(The One on the Cover of past LMC
Truck's Bronco parts catalogs)
Since I had restored a 1974 ranger ten years prior, I got to aching for another. I wasn't particularly looking for a Stroppe, but I saw this 71 Stroppe in the classifieds of the Kansas City Star, so I took a drive on out to take a closer look.
My first impression, was that it wasn't the right one for me. It wasn't an Automatic and had no power steering or back seat plus the person who had painted it didn't remove a thing before he shot the red and white paint on. Not even the front license plate. Since I like to pay attention to details nor had time for a project, I walked away from it.
After getting
discouraged a couple weeks later at what other people were asking for their rust
buckets, I decided to take another look. I figured it would have more
collectable value than some other stock bronco. I offered him what I felt was a
fair price as long as he installed the power steering in it. He owned a Napa
Auto parts store and needed money to put his girl in college.
I immediately started scrapping off the paint where it shouldn't have been and took care of other mechanical needs to make it worthy of a daily driver. I installed Duffs reproduction back seat and center console, and some new rubber seals. The previous owner had installed Duffs three speed floor shifter and I added the transfer case shifter to match. Other interior features include a Pioneer CD sound system, a newly powder coated Stroppe roll bar, and new covers on the front seats. I finished off the steering column with a smooth bezel from a mustang to get rid of the three on the tree style. and it sports a Grant wheel.
As for the body, I left the red and white paint job on there.
I put the black and blue colors back on and added new scripts with Stroppe
decals just like original plus a reproduction spare tire cover just like the
original. There is some rust through on the inner fenders and driver side floor,
but other than that it is
very clean and the doors have excellent alignment. The passenger side window
frame was welded at one point, but has broken loose at the one spot. It has a
few small dings and dents here and there. and some bondo in the corners of the
grill and fenders from a collision. I guess it has went rock crawling a time or
two judging by the small dents on the rockers. The dents are totally hidden by
tread plate covers. Since Baja Broncos didn't come with flares on the front,
someone has taken the liberty of adding them without doing any cutting. There
are two brackets bolted to the drivers side rear corner. I think it may have
been part of a gerry can holder at one time. An extra piece of steel has been
added to the spare tire bracket for mounting a flag or antenna.
Mechanically, It has a 302 with a 4 barrel Holly. I have installed a new exhaust from the stock manifolds back and used Turbo style mufflers. The upper half of the motor has been rebuilt. It has been converted to electronic ignition.
I no longer own this bronco. Regrettably I sold it to a fellow in Tennessee.
Check out other Baja broncos at www.bajabronco.com .
If you have any questions or info you would like to share, send me an email to info(at)4x4crosslander.net. Replace (at) with @. This is to keep the Spam spiders from finding my e-mail address. Or give me a call. Rick Teeters 913-302-9903
Bonner Springs, Kansas
