OPINION

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By Bird Murray

It’s 1993. A beautiful Ford Bronco rolls off the assembly line at Ford’s Warren, Michigan plant. The truck has been outfitted with the Eddie Bauer package, including, but not limited to, a custom paint job, leather embroidered seats, and custom badging. The green and white paint shimmers in the sun, ready to take on the world.

I think that car got more than it bargained for. 27 years later, that Bronco is in the possession of a 17-year-old boy that treats it like a family member. As you might have guessed, that boy is me.

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted a Ford Bronco. They were my first love. I first heard of these cars when my mother told me that she had a Bronco as her first car. One Google search later, and my entire life changed. I had to have one of these beautiful chariots I saw on the computer screen. From then on, I was prepared to do whatever it took to have a Bronco.

The Ford Bronco entered the market in 1965 as one of the first purpose-built Sports Utility Vehicles, or as they are now commonly known as, SUV’s. The first generation of the small, sporty Bronco lasted until 1978, where the platform was replaced with a full size truck frame and much larger vehicle. The rest of the Bronco’s lifespan would revolve around this larger design. In 1985, outdoor brand Eddie Bauer joined Ford and created the Eddie Bauer package for Broncos. This package incorporated custom paint and interior aspects into the rugged SUV.

One fateful day quite a few years ago, I rode by our local gas station and mechanic, a BP near Mary Munford Elementary School, in the passenger seat of my mom’s car. I saw it immediately. There sat a beautiful green and white Bronco under a tree in the corner of the parking lot. Of course, the car held my gaze, but I had seen them on rare occasions and knew that this car would leave me, just like all the others I had seen throughout my lifetime.

But it didn’t.

That Bronco sat under that tree, unmoving, for many, many years. In fact, Google Maps Street View still shows that car sitting in hibernation at the gas station. Every time I passed her, I would always ask my mom or dad, “Do you think someone owns that, or is it just sitting there?” I only now realize that this question was likely infuriating.

Over the next few years, my optimism slowly began to fade. The logical side of me would ask, “Does it even run? It hasn’t moved in years. Why would it not move if it ran?” I also managed expectations with thoughts like, “There’s no way mom and dad would let me get a car that doesn’t run.” All of these thoughts swirled in my head as I talked myself down from the ledge that was the green and white Bronco. Until one day.

In late October 2017, the flame was reignited. I passed the station as I had done a million times, but this time the Bronco was not in her usual spot. As we turned the corner, the beautiful machine had been moved to the front of the lot and had a fresh set of tires. I was enamored. Thoughts raced through my head. Did someone buy it? It runs! Why did they put new tires on it? Later that afternoon, I forced my mom to take me there to ask.

It turns out the car had been owned by an elderly man since it rolled off the lot in 1993. When he passed away, he left the car to the owner of the gas station. The new tires were put on on a whim, as the Bronco had started to fall into disrepair. I would be getting my learner’s permit in less than a month, so I blurted out, “Is it for sale?” The answer made me happier than I had ever been. “Well, I guess so. I just want to get the money I put into tires back if I were to sell it.”

That night, I plopped down every cent I had ever earned on my parents’ bed.

The next day, the Bronco was mine.

Oftentimes you hear the phrase, “Never meet your heroes, they often disappoint.” After replaced three distributor caps, a new fuel gauge, a rebuilt transmission, two ball joints, two window motors, and much more, I still love that car as much as I did the day I found out what Broncos were. The feeling you get driving what can only be described as a metal pig down the road is like no other. I enjoy letting it warm up for five minutes every time I start it, knowing exactly when the 27-year-old will shift into the next gear, and knowing exactly what the old girl can (and cannot handle). Also, nothing can replace the grin and nod of approval from a middle-aged man walking his dog in the neighborhood, reminiscing about his glory days. Seeing as there are nearly no computers on my car compared to technology integrated into cars nowadays, I love the simplicity of it. Get in, start it, drive. Perfect.

I think I’ve made my love for my old car clear, but I am not the only one. Many people drive old cars, and there are many good reasons to do so. My old car has brought me great joy, and I feel there are many reasons why everyone should own one.

I have learned more about working on cars and being handy in general than I ever thought I would. I have taken the door panels off more times than I can count, to access broken window motors. And I have learned to rebuild two of those three window motors in my car without professional help. At first, I was terrified I would break something rather than fix the issue, and I think that is what prevents people nowadays from working on their own cars.

One benefit of an “antique vehicle” is that, for the most part, they are simpler. Exposed bolts and simple construction allows for a relatively easy learning curve. A benefit of owning a car that has problems more than your average vehicle, as I see it, is more opportunities to expand your knowledge of the way your car works from the inside out. And the Bronco has given me plenty of these opportunities. I would be the first one to recommend driving an older, simpler car that is easier to work on.

Another reason to purchase an aging vehicle is that, believe it or not, they are an investment. We are so used to seeing new cars roll off the lot and immediately lose a third of their value. However, once a car gets to be a certain age, their value tends to go up. Now I’m not saying that any car from the 90’s will eventually be worth a million dollars, but many aging cars have started to increase in value. After doing a casual check, Ford Broncos in good condition are starting to increase in value, as is the case with many other cars from the 80’s and 90’s. A near perfect example of a Bronco the same year as mine is currently asking for close to 15 thousand dollars. As fewer of these cars remain in operating condition, the more valuable your car could become.

Of course, I plan to never sell my Bronco, but any reader contemplating an investment in a classic car should recognize that an aging car is an investment, and if treated with care, will likely increase in value.

In the relatively short time I have owned an old car, I have grown to love it more than I ever imagined. The design, the drive, and the ease of repair all contribute to a vehicle that I believe to be the ultimate method of transportation. While my car of choice is a Bronco, I encourage you to go and find your bronco. Whether it be a sedan, sports car, or station wagon, owning an old car is an experience that I believe everyone should enjoy.