Vintage Ford Bronco Prices Take Big Leap in 2021

Ford gave auto enthusiasts something to be happy about in summer 2020—a season otherwise filled with dreary news. That’s when the Blue Oval announced the imminent return of the legendary Bronco.

It took nearly a year for the new Bronco SUV to reach showrooms. During the wait, enthusiasm for the beloved nameplate—missing from dealerships or 25 years—spilled over to classic Broncos offered on eBay Motors. Average Bronco sales prices boomed in 2021.

As data from eBay indicates, sales prices for various generations of classic Broncos jumped this year compared to last year by as much as 27 percent.

The increase illustrates Ford fanatics’ passion for their favorite off-roader, a love that evolved over more than a half-century. Let’s look at this past year’s price increases across those five generations of Bronco.

First-Generation Bronco: 1966 – 1977
Up 12.4 percent

This gorgeous, lightly upgraded 1976 Bronco is from near the end of the production run.

The first Bronco was a Spartan off-roader designed to compete against the venerable Jeep. The two-door SUV wasn’t based on any vehicle that Ford was selling at the time. It’s unusual for a major automaker to build a new model without using body or chassis designs from existing models. Heck, even the iconic Mustang was based on the more basic Falcon.

The Bronco was offered as a traditional wagon—featuring two doors with a roof and a tailgate to the rear with a lift-off hardtop. And there were options for a two-door pickup truck version and a roadster without a top. These early Broncos are rough on the road. But some offer a power take-off feature that’s useful on a farm or ranch.

Between 2020 and 2021, average eBay sales of first-gen Broncos went up 12.4 percent.

Shop now for first-generation Broncos

Second-Generation Bronco: 1978 – 1979
Up 14.0 percent

This 1979 Bronco finished in a handsome two-tone scheme was restored to as-new condition.

The first-gen Bronco earned a devoted following. But buyers were looking for a vehicle that was less punishing on the pavement. That led to the short-lived 1978-1979 Bronco, based on the ever-popular F-150 pickup.

Much larger than the first, this generation was considered a full-sized SUV. It was meant to launch several years earlier, but the impact from the OPEC fuel crisis delayed the release of the fuel-thirsty truck.

Ford discontinued the pickup and roadster versions. That left a two-door, removable-hardtop Bronco as the only option. Mechanically and stylistically, the new Bronco was similar to the F-series trucks. The larger cab was more comfortable and better equipped than older trucks.

The average sales price of these two-year-only models rose by 13.97 percent last year.

Third-Generation Bronco: 1980 – 1986
Up 18.2 percent

This 1982 Bronco was updated with larger wheels and tires—and a roll bar increased safety for off-roading.

The third-generation Bronco kept its similarities to F-series trucks. As such, the Bronco used the truck’s all-new chassis and more efficient design. Over the generations, technology advanced to increase performance and efficiency. Ford engineers added fuel injection to the available 302ci V8 in 1985.

The Bronco offered more creature comforts, and the hardtop design changed to improve weather-sealing.

These third-gen trucks saw a healthy increase in the average sales price of 18.2 percent between 2020 and 2021.

Fourth-Generation Bronco: 1987 – 1996
Up 27.9 percent

Fourth-generation Broncos, such as this 1995 Eddie Bauer example, became wildly popular over the past year.

The fourth generation of Bronco was imprinted on the consciousness of anyone near a television in June 1994. OJ Simpson, the football star turned murder suspect, used his gleaming white 1993 Bronco to make an ill-fated highway escape from authorities. News helicopters beamed the bizarre, low-speed parade into our living rooms.

The fourth-gen Bronco was, again, based on then-current F-150 trucks. Upgrades for aerodynamics, efficiency, and safety marked the development of the last of the “classic” Broncos.

In 1992, Ford made the hardtop “technically” non-removable. The top had mounts for the rear seat belt shoulder harnesses and the center high-mounted rear stoplight, now required by law. Dwindling sales led to the demise of the Bronco in 1996, as buyers shifted to four-door SUVs like the Expedition.

The average sales price of fourth-generation Broncos on eBay climbed by 27.9% year over year.

Fifth-Generation Bronco: 2021

This 2021 Ford Bronco, with the Badlands package, has 400 miles on the odometer.

The latest Bronco made its debut in showrooms by mid-2021. Its design is a wild departure from the previous generations.

Ford sells two- and four-door configurations. There are several option packages ranging from a mild four-wheel-drive runabout to a hardcore off-roader. Hard and soft tops are available.

Competing against the ever-popular Jeep Wrangler, the newest Bronco is close to Jeep’s midsize dimensions. Some enthusiasts will rejoice, as a seven-speed manual transmission is available for ultimate off-road control.

We lived without a new Bronco for a quarter of a century. Then, media buzz combined with pent-up demand to create unprecedented demand, pushing sellers to offer low-mile 2021 rigs for sale on eBay Motors.

Whether new or vintage, the appeal of the Bronco nameplate picked up momentum in late 2021. And enthusiasts are likely continue the rush on the rugged yet stylish truck. Only time will tell if current values take another big jump in 2022.