matching optional sun visors were available. Sturdy black seat belts came as standard equipment.

The gray dash of the Broncos varied depending on the options that were ordered. A factory or dealer installed AM radio and antenna was optional and many Roadsters had an external speaker grill cover to protect the speaker cone from the weather. Some Broncos were ordered with the option added cigar-cigarette lighter and the ICC emergency lamp flashers. A black, narrow line, vinyl dash pad (a.k.a. pencil dash) and optional chrome pull handle gave the Bronco dash that finished appearance. No optioned dashes are commonly referred as “deletes.” It is not uncommon to hear a Roadster owner reference heater, radio, lighter or flasher delete dashes.

Forward mounted rear shock absorbers were classic for the 1966 Broncos including the Roadster.

Optional factory installed equipment options for the Roadster:

Chrome horn ring
Cigar-cigarette lighter
Heater & Defroster – Fresh Air
RH Outside rear view mirror – Fender mounted
Manual AM radio & antenna
LH or LH & RH bucket seats
Bench type rear seat
ICC lamp flashers
Padded LH & RH sun visors
Front & rear chrome channel bumpers
Front bumper guards
Bright-metal taillight bezels
Skid plates (under fuel tank and transfer case)
Inside tailgate or bulkhead mounted spare tire carrier
Body side accent paint stripes
Rocker panel racing stripes
Rocker panel molding
Bright-metal 15″ only wheel covers – w/ 15″ wheels only
High flotation tires (9.5 X 15 4 ply)
Auxiliary 12 gallon fuel tank
Tune-type tires 6.50 x 16 6PR (5.0k) Truck-type Black

Optional dealer installed accessory options:

Convertible top with vinyl doors & plastic windows
Dash mounted chrome handrail
Power take-off
Rotunda compass
Warn free-running front hubs
2-way radio
Snowplow
Front overload air springs
Front-mounted winch
Tachometer
Trailer hitch
Fire extinguisher
Locking gas cap
Map light
Tool kit
Front tow hooks (2)

Standard colors:

Raven Black
Wimbledon White
Rangoon Red
Arcadian Blue
Springtime Yellow
Sahara Beige
Marlin Blue
Holly Green
Caribbean Turquoise
Peacock Blue
Light Turquoise
Poppy Red
Chrome Yellow
Pure White
Optional: Bronco body paint stripe and rocker panel or accent racing stripes.

Total production number of roadsters: 4,090