This is how much it costs to buy one of the most iconic off-road racing machines ever made.
In recent years, prices for first-gen Ford Broncos in excellent condition or after high-quality restorations have risen. The numbers can be quite shocking when a motorsport-related example is up for auction. Take for example the 1969 Ford Bronco, nicknamed “Big Oly” and recently sold by Mecum for $1.87million.
This isn’t your average ’69 Bronco. This modified rig was used by Parnelli Jones, an American racing driver who won the Baja 1000 in 1971. It won the 1973 Baja 500, 1973 Mint 400 and the 1973 Baja 500.
Jones had previously run the Baja 1000 in 1968 with a mostly stock Bronco, but realized that he needed a more special vehicle to win this grueling race. This desire to have something more rugged resulted in the Big Oly, named after the Olympia Brewing Company.
Although the vehicle appears to be a Bronco, you can see that there have been extensive modifications. A chromoly tube frame is used with a body made of a mixture of aluminum and fiberglass pieces. This is what contributes to the 2,620 pound weight. The occupants could see a distinct wing.
A suspension that has been overhauled will have significantly more travel than the stock. A Ford 351-cubic inch (5.752-liter), V8 produces 390 horsepower (291 Kilowatts) through a Ford C6 three speed automatic transmission.
Some tweaks are useful features that aid in racing off-road rather than increasing raw performance. The back of the car has integrated water tanks to keep the driver and co-driver hydrated.
This isn’t the only Bronco that sold for more than $1 million at auction. The first instance of the revived SUV sold for $1.075 Million in March at the Barrett-Jackson auction, Scottsdale, Arizona.