Vragor - Clay in Colorado Springs

[ClayJ]

First the picture. This was this morning (Oct 3 2010) up on Mount Herman.


My granfather bought my Bronco new back in 1970. He used it as a true farming work truck in Blanding Utah (South of Moab) for 15 years. I spent the summer of 1977 with him and my grandmother and they let me drive the Bronco. I'd work for 5 hours a day hauling hay, moving pipe, and driving tractor, then take the Bronco up on the mountain or out on the Mesas for the rest of the day.

After my grandfather passed away my Aunt got it. 5 years later I was visiting Blanding and saw the bronco in front of my Aunt's house with 4 flat tires, the drive shaft hanging on the ground, and listing hard to the left.

I finally managed to convince her to sell it to me. I took it to a guy that rebuilds Broncos. He did a great job and for the next 12 years we used the Bronco in Phoenix during the Winter and up to our cabin in Strawberry Az for the summer. Rides in the Bronco were the highlight of a cabin trip.

[ClayJ]

Continued...

During my oldest's senior year, I decided to let her drive the Bronco to school. She was always asked to drive by friends because they loved the Bronco with the top off (it was Phx, you can do that year round).

Half way through the year, her boyfriend did something that siezed the engine. I never found out just what he did. I had the motor rebuilt but it just didn't run right. After taking it back to the mechanic 5 times he finally told me to go away cause he didn't know what was wrong. I moved up to Colorado and the Bronco got used every so often, but it was never dependable enough to rely on.

Finally 4 years ago I had trouble getting it up my driveway and into the garage. I was so disgusted I just left it parked.

This last February, that same daughter totalled her car. Suddenly she was driving my Accord, and I was without a car (how did that happen???).

I thought that either I get a loan and buy a car, or I could take substantially less cash and once and for all, fix the Bronco myself.

I've spent most of the summer on it, but this weekend I got it running right. I'm still fiddling a bit but I took it up into the hills for the first time this morning. It was a dream to drive. Even stronger than I've ever felt it before.

[Entourage]

I definitely know Blanding - I lived in Utah until the last few months. That is a great story. Not many people know the history of their Bronco - how cool to say it has been in the family it's whole life. My Dad had a 1970 Ford Truck that same color - takes me back to riding above the cab in the Camper.

Nice job getting it running yourself - that's the icing on the cake.

[ClayJ]

Forgot my other ride. 2006 Honda VTX

[ClayJ]

I've had the top off for most of the summer. I also added rear shoulder seatbelts recently.

[PonyCorral]

I wish mine was that clean! Nice work on keeping it in the family, Good luck with future plans!

[Entourage]

The shiny rims, new tires, and no top looks really nice.

[Rox Crusher]

Looks great Clay. I didn't realize you had a full cage........NICE !

Hope to see it in person soon.

[ClayJ]

I still need to paint it. My kids joke all the time about the "Pink Bronco". That's a 24 year old Maaco paint job on it now. I really need to paint it before the winter snows set in since it will once again be my daily driver all winter. I'll probably just do another Maaco paint job on it.

[ClayJ]

Pulled the top off the bronco for the summer.

I finally took the time to research hardtop storage methods, and rather than just setting the top on a couple tires in the back yard, I slung it from the ceiling of my garage.

[Jesus_man]

Nice job Clay! That's a similar setup to what I have. However, I have it all backwards. I just put the top back on this weekend and pulled the hoisting apparatus down. :(. I used an old come-along thru a couple of pulleys and a couple 2x4's under the top. Was supposed to be a simple way for one person to hoist the top off or on. It can be done, but alignment is key.

[ImIn4Lo]

Wow!! Thats a very cool idea... Looks like it should stay nice and square. Bronco looks cool topless too!!

[cracker]

I used a couple of ski racks to hoist my top off when I had one. Simple one man way to take it off and put it on. Used a hand winch to hoist it up. Nice Bronco!

[ClayJ]

From the angle I took that picture you can really see the faded paint on my hood. I just might have to do a $300 EarlSheib

[ClayJ]

With all the fire around the Springs right now (June of 2012) my family and I got to making fire jokes the other day (you gotta laugh or you'll cry).

Someone eventually made a joke about the Phoenix bird and rising from it's ashes. I countered that my Bronco could be a Phoenix.

1) It's red (yes I said RED even though it looks pink).
2) I'ts died and come back 4 times (Rollover in early 70s, Aunt destroyed in 80s, daughter destroyed in 90s, I igored and let die in 2000s).
3) It lived much of its life in and around Phoenix

So we decided to name the Bronco FEENIX